Wonders of Camiguin - The Island Born of Fire

   

Camiguin Island - one of the beautiful places I have been. The island is not only famous of the sweetest lanzones but this island has been blessed with natural beauty. Indeed, a place of wonder. Though it is one of the smallest island in the Philippines but undoubtedly Camiguin island will stand out among the rest. Where can you find an island that has 7 volcanoes? I cannot imagine what will I do if all of the volcanoes erupts at the same time. Just because of these volcanoes there were a number of hot springs well. When I was there I experienced "spring-hopping". I visited 3 springs and there are still more left I haven't visited.

We went to Camiguin 3rd week of October 2011 together with 3 of my co-workers. During this week the yearly Lanzones Festival is held. By then there was no direct flight going to Camiguin. The nearest airport/seaport is Cagayan de Oro. We chose to ride a boat (Trans-Asia) because we want to experience how is it to travel by boat, to stay in a cosy cabin and to have feeling that we are riding in a cruise ship. It was almost an 8-hr trip from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro. Then from Cagayan de Oro we rode a van going to Balingoan Port. It took us an hour and 30 mins. The ride costs 130Php. From Balingoan Port we rode a Ro-Ro ferry boat to cross going to Camiguin Island. Ferry fare per person ranges from 100 to 135.

We made an early reservation because we knew that it was a peak season. We were expecting that there will be a lot of tourists who will be there to celebrate the Lanzones festival. We stayed in Paras Beach Resort in Mambajao town (Mobile: +63 9177152285). The famous White Sandbar is just a kilometer off the shore and just in front of the resort. We were fortunate that there was just 1 room left. We were welcomed by friendly staff. They gave us a necklace as a souvenir and quenched our thirst with a glass of lemonade. We stayed in an Economy room. (2,250.00/Night). The resort is one of the best in the island. The room was clean. The beds are very comfortable. While in the resort you can swim in the pool or lay your back in a pool bed while watching the waves and from a far you can see the White Island.

If you plan to roam the whole island you can rent a motorbike for 500/day.

White Island (Mt. Hibok hibok in the backdrop)

From the resort going to the White Island we rented a motorboat for 500 pesos. It was only a 10-minute ride. The place is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The water is crystal clear. Wear sunblock because there is no shade in the area though the resort provided us with a huge umbrella. You can see the view of Mt. Hibok-Hibok. You should not miss the view of the sunrise and sunset

Sunset in Camiguin

Ardent Hot Spring

Sto. Niño Cold Spring

Katibawasan Falls

If you want a memorable and relaxing trip, you should consider Camiguin. It's not like a very populated Boracay. In Camiguin the atmosphere is laid-back and your closer to nature. What I miss most was the sweetness of Lanzones. I can't bring it in Cebu because as what poeple believe that if you bring with you the Lanzones when you travel it will just rot. It's like the island won't allow the unique sweetness of Lanzones brought elsewhere. More than the beautiful spots abound the area are its people. As soon as you step your foot on the island you will meet people welcoming you with their brightest smiles.

Festival for the Holy Child

The Sinulog is an annual festival held on the third Sunday of January in Cebu City, Philippines. It's the adaptation of Kalibo Sto Niño Ati-atihan festival in Aklan.The festival honors the vision of the child Jesus, known as the Santo Niño (Holy Child),who used to be the patron Saint of the City of Cebu (since in the Catholic faith Jesus is not a saint, but God). It is a dance ritual that commemorates the Cebuano people's pagan origin, and their acceptance of Roman Catholicism.

The festival features a street parade with participants in bright colored costumes dancing to the rhythm of drums, trumpets and native gongs. Smaller versions of the festival are held in various parts of the province, also to celebrate and honor the Santo Niño. There is also a "Sinulog sa Kabataan" performed by the youths of Cebu a week before the parade. Recently, the festival has been promoted as a tourist attraction, with a contest featuring contingents from various parts of the country. The Sinulog Contest is usually held in the Cebu City Sports Complex.
--- From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I woke up so early in the morning, got up from bed and peeked through the window. I wasn't glad that the sky was so depressingly dark and saw rain drizzling on the glass window. The intermittent rain was just so heavy enough to spoil the day but I don't mind it too hard and just thought that this will be the day to celebrate and for fun-making.

