Litratista

The Call to Prayer

2008-07-27T10:25:00.003+04:00

Lumiere

2008-07-26T10:48:00.001+04:00

The 5th Floor

2008-01-08T19:28:00.001+04:00

Chocolates on a Date

2008-01-06T15:21:00.000+04:00

They go together.

The Gates of Majaz

2008-01-05T15:17:00.000+04:00

"Ferey" Boat

2008-01-05T15:09:00.000+04:00

Ferey or Ferry. As long as you can read it, right?
For 30Dh (330Php) this boat can give you a tour around Khaled Lagoon.

Khaled Lagoon

2008-01-05T15:02:00.000+04:00

Pole-less

2008-01-05T14:40:00.000+04:00

Fishing without a pole is this Bangladeshi's specialty. He caught several fish that day.

Hungry?

2008-01-03T14:23:00.000+04:00

Hotburger Club Sandwich with Fries and Vegetable Salad: 5Dh (55Php or 1++USd)
Really cheap - and its good!!! Recommended for the unemployed like me :-)

Art or Crime

2007-12-31T16:12:00.001+04:00

Found this during one of my walks. It is rare to see English, Arabic and Hindi(?) graffiti in one wall. In fact it is rare to see any graffiti here at all.

Aeta

2007-10-27T19:14:00.001+04:00

Aeta, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

The Aetas are one of the first inhabitants of our archipelago. They have lived for thousands of years around Mt. Pinatubo and were displaced when it had a major eruption in 1991.

Native Water Bottle

2007-10-05T17:02:00.001+04:00

Native Water Bottle, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

After serving in a Mindoro medical missions trip for the Mangyans, an anonymous person left this on my table. Ancient Mangyans use them as bottle canteens.

Suman sa Ibos

2007-09-18T20:08:00.001+04:00

Suman sa Ibos, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

The wrapper is made of palm leaves then it is boiled for about 2 hours. This particular suman is different because the wrapper is made first then the sticky rice mixture is poured inside it.

Better when eaten with ripe mangoes.

Lines

2007-09-11T12:29:00.001+04:00

Lines, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Bulusan Lake

2007-09-07T19:58:00.001+04:00

Bulusan Lake, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Veggiebag

2007-09-03T20:53:00.001+04:00

Veggiebag, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Some of the veggies we harvested from our tiny farm in Bicol.
A trolley bag is an unusual case to put them but they're much too heavy for me to carry.

I miss my friend

2007-03-13T07:50:00.004+04:00

I miss my friend, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Roofless Bus

2007-03-13T07:50:00.003+04:00

Roofless Bus, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Train

2007-03-08T07:52:00.000+04:00

Train, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Victoria Peak

2007-03-03T09:15:00.000+04:00

Victoria Peak, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Tunnel

2006-12-05T09:55:00.000+04:00

Tunnel, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

If the car were any faster the motion blur effect would be better.

The longest tunnel I've ever been to - Zhuhai Tunnel, Guangdong China.

Teacher Glen

2006-08-14T14:58:00.000+04:00

Teaching Wang how to count, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

Aboard the train to Beijing, my friend Glen, teaches a Chinese kid how to count in English.
Glen is a kindergarten teacher in China.

The Great Wall

2006-07-21T19:15:00.000+04:00

The Great Wall, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

The Great Wall

2006-07-21T07:06:00.000+04:00

The Great Wall, originally uploaded by Gigi Litratista.

It was foggy that day...

I was on the verge of dissapointment. The fog will hide the view of the Great Wall snaking along the mountains. But I took photos of it anyway.

The Great Wall

2006-07-20T06:46:00.000+04:00

The Great Wall, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

The Great Wall

2006-07-20T06:44:00.000+04:00

The Great Wall, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

The Great Wall

2006-07-20T06:41:00.000+04:00

The Great Wall, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

The End of the Beach

2006-04-29T19:00:00.000+04:00

The End of the Beach, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

Sundown.

This is the last stop.

