Baby Scops Owl

January 30th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

Scops Owl

Looking across the small quarantine room was the new addition to Crocolandia Foundation list of rescued animals: The Scops Owl. (Otus sp.)

The undeniably cute creature is actually a resident from Negros Occidental so it wasn’t used to the environment in Cebu. I had the opportunity to shoot them while they were still fledglings and just look at how adorable they are!

These owls feed on small prey such as insects and other forms of small prey. They are nocturnal and are quite shy. Even if they were still fledglings it seemed like they weren’t accustomed to human handling.

I’m just glad I got o see one so up close. Come over to Crocolandia to see more of these cute owls. 10th Anniversary of Crocolandia is tomorrow January 30. 25% off all entrance fees. See you there

Cute Baby eyes of the baby owl

You. can't. resist. my. adorable. eyes

5 Comments / Tags: Bird of the Philippines, Birds of Cebu, Birds of the Philippines, Cebu Birding, Cebu Birds, cebu owl, Philippine Birds, philippine owl, scops owl / Posted in Animals

Gold, Cold Gold

January 30th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

1 Peso Coin

I have a collection of “fake” one peso coins. I used to think magnetic one peso coins are fake. Real one peso coins are not attracted to magnets. Truth is, the one peso coin (with its material value) is actually higher than its labeled value which is one peso.

So if they couldn’t make materials higher than labeled values, how did they go about with payments and currencies? We had the old fashioned way of payment through coins at a value of the price of gold.

So what makes a gold coin a gold coin? Alchemists, chemists and merchants used the old weighing method. This is to determine the gold price. We also have other chemical means of determining their authenticity.

Stack of coins

Maybe you just might have a soft spot for the gold spot . Ahh the joys of Gold. But never forget that gold, especially solid gold, is cold cold gold.

1 Comment / Posted in Uncategorized

Vice Ganda in Cebu…. and a Rally?

January 26th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

When I was walking away from Ayala after the whole Sinulog 2011 experience I was able to chance upon a huge crowd in Ayala. I wasn’t really sure what the whole commotion was so I didn’t really dive in to find out.

Fortunately a good friend from Globe have me the information I need to tell you about what really happened in that huge crowd.

To put it simply, Globe had a huge crowd, Vice Ganda was there, there was a concert by Itchyworms, and there was a good number of students staging a rally. What was the rally about? FREE TEXT…

As I grow with my relationship with Globe, I’m pleased to say that they do try to “do it your way”. They answered to this rally by offering: SUPERFREE WEEKENDS!

To know more about this service please go to FAQs portion below

What’s more is that Globe also gave me a copy to the Vice Ganda Interview about this new service:

Q:Anong masasabi tungkol sa pag-e-endorse mo ng Globe?

V:Natutuwa ako na tinangkilik ng madlang people ang Globe Prepaid, lalo na ang mga ine-endorse kong SUPER ALL TXT 20 at SUPER UNLITXT 20 at sana magtuluy-tuloy pa ito. Grateful ako sa Globe sa pagkakataong ito at maraming salamat sa lahat nang nag-avail nito. Sana tuluy-tuloy pa ang pagtangkilik ninyo sa globe

Q:Anong masasabi mo sa gimik na ginawa niyo kanina kung saan may estudyanteng kunwaring nag-rally para humingi ng free texts sa Globe?

V:Na-excite po ako actually nung narinig ko mula sa Globe kung anong gagawin namin para i-promote ang kanilang bagong promo na Super Free Weekends. Bagong-bago at ibang-iba. So very happy po ako na nagawa naming ng mahusay, salamat sa mga taga-Cebu.

Q:Anong namang masasabi tungkol sa Globe?

V:Para sa akin po kasi, maganda ang mga offer ng Globe at naiiba talaga ang mga ito, gaya nga po nitong bagong Super Free Weekends. May pakinabang talaga at tulong sa mga tao. Kaya po proud ako na maging bahagi ng pamilya ng globe

FAQs for Super free weekends!

What is Globe’s new offer?