I had with me my officemate. We registered for the photowalk event organized by the Sinulog FOundation. This was our first time to join this event being amateur photographers and we never regretted. We were wearing vests sponsored bt Canon (but shit! I'm a Nikonian/Nikonite) but I never had second thoughts of registering. It doesn't matter to me if I have a low-end cam, a non-Canon unit or whatever. The full access in the road during streetdancing is itself a great oppurtunity to take photos with ease. It's overwhelming that you have the edge among the others who were just taking photos in the sidewalk or in the corner. I can shoot to any angles I want, build a better composition and capture effects. It's so fulfilling that every shot I made I can see how people were so happy not only the participants dancing but to those who were watching. Hundreds or I think thousands braved the rain just to witness a once a year spectacular event. I brought with me an umbrella to protect me while I am taking pictures. I never felt tired the whole day the only thing that I was complaining was about by shoes. After a very long walk ( I want to exagerrate), the sole of my shoe gave up. Water was seeping throught it making me a little uncomfortable walking. But everything went well from 7AM-8PM. I decided not to go out that night. I deserve a rest and will be busy the following day working on my photos.

I really enjoyed the Sinulog celeration this year compared to the previous years. Maybe because I really did something different this year. This year's celebration is really one of a kind. I am expecting more for the coming years. In the meantime, I'm not posting some of the pictures here due to some restrictions and regulations that I need to follow ordered by the foundation. Thank you for taking time visiting my album. VIVA PIT SEÑOR!! 'till next year! :)

The First Challenge...

Every passing day I'm always wishing that someday I'll have a chance to apply the techniques and knowledge I learned from the very first day I used my camera. Taking a step higher will be a tough challenge for me as a novice photographer. My spirit rejoiced when my friend invited me to take photos for them knowing that I am into this craft. Prenup photoshoot is new to me. This is what I am wishing for! I grabbed the invitation and cleared my calendar for that day.

The day came. I was with a well-known photographer named Jim Ubalde. The location was in Shangri-la Hotel and Spa which is a great place for pre-nuptials photo shoot. He displayed his gadgets to me and I find it so amazing. He even let me took a picture with his Nikon D300 camera and swapped lenses. The cost of a Nikon D300? Hmmm...well, a car's worth. Being a PRO, he taught me some techniques how to capture a good photo. Playing with the light, experimenting with the camera settings, and composition making was fun. I learned to be a director-photographer at the same time. We spent half day for the said event. The scorching heat of the sun did not stop me to do what I am doing. That day is momentous to me because it was my first time and it wasn't easy. Sharing my photos. More pictures on my Flickr account ----- http://www.flickr.com/photos/hedshanks/

Amazing Fireworks

If you have ever witness the fireworks display during Christmas Day and New Year's day then you will really tell yourself how magical and fascinating fireworks are. Thanks to the Chinese people who were believed that they invented the fireworks in the 9th Century. They made the fireworks from gunpowder.

My friends and I witnessed the fireworks display in South Road Properties (Cebu City). That was in line with the final event of the Cebu Festival 2010. People flock in the area to witness not only an ordinary showcase of fireworks but was also an attempt to be listed on the Guinness Book of World Records for the most number of rockets launched within 30 seconds. It's amazing, isn't it? There were also candidates running for national and local elections as part of the final day of election campaign. Philippines will be holding it's first automated election on May 10.

Here are some of my photos taken during the event. I haven't brought a tripod with me. Good thing I haven't brought it because we took us an approximately 2 hours to reach the location and walked for 1.5 kilometers. We just commuted and rode a taxi. Due to heavy traffic, we decided to walk instead of staying in the taxi for an hour, stuck in the middle of the road and paying for a big amount. That was exhausting! Hoping that you enjoy the pictures.

My Bacolod Trip

I visited Bacolod last October 2009. It was my first time to visit the place. Bacolod is also known as the City of Smile. Bacolod is in the province of Negros Occidental. From my hometown it is a 5-hour bus travel going there. From Cebu we rode a van going to Toledo City for about 1.5 hours then we crossed the Tañon Strait going to San Carlos City (about 2-3 hrs) and from San Carlos we rode a bus going to Bacolod (2-3 hrs). It was not really planned and I was just invited by my co-workers.