You have to climb up a rocky 90degree incline to get to the other side. The beach on the other side of this rocky formation is believed to be enchanted.

Geeks?

2006-04-27T07:03:00.000+04:00

Geeks?, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

Anthony is a database manager. Maureen is a javascript programmer.
They're not geeks. They're the coolest classmates!

For a more detailed story behind this picture read this.

Fisherman

2006-04-21T16:01:00.000+04:00

Fisherman, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

At sunset, fihermen are off to the sea on their little banka. Most fisherman have a motorized bangka. Some are so poor they couldn't afford to buy one and just settle for wooden paddles.

Buying snacks at 711

2006-03-25T17:53:00.000+04:00

Buying snacks at 711, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

My favorite time of the day - snack time!!! :-)
My usual snack - green tea and bola-bola siopao.

Photo by Bang C.

Embark

2006-02-17T11:55:00.000+04:00

Banka, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

A few thousand years ago, people thought that the Earth is flat. Until some of our brave brothers defied common knowledge, challenged common practices, and tried to go beyond the horizon.

Thanks to them - now we know Earth as what she is.

So never be afraid to try new things. Embark on a journey and always carry your adventurous spirit with you like what our ancient brothers did long ago. You'll never know - you might discover things that will lift up your human spirit, and help mankind (a bit) in the process.

How time flies!

2006-01-20T10:34:00.000+04:00

How time flies!, originally uploaded by Gigi Gallano Litratista.

Clearing my Head

2006-01-03T20:29:00.000+04:00

December 30, 2005, originally uploaded by Litratista.

Before the 2005 ends, my friend and I decided to spend the morning by the beach. I just brought with me a camera, a beach mat and a sunscreen. It was so peaceful that day, just enough sun and the waves just light. Very good for clearing one's head.

We forgot one thing though... food! :-D

Barcelona Church

2005-11-02T14:09:00.000+04:00

Barcelona Town Church, originally uploaded by Litratista.

The Barcelona Church in Sorsogon was built in 1874, coral reefs were used to form the church walls.

Barcelona Town Church (right wing)

2005-11-02T14:02:00.000+04:00

Barcelona Town Church (right wing), originally uploaded by Litratista.

Barcelona, Sorsogon

Bulusan Bellfry

2005-11-02T13:59:00.000+04:00

Bulusan Bellfry, originally uploaded by Litratista.

Balut Penoy

2005-10-27T16:19:00.000+04:00

Balut Penoy, originally uploaded by Litratista.

I dedicate this photo to my friend Doreen who just found out she's pregnant! Yay! She quick-nagged me this afternoon about not updating this blog as often. Sorry, my friend, been so busy lately.

So you if should ask, why balut? Well, FYI lang, sa balut ako pinaglihi ng nanay ko :-)

My Labuyo

2005-09-12T10:05:00.000+04:00

My Labuyo, originally uploaded by Litratista.

Panlagay lang sa Laing!

Beach Depression

2005-09-11T16:05:00.000+04:00

Beach Depression, originally uploaded by Litratista.

I think this is a really depressing picture, but I wasn't depressed here :-) My mom took pictures of me while I was staring at the waves (it was her first digital camera experience).

Balloons

2005-09-10T15:51:00.000+04:00

Balloons, originally uploaded by Litratista.

Filipinos are such forgiving people. Once when I was in a (commuter) jeep, somebody boarded with a bunch of balloons! It filled the jeep and you almost couldn't move with all these balloons sticking up to your face. Yet, nobody complained. Actually the commuters found it funny :-)

Lato

2005-09-09T15:33:00.000+04:00

Lato, originally uploaded by Litratista.

Fresh from the sea. Just put calamansi (local lemon) and eat!!!

Beach Waves

2005-08-17T14:31:00.000+04:00

According to the local folk, this beach is enchanted. If you look closely you wont see anybody swimming or having a beach picnic. Don't shout, laugh, or point your finger or else the enkantos (faeries) will be angry and give you a disease.

