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25 May 2012

Photography: Malacañang of the North (2008)

Madali lamang ang byahe papuntang Malacañang of the North at Lawa ng Paoay. Mula Paoay Church, sumakay lang ng tricycle.  Mas mabuti na mag-renta lang ng isang tricycle at paghintayin.  Makipagkasundo na lamang sa driver ng tamang presyo. Hindi ka naman aabutin ng matagal sa lugar. Matapos mong libutin ang bahay at ang kapaligiran, at kumuha ng mga litrato, tapos na.  Mas magandang pumunta doon bago mananghalian para maiwasan ang maraming tao.  Huli kong punta sa lugar na ito ay noong 2008 pa at baka marami na ang nagbago.   Pinagpayuhan rin ako na huwag bumisita tuwing tag-ulan dahil minsan ay umaapaw ang Lawa ng Paoay.

Going to Malacañang of the North and Paoay Lake is easy.  From Paoay Chruch, ride a tricycle.  It is better if you just rent a tricycle and ask the driver to wait for you.  Negotiate a reasonable price with the driver. The place will not take much of your time.  Once you have explored the whole house and compound, and taken enough pictures, you are done.  The best time to visit is before lunch so you can avoid the crowds.  The last time I went here was in 2008 and things may have changed by now.   I was advised not to visit the place during monsoon seasons because Paoay Lake sometimes overflows its banks. (By Rob San Miguel)

20 May 2012

Photography: "The Sun, the Clouds and Paoay Church"


Ang Simbahan ng Paoay ay marahil isa sa simbahang nakunan nang napakaraming litrato sa Pilipinas.  Noong pumunta ako noong 2008, medyo nag-aalanganin dahil ako ang pinakahuli sa aking mga kaibigang na nakabisita na sa lugar.  Gaano ba kaiba ang aking magiging litrato kumpara sa mga libo-libong litrato ng mga ibang manlalakbay?  Hindi ko naman basta basta gayahin na lamang ang kuha ng iba.

Ika-8 ng umaga nang natuntun ko ang lugar sakay ng dyipni.  Nang nasilayan ko na ang nakamamanghang tanawin, aking natanto na ang iglesia pala ay isa lamang entablado, ang araw at ang mga ulap ang sabik na makuhanan ng litrato.
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Paoay Church is probably one of the most photographed churches in the Philippines.  When I came to see the old church in 2008, I was a bit wary being one of the last of my friends who got to visit the place.  How could my photographs be any different from all countless travelers out there?  I could not just photograph Paoay Church the way others had photographed her.

It was around 8 in the morning when I reached the place via jeepney.  Once I got there and finally viewed the majestic sight, I realized that the church was just the stage, the sun and the clouds were the ones eager for a photo shoot.  (By Rob San Miguel)

19 May 2012

Food Review: "Samsaram Cafe's Poque-poque Pizza" (2008)


Samsaram Cafe's delicious Puki puki pizza
(No pun intended)

by Rob San Miguel
This article was first posted in "Sardonique" [2008]

A food connoisseur should not only be bold, but he should also have a sense of humor. Food is as varied as the people so you must be prepared for the unexpected. Some dishes will make your stomach turn while other will tickle your curiosity. When you encounter something amusing, be a man. Take it and enjoy it. After all, part of enjoying food is having a good laugh about it. As they say, food becomes more pleasurable if you share it with your loved ones. This expression has become a cliché but it is the truth. You giggle, tease each other, make jokes or just generally have a fun time with people close to you.

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