PIKOL: July 2006

BASECO Compound, Manila

Headlines...

from http://inq7.net

Pagbabalik
Asin

Sa gitna ng dilim, ako ay nakatanaw
Ng ilaw na kay panglaw, halos di ko makita
Tulungan mo ako, ituro ang daan
Sapagkat ako'y sabik sa aking pinagmulan.

Bayan ko, nahan ka, ako ngayo'y nag-iisa
Nais kong magbalik sa iyo, bayan ko
Patawarin mo ako kung ako'y nagkamali
Sa landas na aking tinahak.

Sa pagsibol ng araw hanggang dapit-hapon
Malamig na hangin ang aking kayakap
Huwag sanang hadlangan ang aking nilalandas
Sapagkat ako'y sabik sa aking sinilangan.

*

Sibuyan Trip

Farmers gather coconut fronds to rebuild their houses after typhoon Carlos

A couple of weeks ago, I went with a couple of UP Mountaineers to the island of Sibuyan to climb Mt. Guiting-Guiting. At the same time that we were on the mountain, typhoon Carlos struck the island. Trees fell and houses toppled over. The strong rains and winds brought by the typhoon forced us to abandon the climb a few minutes away from Mayo's Peak. We climbed down to a safer camp site and spent the night there. The following day we went back to the municipality of Magdiwang and watched the town celebrate the fiesta of San Isidro Labrador.

Not too many photos on this trip because of the rain.

Dancers at the San Isidro Labrador Fiesta

Waiting for the parade to begin

Barefoot Ati-Atihan dancer

Soaring blue warrior

More colorful participants

Hiding carabao. Not very sucessful though. :)

Buffet.

Photos from the (unsucessful) climb:

Our makeshift camp along the trail.

Mt. Guiting-Guiting. Maybe another time.

*

Tribute to Librodo

This portrait was inspired by the portraits of the great Manny Librodo Jr. Mr. Librodo has an exhibit at the One Workshop Gallery for the whole month of July.

From the OWG Website:

PORTRAITS OF ASIA at OWG

One Workshop Gallery proudly presents a photo exhibit by Manuel Librodo, Portraits of Asia. The exhibit will run from July 1 to 31, 2006. Manuel “Manny” Librodo, an experimental photographer, captures vivid images thru the lens of his camera.

Starting out as a hobbyist, Librodo’s decision on taking photography seriously has brought him to be published internationally on publications such as Digital Photography (August and September 2005 issues) and What Digital Camera (December 2005), and as well as winning several awards.

A traveler, his pictures feature different locations across Asia, each one detailing various interests. From people he interacts daily, to places that have struck a chord of beauty within him, Librodo captures emotion in each shot. With portrait photography as his forte, Librodo instinctively connects with his pictures.

He does not consider himself as a professional photographer. His lifetime goal is to come up with his own coffee-table book.
The exhibit will feature works consisting of locations such as Bali, Boracay, and China, and as well portraits of individuals encountered on Librodo’s travels. Each individual connects to Librodo in a certain way - a relative, a model, a stranger in another land, all caught in a picture, as a means of sharing what he sees as beauty. In a sense, as how he defines an effective image, lyrical. Manny endeavors to capture not just the human face but also the soul, not just the expression but also the innermost sentiments of his subjects.

OWG is located at Ground Floor 2241 La Fuerza Plaza II, Don Chino Roces Avenue corner Sabio St., Makati City. (Walking distance from Magallanes MRT and Mazda Showroom) Gallery hours are from 10am to 9pm Monday to Saturday. For more information, call 8105094, fax 8192074, email owgallery@yahoo.com or go to www.oneworkshop.net

Links:
Manny Librodo at pbase.com
One World Gallery