But I guess I can still take pictures.

It was a little foggy and my lens was a bit blurred maybe because of (enkantos?) the tiny water droplets in the air caused by the waves.

Fort Ruins

2005-08-17T14:20:00.000+04:00

The ruins of an old fort by the sea in Barcelona, Sorsogon.

Fort Ruins

2005-08-17T14:19:00.000+04:00

It's a bit eery inside. You can almost hear the Spanish soldiers whispering on the corners.

Fort Ruins

2005-08-17T14:03:00.000+04:00

Here's the view from the outside.

Streets of Gold

2005-07-08T07:13:00.000+04:00

I shot this last March 2005 in Sorsogon, Philippines while aboard a jeepney. It was harvest season and the farmers spread their golden 'palay' (rice grain) out on the streets to sun-dry them. According to my Mom, farmers do this so that it would be easier for them to separate the shaft from the grain later on. Maybe this would give us a glimpse of how the streets of heaven would look like.

Sunrise Boat

2005-06-16T12:53:00.000+04:00

Seashells

2005-05-29T17:17:00.000+04:00

While walking on the beach one early morning, my mom picked up these

cute shells. Picking seashells is always a relaxing activity.

The Slide

2005-05-27T10:27:00.000+04:00

Sliding is fun when its fast, but this girl is different.

2005-05-15T16:01:00.000+04:00

The Catch!

2005-05-15T15:41:00.000+04:00

Niño

I shot these inside an old church (built 1874) in Barcelona, Sorsogon while a funeral mass is going on.

2005-05-08T10:42:00.000+04:00

Stained Glass

Shadow of the Stained Glass

2005-04-29T16:55:00.000+04:00

Alicia

2005-04-25T14:01:00.000+04:00

My grandmother, she's 79 years old.

Yellow Boater

2005-04-11T13:06:00.000+04:00

This boy caught a few fish and sold it to us. I took it while the sun was hiding behind the clouds.

2005-04-06T14:11:00.000+04:00

Unlocked

2005-03-27T13:28:00.000+04:00

Palm Sunday

Just minutes after I arrived in Bulusan from Manila, I caught up with these girls as they were leaving the church after Palm Sunday celebration. They looked so cute with their costumes and flowers. I took my teeny weeny camera from my pocket and took a shot at them. One of the girls saw me aiming my camera and shouted at the whole gang, who in just seconds were already right in front of me posing. Oh how Filipinos love the camera!

I was checking if I got the shot and they ran to me to see for themselves. I think its their first time to see a camera with an LCD screen at the back. They were so amazed. When they were all over my camera, I flipped it over and took the shot.

Bulusan Volcano

2005-03-16T15:23:00.000+04:00

Miss na miss na kita. Di na ako makahinga sa sobrang pananabik ko sa'yo. Salamat sa Diyos magkikita na naman tayo.

---

March 27, 2005

UPDATE: Kakagaling ko lang ng Bulusan, bakasyon ng 7 days pero di nagpakita ang Bulusan Volcano. Masyadong maulap. Argh!!!

Girlwalk

2005-03-12T07:27:00.000+04:00

On my last visit to Bicol, we stopped over at Camalig, the place where you can buy laing to-die-for! I caught these girls walking home from school. The classic Filipino barkadahan image.

I remember my elementary days...

Audio: play harp music
Video: Flashback, blurr, switch to black &
white

---

On the background is my mom who, after much pleading, just won't get out of my frame :-) Smile lang siya talaga pag may camera.

Rose Window

2005-03-12T07:18:00.000+04:00

Rose Window
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Lola's Chandelier

2005-03-08T14:25:00.000+04:00

Lola's Chandelier
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Red

2005-03-07T15:24:00.000+04:00

Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Red against black is timeless.

I don't really know what its called, but I see the old women hang it around their necks when they go to mass. I was captivated by its beauty when I saw it hanging on the centuries old wall of this church.

