Angono photo walk

I usually take long walks. I sometimes look like a freak that carries a camera all the time, snapping pictures of whatever. Here's some snaps from a walk that (almost always) turned into a photo walk.

It's a good thing that Angono is not a densely populated town, because every time I take a walk, there's only a few people that I see. At the time I took these pictures, I was wearing house clothes and plain tsinelas while lugging a heavy Yashica film camera.

Nemiranda's Art Camp. I took this shot from the bridge over Angono River. As you can see, it is located in a very idyllic place. A perfect spot for creative minds while doing their artwork. I attended two art workshops last year in this place. The classes were taught by no less than Nemesio Miranda (Nemiranda) himself. He is a great teacher, and I feel like I'm doing him a disservice by not producing much art this year. Perhaps, next year, 2013, which is only a couple of days away, I'll be doing more artworks that can make their way in this blog.

This is an old "bahay na bato" which burnt down years ago, and the owners never got the chance to renovate it. I felt sad seeing this structure, this is just beside the Angono Highway. However, I am against the idea of demolishing it, I think it should stand as a testament of a time long past.

This used to be Nemiranda's art gallery, with the first floor used as a resto bar. Through the years, it has changed its purpose. Last time I checked, the rooms are being let as residential spaces and the first floor is rented by a funeral parlor. I once dreamt living in one of the rooms here, but it's always occupied by a renter. Still, I admire the architecture, and of course, the huge sculpture were both designed and made by Nemiranda.

That's it for now.

Balaw-Balaw

Balaw-Balaw is a restaurant/art museum in Angono, Rizal. I lived for almost two years in Angono, and this resto is one of my favorite places in town (the other one is Nemiranda's Art Camp). I took lots of photos of this resto, on different occasions, but I'm not in the mood to upload all of them here. If you want to see this great art resto, you have to come in person.

Yummy Filipino dishes in generous servings + great artworks = HEAVEN (for me, at least.)

This photo is one of my favorite shots of my favorite artwork in Balaw-Balaw. The sculpture is very realistic. When I first saw it, it made me break a tear, I can't explain the feeling, but I had a melange of emotions upon gazing on this wonderful piece: calmness coupled with heartbreak and longing and other emotions that I can't put into words. I know my photography isn't great, but I hope you get the gist that this is a great work of art.

I could almost see her breathing.

Vivitar Point-and-Shoot Test Shots

We bought the Vivitar P&S film camera for only 500 pesos buy-one-take-one from the local online deal store: cashcashpinoy, our local Groupon. If you are Pinoy, chances are, you've already heard or used that site.

It comes with a false panorama slide that you have to insert inside the cam's body. What it does is it gives the image a black border at the top and the bottom, fooling the eye into thinking that it's seeing a panoramic shot.

These were taken in Angono and Antipolo City, both in Rizal Province, Philippines.

First five photos are from Angono. This town offers idyllic spots, perfect for those who are tired of the city life. We just walked around and took photos of interesting subjects.

Here's a restaurant area, where you could choose your preferred "kubo" (nipa hut) to dine in. I don't know the name of the resto, it's closed when we went there, but their specialty are duck dishes, specifically, roasted ducks.

Since Angono is considered as the country's art capital, there are lots of places where art is their business. This one is the entrance to a factory of world-class sculptures. Again, my memory fails me in remembering the name of this place. You could easily spot it though, as it is near a prominent landmark in the town, the Iglesia station.

We walked further and spotted this huge carabao carving at a waiting shed. Each barangay in Angono have epic sculptures, but we weren't able to take pictures of all of it using this camera.

Finally, we went home to Pao's parents' home in Antipolo and strolled in the park within the subdivision. We spotted this old water tower, which looks like a UFO for me.

That's it for now. :)

Simbahan ng Boso-boso, Antipolo

Ang Simbahan ng Boso-boso sa Antipolo, circa 1768, ay isa sa mga natitirang arkitektura sa istilong Baroque. Medyo malayo ang kinalalagyan nito sa urban na bahagi ng Antipolo. Inabot kami ng mga 30 minutong paglalakbay na walang trapik mula sa terminal ng Antipolo town-proper: Dalawang sakay ng jeep, at isang byaheng traysikel mula sa sakayan sa bayan.

Ang walang kamatayang facade shot, siyempre, para sa pagkakalinlan na rin sa kabuuang itsura ng istruktura ng simbahan.


Gamit ay Yashica FX-D, ISO 100 LSI redscale film, pulled to ISO 50, 1/30, f/8

Ang mga simbahang ganito ay nilalagyan ng plaster na palitada para magmukhang makinis. Pero dala ng katandaan, nagbabakbak, at lumalabas ang mga bloke ng adobe (sa pagmamasid ko lang, wala akong makuhaan ng kumpletong impormasyon sa mga materyales). Sana pigilan na lang ng Historical Institute ang paglala ng kalagayan, na ganyan, huwag nang palitadahan o pinturahan pa.'Yung anino sa bandang kanan ay ang mga thick buttresses na sumusuporta sa kabuuan ng simbahan, para hindi mabuwal, lalo na pag lumilindol.

Kitang-kita rito kung gano kalaki ang bawat blokeng ginamit, at saka kung gaano rin kalaki ang buttresses ng simbahan.

Gamit ay Yashica FX-D, ISO 100 Kodak Ultima, pulled to ISO 50, 1/30, f/8

Kaarawan ko pala nung pumunta kami rito. Matagal ko na kasing gustong puntahan. Kahit taga-Rizal na ko, marami pa ring bahagi ng lalawigan ang hindi ko pa nabisita. Sabi ni Pao (taga-Antipolo) na aking kasama, ang Nuestra Senora de Buenviaje na nasa katedral ng Antipolo sa bayan ay orihinal na nandito, pero tila ayaw yata ni Senora rito, (haka-haka namin magubat kasi ang paligid, 'di ba't may parte ng El Filibusterismo na sa Boso-boso nangangaso ng usa 'yung sablay na Kapitan Heneral) kasi naglalakad daw ang imahe sa gabi at tuwing umaga nakikita nila ang santo na nasa puno ng tipulo kung saan narito ngayon ang katedral.

Kuha sa hardin. Malawak, mapuno, maaliwalas. Para akong bumalik sa nakaraang wala pang mga mausok na sasakyan at talamak na urbanisasyon.

(parehong settings sa nauna)

Ayokong mawala ang mga kagaya nitong bahagi ng ating kultura. Hindi ka man Kristiyano o walang pinapaniwalaang diyos, ang mga ganitong halimbawa ng arkitektura ay bahagi ng kasaysayan, sana huwag mapabayaan. Sana lumaganap ang turismo rito, para magkapondo ng informed conservation, hindi lang basta magmukhang bago. Pero katakot, kasi kasama ng laganap na turismo ay mga naliligaw na balahurang maaaring makasira pa ng tahimik at maaliwalas na lugar ng Boso-boso. Walang takas. Hay.

Pero smile naman diyan Pao, i-model mo ang mga moss at lichen na unti-unting kumakain sa mga batong bumubuo ng makasaysayang simbahang 'yan.

PEACE