Our newest offer for Globe Prepaid is SuperFree Weekends, a special promo for our prepaid customers that will let them enjoy free texting and free internet browsing during the weekends. All you need to do is keep loading from Monday to Friday, and if you reach P 199 load, you’ll instantly get 200 free texts to all networks PLUS 1 hour of internet browsing from your Globe phone, which you can use on Saturday and Sunday.

As long as they load up to P 199 every week, they can get a SuperFree Weekend every time while the promo is ongoing. Just text SUPERFREE to 8888 on Saturday to get your SuperFree Weekend.

Is this a promo or a permanent offer?

SuperFree Weekends is available from January 17 to February 16, 2011.

Who can avail of the offer?

All of our Globe Prepaid and Tattoo mobile customers can avail of SuperFree Weekends, from anywhere in the Philippines. All they need to do is load at least P 199 from Monday until Friday, and they can instantly enjoy a SuperFree Weekend. They just need to text SUPERFREE to 8888 to enjoy get their freebies. They can load any value starting as low as P 1.00, using our loading channels like AutoloadMax, GCash2Load, our Globe Prepaid and Tattoo call cards, e-PINs and bank ATMs.

Why is Globe introducing this offer and why did it start its campaign with a Print ad from subscribers and a rally during your event?

We have been listening to our prepaid customers, and they’ve told us what they want: More value and more freebies when they reload! So we’re here to tell them na sa Globe lang super pwede yan! With SuperFree Weekends from Globe Prepaid, you can get the best value for your reloads. And with the free texts to all networks, you will always be in the loop for all your gimmicks. Pasok ka sa lahat, so you can stop worrying and start living in the moment!

That’s why we came up with a print ad and a staged rally – to creatively demonstrate how our subscribers are demanding the best value for their reloads and also demonstrate how Globe listens and acts swiftly in answering their needs. These PR stunts are also never-been-done-before executions that prove our new campaign’s promise that with Globe Prepaid, hindi lang pwede, Super Pwede.

SuperFree Weekend is a great addition to our other best-value offers, like SuperAll Text 20, SuperUnli and Super PowerSurf. Globe Prepaid aims to give you the best choices and the fewest restrictions, so you’ll always have the greatest value. This is the way prepaid should be.

1 Comment / Posted in Events

Sinulog 2011 Grand Mardi Gras Photos

January 17th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

And to complete a tradition I’ve created some four years ago, and which I have been following till this year: I bring you the Sinulog 2011 Grand Mardi Gras pictures!

I started the morning by attending the first mass in the Basilica Minore del Sto. Nino. The whole place was crowded and people were armed with their umbrellas and their balloons with attached prayers. What I liked about this mass was that most of the people who attended the mass are really loyal devotees. Contrary to the modern mass where it’s noisier and people don’t seem to listen to the priest, this mass had attendees with all eyes and ears towards the priest. You could feel the solemnity as everyone sang “Bato Balani”. Sinulog once again reminds us all of the devotion to the Sto. Nino. VIVA PIT SENYOR!

Right after the mass I dropped by KFC as I munched on a quick breakfast before walking through the whole route (I kinda missed one last part, the one heading downtown from Imus). I was able to reach somewhere near St. Peter’s memorial before I started walking back to Mango around 8 am. After having gone through the route I was able to realize one thing. This year’s contingents had better choreography, better costumes and a very beautiful Chinese oriented theme. This year’s Sinulog I felt at home with the theme.

There were a lot of things that I was able to see that time and I’d like to give special mention to Surigao, with their Lubi offering and Gold costumes, you caught my attention so early in the morning. I also liked so many of the other contingents like the one from Negros Occidental, Daanbantayan (but damn ruthless security with NO RESPECT AT ALL, tsk tsk) and Leyte’s Buyogs. You guys all did a wonderful job!

The whole day was very very wet! Taking pictures of Sinulog 2011 was a huge challenge for me. I also had the opportunity to walk through the ocean of mud with Edd. Sus, the janitor in Ayala glared at me. Hehe. Thankfully I came prepared with my scarfs and umbrella (which I need to replace as it leaked on me o_0)

I’m also glad I ran into Nowieh who kept me company this year’s Sinulog. That means this year I wasn’t lonely. :-p THANK YOU NOWIEH!