Yesterday's Prayers

2005-03-05T10:10:00.000+04:00

Yesterday's Prayers
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Brown Candles

2005-03-03T14:32:00.000+04:00

Brown Candles
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Big Fish

2005-02-26T14:34:00.000+04:00

Big Fish
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

Off to the market to sell the day's catch.

Shack in the Woods

2005-02-18T20:42:00.000+04:00

shack in the woods
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

We found this nipa hut while hiking [read as: escaping] during the retreat. It was deserted.

Tree Couple

2005-02-18T20:39:00.000+04:00

2 Trees
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

What a sweet sight! :-)

Kuntador

2005-02-18T20:35:00.000+04:00

kuntador
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

One of the electric meters in our place of retreat. I like the torquoise tab. The bits of grainy stuff on the top are bird droppings.

handles

2005-02-18T20:30:00.000+04:00

handles
Originally uploaded by Litratista.

2005-02-12T11:03:00.000+04:00

Buko Adventures!

This is how we eat buko (young coconut) by the beach.

First, ask the friendly "Manong" to get the buko.

Then make the spoons from the husk.

Instant spoon!

Then sip the juice, make sure its all gone
before breaking the buko in half.

Dig in!

2005-02-03T15:22:00.000+04:00

Sand and Sea (series 3)

I lay down in the sand... this is what I saw.

2005-02-03T15:12:00.000+04:00

Sand and Sea (series 2)



Relaxing view from one of the cottages

Afraid of getting a tan

Its cleanest in the morning, right after high tide

Even the doggies hang around :-)

2005-01-28T04:50:00.000+04:00

Sand and Sea

2005-01-26T14:05:00.000+04:00

Enter Blessing!



To a friend with a kind heart!  Mr. Monk, this is for you.

2005-01-25T14:00:00.000+04:00

Windows

I was always fascinated by windows.
They are openings that let the light and air in.
Closed, thats when you best see
their designs... and their history.

CAPIZ WINDOW
This is a typical 19th Century wooden house
with windows made of capiz shells (small squares
you see are actually shells)
I took this while on a roadtrip to a
small town in Bicol.

CROSS WINDOW
Bacacay Church
I recently visited a small, quiet town
in Albay and found this antique church
where small plants actually grow on the
cracks in the bricks. I like the way the
crosses intersect and form other crosses.
Also, the white substance that hold the bricks
together makes an interesting contrast
against the black bricks.

RGB WINDOW
Same church but on the other side.
In graphic design there is a color mode
called "RGB color" which means
Red,Green, Blue. Being a graphic designer,
seeing this window made me smile :-)

ROOTS AND GRASS WINDOW
This window is part of the ruins of a
church that was buried during the
1814 eruption of Mayon volcano.

BLOCKED WINDOW
I think they tried to close this one
to prevent people from entering
and further damaging the ruins
but it eventually crumbled.

2005-01-10T14:48:00.000+04:00

More Manila Cathedral

Bell Tower

Back View





Main Doors (this was taken with a sepia filter)

2005-01-06T14:20:00.000+04:00

Paco Park Niches

2005-01-06T13:09:00.000+04:00

Rose Window

2005-01-05T13:40:00.000+04:00

Kalesa

2004-12-22T15:41:00.000+04:00

Malate Church

2004-12-22T15:02:00.000+04:00

Manila Cathedral

2004-12-13T13:49:00.000+04:00

San Sebastian Church

2004-12-07T10:01:00.000+04:00

Beep! Beep!

It takes a great amount of skill for someone to drive this jeep into rough roads and curves.

2004-12-06T09:42:00.000+04:00

Manila Bay

One of photographers' favorite subject is
the Manila Bay sunset. This isn't a sunset
photo but I think its interesting enough,
I took it earlier, about 4 p.m.