The city is quiet, the people were friendly and hospitable knowing that we were new in the place, we can't speak the dialect (Ilonggo). In the city's gastronomic center there were a lot of delicious delicacies and local cuisine. Chicken inasal (roasted chicken) is at the top of the list. If I stay in this place for just even a month, i will really gain weight. I really love the food. We joined the night parade and partied on the streets. We also visited some landmarks. That includes "The Ruins". The structure of THE RUINS is of Italianate architecture with neo-Romanesque twin columns. Notice the shell-inspired décor at the top edges of the mansion. In New England, they often were homes to ship's captains. The father of the Maria Braga Lacson was a captain of the ship. The mansion was built after the death of Maria Braga and became Don Mariano's (b. 1865 - d. 1948) residence with his unmarried children. It was the largest residential structure ever built at that time.The structure met its sad fate in the early part of World War II when the USAFFE (United States Armed Forces in the Far East), then guerilla fighters in the Philippines, burnt the mansion to prevent the Japanese forces from utilizing it as their headquarters. We also visited the Balay Negrense (Victor Fernandez Gaston Ancestral House) in Silay City, Negros Occidental which is haunted. We arrived late for the visiting hours but we begged and asked the caretaker to open the house just to let us have a quick look in the house. The place is creepy, eerie and of course horrifying. That was already 6pm. We took pictures in every corners, a big old photographs of the owner of the house is seen in the living room, old toys and antique furniture. I was shocked that I almost dropped my camera when I saw something on one of the photos. A ghost registered on the photo. I opted not to show it here because it is giving me goosebumps everytime I look at it.
The trip was fun and in the same way it was a once in a lifetime experience. I want to visit the place again. These are some of the photos I want to share.

Portrait Photography

I got my D5000 at last! I was so excited to experiment and explore with it. It's just like having a new pet that you have to look after it everytime. I also had it beside my bed when I go to sleep.

Above are some of the pictures I took when I had my first funshoot. I never expected how difficult it is and excruciating as a beginner. Good thing I had my bro-in-law and his friends who I can consult how to capture good photo. That includes correct framing, light, and composition. Portrait photography is really a challenge for beginners.

Photography Tips for Beginners

Personally, I really enjoy taking pictures wherever I go. As simple as it is, as long as I have a camera handy I can almost capture every single moment that is happening in my life. Collecting memories on every place I go, on every people I meet everyday and in every special occassion I want to treasure. This got me hooked up and learned to love the world of photography.

I am just a beginner and believe it or not I don't have a camera on my own. When my brother-in-law handed me his DSLR camera and started taking pictures from it, I said to myself "I had fallen in love with this thing at first sight". With adequate knowledge on post processing I also started editing some of the pictures I took. Using the money I saved, I started to travel to different places I've never been to before. I said to myself, "I've been carried away with this hobby and now brought me to these places I never thought of going to". You might be thinking of places like Venice, or Paris or Greece? I might have overstated but hahaha..you're wrong. I can't even afford to buy a DSLR camera but not sooner I will really own one.

For beginners out there or to those who will pour their hearts into photography and have no budget to own a dSLR cam here are my tips:

Don't get crazy getting an expensive camera right away. A high def digicam is a smart start. You might borrow your friend's camera then just point and shoot. The more pictures you took that might help you decide in the future what type of camera that best suits you. When you take pictures use your imagination. Choose a subject that you're you're interested to or that inspires you. Explore and be creative.

As much as possible take pictures regularly. Practice more! Experiment with your camera. When you are in the learning curve you will discover a lot of things. You will really learn a lot in the process. Shoot and shoot more, don't be afraid. You'll never be put to prison if you encountered errors. Use online resources to enrich your knowledge in photography. http://www.photosecrets.com/; http://www.photographycourse.net/ and many more...

Others might say that choosing photography as a hobby is expensive and time consuming. Yes it is true. However, if you are enjoying what you do the money you invest will never go to waste, it will inspire you more.

I'll be getting myself a Nikon D5000 next month. I am so excited!!!