#223 An Orange Dawn

At dawn I often find fishermen at work, surrounded by a sea bathed in orange, reflecting a sky painted by first light. Haven't I seen enough dawns in my lifetime?

Perhaps. But on the shores of Hunugan Cove in Caramoan, I stalked the dawn for four consecutive mornings. It usually starts off as a pitch black sky before the silhouettes of the distant horizon become apparent. Eventually light appears in the sky, and hopefully there are enough clouds to reflect the enchanted colors of the dawn sun. Each dawn is different. And to witness each unique spectacle can make every attempt worth the wake. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: Perseverance increases the odds of catching a great dawn, but just as in life, there are no guarantees. I often wish there were more clouds in the eastern sky, but not so much that it obscures the horizon. That's the usual recipe for a fantastic light show.)

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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.)

#222 What's holding you back?

We sometimes wish we were somewhere else, but somehow, getting there is another story.

We were on Cotivas Island in Caramoan, within the comforts of a grass hut during the hottest part of the day. From our cozy vantage point, the scene before us is both enchanting & inviting. We wished we were frolicking the waters instead, it must be so cool & refreshing! But wait, it's just too hot to venture outside, why not wait until the sun goes down?

Well, just as in life, that's one of the reason why we are not where we wish to be.  Sometimes, 'too hard' gets in the way. Now , imagine the possibilities for those who dare. (And if you're a relentless photographer: images that are both enchanting & inviting.) Enjoy.

(Pixel-peeper: By now most of us know we can improve our composition by framing our subject. Just remember that when you reduce the amount of sky in your photograph, you'll need a tad more light to get your photograph properly exposed.)

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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.)

#221-b When you wish upon a star...

A special double postcard this week...

When you wish upon a star, dreams can still come true.

We've had Kitkat when she was just 6 months old, and since then she has turned into a happy little bundle with a quick wit and a disarming smile. While awaiting adoption, we've been wishing on a star, any star, that she'd get a permanent family soon. That wish will soon come to pass, as we've been told two families twelve timezones away have been shortlisted to receive her. It's a time of joy for us that her life will soon be complete, but also of sadness that we may never see her again. But the most important thing is that she will soon have something we've all taken for granted: a family of her own. Truly, what more can anyone ask for? Prayers appreciated. Enjoy.

(A special note for those following Kitkat's story. Orphanages in our country are bursting with abandoned babies awaiting permanent families. They were all born with an abundance of hope, but sadly, a little short on luck. Please help us change that. If you would like to learn how to foster babies until they are adopted, or simply want to help with your time or money, contact an orphanage today. Babies are waiting.)

My better half, Birang, is the reason we are fostering. Write her if you need more info: birangw2001 at yahoo.com

#221 Summer is here.

Summer is upon us, and with it, the high humidity and heat that summers in a tropical country are known for. Luckily, we live among 7,100 islands so the remedy is to escape to the coasts.

We were on the island of Matukad in Caramoan, with fine white sand beaches that lead down to a large portion of the shallows. The water here is cool, clear, and an emerald green as today's postcard attests. And the heat from a summer sun? We love it here. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: Beach scenes are very bright, and the auto exposure setting on most cameras will try to underexpose it. That will make the brightest portions, like the sand, appear darker than they really are. The trick is to meter on a more neutral part of your composition, which in this case, is the water. The bonus here is that the water, since it was your meter target, will have as accurate a color as possible, which is what we'd expect from a beach photograph, right?)

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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.)

#220 The Bigger Picture

Sometimes... you need to take a step back or two to see the bigger picture... and realize how limited your original perspective was... (I almost jumped in joy at this insight, but luckily I realized that I was standing on a narrow dike... and that I may not land exactly where I took off <g>)

Still, I can't complain. Good things come to those who seek, and I thought I had witnessed more than a mortal's share of beauty on this trip. So if one day you get that urge to feast your eyes and/or refresh your soul, a road trip through our own Cordilleras may be exactly what the doctor ordered. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: The dikes were so narrow that there was only one place I could stand the entire time night turned into day. I wished there was more space to be creative, but sometimes you just have to take what's dealt to you.)

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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.)

#219 Vegetable Bowl

Most folks will tell you their vegetables come from the highlands of Baguio City, but the simple truth is that there just isn't enough land there anymore for vegetables. The biggest vegetable markets are still located in Baguio and in nearby Trinidad valley, but most of them are now produced in the nearby towns of Atok and Buguias in Benguet, up to three hours north along the Halsema highway.

When you drive along this highway, you will know what I mean. Every productive patch and nook is dedicated to growing veggies. The weather is cool, the sun abundant, and water is everywhere. This is where our vegetables really come from. Enjoy.

(Pixel-peepers: One can spend a week here and still not run out of stuff to photograph! And because it can often-times be cloudy, watch for dramatic light as fast-moving clouds momentarily block the sun in an endless struggle for supremacy. Brocolli in Baguio can be just P30/kg on a weekday. Can you imagine what they might sell for right on the farm?)

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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.)