2004-12-03T12:50:00.000+04:00

Ang Anino ng Poste
The Shadow of the Lamp Post

I shot this while waiting for a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage)
inside the Intramuros complex

2004-12-02T14:02:00.000+04:00

The Mangyans

May 29, 2004
1:30 p.m.
In a Mangyan village up in the mountain

The Mangyans are the native people of Mindoro. They originally owned the island but when settlers from other islands came in they were pushed farther toward the mountains. They are illiterate and have no awareness in terms of hours, kilometers, gallons and years. They measure distance in terms of “shouts.” This means the distance reached by the sound of a shout is equivalent to “1 shout” Mangyans tell time through the shadows made by the sun, so if the sky is cloudy they would have no idea what time it is.

A MANGYAN HUT

Several feet above the ground, the Mangyans have been doing it this way for generations since the beginning of their tribe.

PUPPY LOVE



A Mangyan child refuses to let go of his puppy when were putting clothes on him right after his bath in the river.

They don’t know how old they are, so most of them marry and have children by the age of 15. They don’t have proper hygiene and most of them are even afraid of water. They name their children according to how they looked when they were born; if the hair is curly they call the child “kulot” or if the child is light-skinned they call him “puti.” If, on certain instances, a Mangyan newborn is orphaned, the elders of the tribe will kill the baby since there will be no one to take care of it. This is the Mangyan culture and these customs have been present for hundreds of years.

A MANGYAN FAMILY AMAZED AT OUR DV CAM

Modern technology and ethnic curiosity meet inside a hut

We trekked for more than an hour to reach the first village. Our dedicated dentists, Dr. Tet and Dr. Leng, along with their assistants Bel and Nora, set up the dental clinic and started pulling Mangyan teeth. Other team members were evangelizing and praying with the other tribes people.

MOTHER AND CHILD

One of the families we fed on the last day of the mission.

Some were just plain socializing with Mangyan mothers and children assuring them that we are friends and we mean no harm. I was amazed on how Dr. Tet and Dr. Leng handled their patients, for Mangyan teeth are stronger than the average and are red because they are fond of chewing “nganga” (betel leaves)

- An Excerpt from my Mindoro Missions Diary

T-SHIRTS

After the dental mission, we all washed our clothes for another days work.

2004-11-17T16:00:00.000+04:00

Silent Waters

Here are more pictures of Lake Bulusan...

Docking my thoughts

The path between the tree and the lake

Solitude

Into the lake

The coming rain

2004-11-12T15:32:00.000+04:00

Hard Work, Sweet Smiles

PASAN ANG ASAROL - early morning
on his way to harvest cassava
(In a small town called Bulusan in Sorsogon)





BAMBOO BURDEN - carrying fresh cut

bamboo to be used in his house

(At the foot of Mt. Maculot, Cuenca, Batangas)





LINES ON HER FACE - I can never

imagine what she went through as
this old woman displayed a sad
but sweet smile
(Also in Cuenca, Batangas)

2004-11-12T14:30:00.000+04:00

Makati Day Parade



PINTADO - Green paint, orange costume,

red feathers, brown skin. I love this photo!



ORANGE BOYS, BLACK FEATHERS



PINK ON GREY - Baton twirlers

waiting
for their turn

UBOS ANG HININGA - Relaxing after
the parade



HATS OFF! - Ale, magkano isa?

GREEN SUN - I followed this guy
around just to get this shot

2004-11-08T14:15:00.000+04:00

Boracay Sea Caves

I remember your face
as our boat floated by
you didn't smile at me
like the sands did
but i saw the real you

2004-11-05T14:08:00.000+04:00

Bulusan Beaches

Bulusan is a small town in Sorsogon.
It got its name from "bulos" meaning
water springing out. And true enough,
seas, rivers, lakes, and hotsprings are
its natural wealth. The beaches are
spectacular! Bulusan Lake National Park
is here. Also, its located at the foot
of Bulusan volcano, which explains the
presence of hotsprings. I spent my many
childhood summers here in Bulusan.



SITTING ON THE ROCK

(Near enchanted Miliga-biga beach, tabi-tabi po!)

KATORSE PUNO BEACH
(Just a few minutes walk from my Lola's house)