I’d also like to thank the Peehgs: Doyzkie, Nayk, and Edd for the fun time for the whole day. I became a “peehg” for one day.

Fireworks were awesome but I didn’t get to shoot. I blame Shake and Jarel for all the jokes and “trick” questions. LOL

I can’t wait again for next year as every year I seem to be more and more prepared for whatever will come my way. The most important thing is I will always remember that this festival I dedicate to our God who came in a most innocent and meek form: a child.

Viva Pit Senyor! Viva Viva!

More Sinulog 2011 pictures here:

30 Comments / Tags: sinulog 2011, sinulog 2011 grand mardi gras, sinulog 2011 parade, sinulog 2011 photos, sinulog 2011 pictures / Posted in Cebu, Events, Photography

I’m Shooting Sinulog 2011 Grand Mardi Gras

January 15th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

My Sinulog 2011 Vest

This year Sinulog 2011 will officially be my fourth year of shooting Sinulog, third year of joining the Sinulog Photo contest and7th year in Photography (well I started somewhat March but 2011 marks my 7th year). Ah those were the film camera days back in year 2004 when I ventured in Beijing.

Sinulog photocontest has now become my Photoblogging Tradition and I’m very excited to participate in this more and more popular activty every year.

In the first time I joined the Photocontest there was only an ID requirement and I don’t think I even wrote my name. I just wore the ID. Then the second time I joined it they required a T-Shirt and an ID. I particularly didn’t like how I was only able to get an XL sized T-shirt. I also didn’t like the pink and glittery design of the shirt T__T. This year I vowed to go early to get a better size. I was very surprised to get a Canon ID strap with the official ID and also a Canon Photographer’s Vest.

Woah, Canon must have seriously spent a lot for this vest. But I do wonder why they have to increase the fee to 750php? T__T And still the supposed limit of 1500 registrants has been exceeded….AGAIN.

Sinulog 2011 Vest, sponsored by Canon

I do hope they can control the number of registrants next time. (I’m always hoping they will)

So here’s to Sinulog 2011 Grand Mardi Gras!!! Fellow Maniniyots, see you all there!

VIVA PIT SENYOR!

2 Comments / Tags: Sinulog 2011 uniform, sinulog 2011 vest, Sinulog vest / Posted in Events

Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011 Photos

January 13th, 2011 by The Photoblogger

Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011

Despite my hectic schedule I was able to find some time to continue with my tradition of shooting during the Sinulog week. (This is my fourth year of shooting for Sinulog, yey!) I knew I couldn’t let go of the opportunity to shoot to get some pictures of the Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011. Unfortunately for this year I was only able to get shots of the Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan and not Dakbayan.

If I have anything to say about Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011 I have to say I think it’s a lot better than last year. I’m not really talking about the performance but the overall experience. I can’t seem to explain it but I feel more festive in this year’s Sinulog. I just can’t wait to see what’s in store for SInulog 2011 Grand Mardi Gras.

But then I have a couple of reminders for myself for next year’s Sinulog sa Kabataan.

Dear self, take note:

Get there early
wear a cap
bring a tripod
bring a GOOD TELEPHOTO LENS. Your 90-300mm f/4.5-5.6 USM II has been good to you but it’s too slow. (but the AF is not bad)
STAY IN THE MIDDLE
I know there’s that disgusting sticky stuff on the tracks, bring something to step on to avoid ruining the shoes
bring a rain protection for your cam
BRING EXTRA BATTERIES (okay to be fair to you, they ran out of 7D batteries)
Over exposure (especially in white BG) has always been your problem, oh and don’t forget CA

That’s it for now.

I’m quite excited for this year’s Sinulog. This is because this will be my first Sinulog to shoot with 2 cameras: My good old 400D and my new baby: Artemis, Canon 7D.

And lastly, I NEED TO GET AN L Lens or an EX Lens.

Looks like I’ll also need to read through my Photographer’s Guide to Sinulog 1 and Photographer’s Guide to Sinulog 2.

VIVA PIT SENYOR!

And now, here are the pictures for the Sinulog sa Kabataan 2011.