on a whim

Ever wanted to go on a whim? Bored [deleted by Blogger censorship services] this summer? Nothing to do except spend the whole day in front of your desktop, maybe head to the malls to escape the summer heat?

Why not dare yourself and go on a whim. And by "go on a whim", I meant going to somewhere far and exciting this summer. And why drag your family behind you? Test yourself by embarking on a journey, ALONE with only cash baon and your out-of-town survival skills to aid you. Not only you'll be having fun at the adventure, you don't have family members to restrict you. One of a kind summer experience.

2011 May 09, 1730

It's getting dark - nightfall. The tricycle had dropped me off in the middle of nowhere. I'm trudging the lightless kilometric road, hopping from store to store trying to burn every contact in my cellphone. Survival meant constantly on the move; I'm backtracking the road to the main avenue. Civilization was the orange glow at the end of the road. I'm more than a hundred kilometers from home, all alone and now aimlessly lost.

I was looking for some cheap pension house. If I couldn't find my destination - at least I had somewhere safe to spend the night in without getting mugged. An electric fan is more than enough for my comfort.

It was an impromptu trip. That morning I learned of my teacher throwing a slametan - sae kapanganen. Only problem was that it was in Digos. Not to worry; I commuted solo to Davao last March. I was itching to go. Only problem that it was scheduled at 4 in the afternoon. My trip became an instant RON (Remain Overnight) mission.

the many faces of rapunzel

In celebration of the Russian New Year, May Day, I am digging up from my archives my collections of pictures from a real life Rapunzel - who is also celebrating her 14th birthday today, 01 May. As fitting tribute, I am showcasing the best (or worst) of my stolen shots of her - different faces from different angles - of an enigmatic friend.

clipped tail

real life Rapunzel caught in the lens

Let me tell you of my story of a girl that has left me spellbound. Her name is Nidelli Sumalinog Vinson.

first glimpse of her

The Scream

The picture above, "The Scream" is one of my two masterpieces involving Nidelli. The other one, "I Got The Power", unfortunately got deleted by her in a tantrum when she got wind of it. Once she got hold of my camera, the masterpiece became history. But Nidelli's face there was imprinted on my mind forever.

cutest smile

the lady in white

jumping for joy

dramamine

fixing her hair

mischievous

nidelli, caught through the lens of my Nikon D3000

nidelli says, NO PICTURES!

smiling for my camera while playing with her hair

catatonic beauty

Happy birthday Nidelli!!!

kapilya connections

Don't mistake me for an Iglesia ni Cristo member for this. I am (though not devotedly) a Roman Catholic by birth and current religious affinity. However, because of one close friend, I'm interested in religious sect, especially enamored with INC's unique church architecture. Note that this aside, I do not align or agree with the INC's religious dogma, beliefs and convictions, and that my enthusiasm over them doesn't not affect my own religious beliefs as a Catholic. The intimate understanding that I have for the INC is due more to religious pluralism and tolerance rather than actual sympathy.

KENOX S760 / Samsung S760, 1/125, f/2.8, 6.3mm, ISO 80,
Lokal ng General Santos, Kampung Kulon Dajanggas, Kutha Mayjen Santos, 2009 July. The local INC church (or cathedral as I would like to call it) of the Jeneral Santos locale a few days before the 95th anniversary of the INC last 2009 July 27.

(phototip: emphasize the loftiness of INC churches.)

People, especially those unfamiliar with the INC are often awestruck or intrigued with the sight of their churches or chapels, especially their pointy spires. Verily, I once found an issue of PASUGO (INC magazine) in the possession of a friend, who was obviously not of the INC. When I asked him how he got a copy, he told me that he asked his friend for one. Apparently my friend wanted to know why the INC builds such tall and pointy spires that flank the facades of their churches though they serve no obvious role in calling the faithful to worship - these spires being not fitted with bells as in a Catholic belfry nor with a loudspeaker as in Muslim minarets.

My high school classmate offered an even better legend. Having been raised in a Catholic school in his childhood, he told me that he and his classmates were once convinced that the INC spires are in fact "rocket spaceships" (note the INC chapel in the first picture, we were walking in front of it when he told me his story) that people would ride in and blast into space when the poopy hits the proverbial fan come Armageddon or the end of the world. Though there is obviously no truth in the "spaceship" theory of my classmate, it is known that the INC have strong beliefs in eschatology.

KENOX S760 / Samsung S760, 1/90, f/3.7, 11.7mm, ISO 100
The INC triwarna or tricolors in front of the Jen. Santos "cathedral". The INC flag is a vertical tricolor of (from hoist side) green, white and red with a golden seven-branched Menorah or candelabrum(the INC is big on the number 7. note also that the flags are flying in 7 poles) in the white layer.