Bantayan Island from a Lover's Eye

Location: Bantayan Island, Cebu, Philippines

Camera: Nikita, a Nikon P310

Accommodation: Bantayan Island Nature Park and Resort (Complimentary)

During our first trip in Sta. Fe, almost two years ago, a colossal columbus teased the skyline while three kids crawled on the muddy shore like a six-legged insect circling and giggling around.—The Clouds of Bantayan, Backpacking with a Book

The only island that P has been to aside from Cebu. 

The Big and Little Things Found at Virgin Beach Resort

Location: Suba, Malbago, Daan Bantayan Resort, Cebu, Philippines
Cameras: Pawlito, a Nikon 3100, and Nikita, a Nikon P310
Accommodation: Complimentary
Food: Complimentary
Transportation: P280 (Bus Fare)   

Because it is always the small things—the often unnoticed—that consume us.—musings on Backpacking with a Book soon

Good-Friday Trek at Tuburan, Cebu

Location: Marmol–Kalangahan Traverse, Tuburan, Cebu, Philippines
Camera: Pawlita, a Canon 1100D (Dead)


As a kid, the hills surrounding our modest house used to be my playground. It was first in my adult years to trail the unfamiliar terrains of Tuburan. —Backpacking with a Book

PROJECT: TERRA MANNA

Client: Terra Manna Camping & Resort

Sitio Lambug, Badian, Cebu, Philippines 

Camera: Pawlita (Dead), a Canon 1100D

Mt. Lanaya: Assaulting Its Arrogance

Lanaya, you always make the sun and the sea look grand and near. Your arrogance reminds me of mine. It was EWIT who let me experience you in 2010 via the deceptive Legaspi Trail. For a person who rarely trusts ropes, I made full use of my body and mind. I love you, and you know that, right?
Location: Legaspi, Alegria, Cebu
Camera: Nikkita, a Nikon P310

iTalk at 3: The Faces and Actions

What: iTalk English Inc. 3rd Anniversary
Location: Plantation Bay Resort and Spa
Cameras: Nikkita, a Nikon P310 (day and food) and Pawlito, a Nikon 3100 (night) 

The Lives of Britania, Surigao del Sur

Camera: Pawlita, an 1100D (dead)

Location: Britania, San Agustin, Surigao del Sur, Philippines 

It stopped being an island. And what is left is the nostalgia of its islandness: the stillness of everything at night, the gradual motion of something in the day.—from the travel essay "Stories from Britania, Surigao del Sur"

The travel essay was published on Manila Bulletin

Mt. Kan-irag: A Moonful Night

August is a mountainful month, among others. Here are the images, little reminders of such a great night. That night, the moon looked like an egg, which "kuwang nalang buk-on para sud-anon" to use the little fighter Khyra's words. Ariel spotted a buntog (quail), and we guiltily disturbed its rest on its nest for a trivial picture. It crawled out from its place and left a round dropping—out of fear, I guess. My first to experience lechoning manok, three of them, and tuslo-buwa-ing on top of the mountain—the marvel of the experience!  Thank you, EWIT! To the cook and the birthday dad, salamat, Sir Marvz!

Camera: Nikkita, my daughter, a Nikon P310

Photo Essay: Bathalad's July Poetry Reading

Moalboal Memories in Pictures

Moalboal reminds me of a rainy dusk, of the ruthlessness of the waves, of memories awash, of two girls giggling on the shore. And now, more Moalboal memories to remember:  Wang drawing a line on the sand, Em-em and her braided hair and huge mole, Therese all smiling, the Ang Suga staff doing retreat-like activities, the cute guy facilitating the activities, and an old man goggling to see me in my bikinis underwater.—Backpacking with a Book entry

The cute kid I was talking about.