#218 Mark of the Warrior

She's not a warrior of course, but her tattoos are for real. They're body art practiced by the tribes in the province of Kalinga. Real warriors wear them to ward off evil or commemorate their bravery. And their women wear them too. They're head-hunters after all, although that practice has ended in the middle of the last century.

The women wear beads handed down from generations, and wear tattoos to look beautiful to their men. But this practice is a vanishing tradition as the younger generations no longer adorn their bodies this way. The women we photographed are in their 70's, with several near the age of 100. That's why we are racing to photograph as many as we can... before they are all gone. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: The tattoos are very finely done as you'd expect from art. I photographed them inside their homes, sitting in front of an open doorway or window. Natural light is quite flattering when they're directional. If you would like to try your hand at this, please contact my guide Lilibeth Atumpa in Buscalan Kalinga. You can look her up on Facebook.)

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Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

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For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#217 Horse Shoe Bend

You may have read about how mountains are carved by the rivers that run through them, but it's only when you see a mountain range like this one do you realize the real power of water to transform a landscape.

We were driving between the Mountain Province and Kalinga when we came across this scene. We just had to stop. Like most things in life... miss a moment and it's gone. There was ample time for photography, as there was also time to simply gape in awe at what nature had wrought. Isn't life just amazing? Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: It's another panorama created by shooting 8 pictures handheld. Pretty neat technology, huh?)

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Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#216 Bontoc at Sunset

The town of Bontoc in the Mountain Province is located in a sliver of a valley beside the mighty Chico river. At sunset, the valley glows golden from pregnant rice fields. And what a sight it is.

But you can tell progress is consuming Bontoc. In many places, concrete buildings have sprout where they used to plant rice... ensuring that a scene like this will soon be golden no more. Pack your bags and see it before it's too late. It's an 11-hour drive that will be worth your while. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: I've created panoramas before with a special lens on a tripod. It's the serious photographer's way to depict really wide scenes. But this is the first time for me to take up to 8 shots handheld, and then stitch them together with smart software. The final product isn't as sharp, I found several places where pixels have been stretched, but for purpose other than a fine art print, it does the job. Try it today.)

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)

#215 It's the company you keep

We spent nearly half of the time driving across the Cordilleras, first through Benguet, and then the Mountain Province, before eventually arriving in Kalinga. How can a photograph be worth such an arduous journey?

You see, it's so much easier when you travel with friends. You get to listen to someone else' stories, re-live their experiences, learn from each other, and generally catch up on life. Your soul comes home richer than you started, which is more than I can say about being caught in city traffic. And while every now and then it appears to be all about the photograph, in truth it seldom is. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: When surrounded by such wonderful landscapes, don't forget to stop and smell the flowers... I mean to stop and look at the small but important stuff. Sharing a few cups of coffee with friends at inconsequential rest stops made all the difference.)

Sign-up to receive new postcards weekly by email 

Past postcards at www.PostcardsFromManila.com

Say hello: Bobbyw59@yahoo.com

But wait, there's more...

For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)