Water Spout - A waterspout is an intense columnar vortex that occurs over a body of water, connected to a cumuliform cloud. In the common form, it is a non-supercell tornado over water. Source: Wikepedia

We are navigating in Singapore going to China to deliver Soya beans. One of our AB spotted the water spout ahead of our ship it is dead ahead of us. My Chief Officer commanded to alter the course to starboard to avoid it. As we approach the waterspout you could hear like a Rasenggan was being cast by Naruto. If you watch anime then you could get what I am saying. This is my second time to see a waterspout but the first one I wasn't able to capture. But this time our Deck Cadet was able to capture this amazing phenomena. I wish I could see more and capture in high definition.

The Pabirik Festival is celebrated every last week of January up to the day of the town fiesta on the second day of February. The highlight of the event is the Pabirik Street Dancing Competition. All schools in Paracale competed showing different representations of how Nuestra Señora De Candelaria defended the town against the Moro invaders.

If you are wondering what is "PABIRIK"? Pabirik is an essential tool used by miners in Paracale. Usually, it is made of strong circular wood. Just look at the photos below. The participants in Street Dancing Competition hold a Pabirik. It is said that the reason why Spaniards colonized Paracale is because of the gold underneath the town.

  

This is the first time in Pabirik Festival to be accompanied by local Cosplayers.

There are stories about the miracles made by Our Lady of Candelaria. On August 29, 1809. 37 Moro tried to invade the town but has no match for the lightning quickness of the Lady Patron. The remaining enemies are swallowed by one huge gulp of seawater.

Mining is like gambling you didn't know if there is gold. Usually, you didn't get anything. Many lives are lost because of mining. Miners sometimes get trapped below the ground or drowned.

Last October 27, 2012 I attended the 8th Philippine Komiks Convention or Komikon at Bayanihan Center, Pasig City. Inside the building I saw different kinds of comics indi, mainstream and local comics. The only reason why I attended this event is to see and to have a autograph of Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo the writer and artist of the famous TRESE Komiks. Aside meeting Mr. Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo I got a chance to meet other artist like Huebert Khan Michael, Stephen Segovia, Carlo Pagulayan and Lui Antonio. They do sketches if you buy a paper provided by Komikon with Komikon label.

 

Who loves manga?

 

 

This comics are all originally pinoy made.

Meet, greet and have an autograph with Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo. As you can see in the picture many fans are lining up to buy the 5th installment of Trese Komiks and to have an autograph.

 

                                Tagailog                                                             Ed Tadeo

Author of Pugad Baboy Apolonio "Pol" Medina, Jr.

I can't remember his name but I saw him in a book called "Renaissance Ang Muling Pagsilang". He said to me that he's an artist in Liwayway.

Dexter Soy is illustrating the characters in the graphic series of Captain Marvel.

Michael David the author of Kubori Kikiam.

 

Some Cosplayers are there also to promote their comics.

A lot of the photographers wants to have a solo picture of the lady in the middle and they also take her email add. 

Panagbenga Festival - is a month-long annual flower festival occurring in Baguio, the summer capital of the                   

Philippines.

I know that this post late about Panagbenga Festival. All the photos you can see here are taken last February 2012. My family went to visit Baguio City to have some quality time and relax. When we get there we checked in to the hotel. We rested for a while because of the 8 hour drive from manila. Our hotel was near the grotto so I decided to take a walk. I was having difficulty in breathing when I started to go the Grotto maybe because of the steep stairs. That was my first time to go there and walking solo in Baguio City. 

 The next morning I woke up early to watch the Parade and Street Dancing Competition held every fourth Sunday of February. That time I brought my new D3100 camera that was the first time I’ve used it and the only time to practice photography. I took a taxi to go to the Melvin Jones Grounds to take my spot to in taking pictures. I felt the cold air of the morning and felt the suns heat. I have this burning sensation in my forehead but I endured to see the Parade up-close.

The photos you see in this blog post are taken inside the Melvin Jones Grounds during the Parade and Street Dancing Competition.

It is said that the reason of Panabenga Festival to boost the tourism of Baguio City and to learn the old culture tradition of the indigenous people.

Afters the competitions I was able to take photos of the competitors. I just talk to one of the photographers to teach me techniques. The photographer said to me that I shouldn't be shy in asking to take photos of the models.

I have so much in the first day of the festival! Enjoy looking at my photos that I've posted here.

 See you again in my second day in Baguio City!

In this post i would like to share to you what is happening inside Cockpit arena. Cockfight is a bloodsport between two cocks(Roosters), or we can call them as gamecocks. The fight between gamecock is held inside a ring called cockpit. The aim of the game is to fight ultimately until one them dies or critically injured and unable to play.

 Inside the cockpit you will see "SULTADOR" the one who hold the gamecock. "SENTENCIADOR" by the name itself you can know what was his job, he's like the referee of the game. "KRISTO" what i know his job is he just shout a language that a i don't understand. 

Once the fight starts only the veterans can understand what is happening, the gamecocks are just fast too fast to my eyes.

                                            

                                              Here is the "SENTENCIADOR" doing his job.

After the battle of gamecocks the lucky survivor are treated by what they call a "DOC" they are wounds are treated by the "DOC". They are not a licensed vet to this things. They are paid 100 pesos per head.

 AHMmm This is the place of unlucky roosters who died in the battle. This place is called "PALNITAN or BALAHIBOHAN" they are now owned by the winner of fight. The dead ones are now called "SAMBOT". Some people eat them for dinner.

And THAT'S ALL! I would like to give Thanks to my cousin Ariel Manarang in explaining some of the terms  I used in this blog post. Hope you like it! Before you left my page below is a sample what's happening inside Cockpit Arena. This is held in Brgy. Palanas, Paracale, Camarines Norte.

Since we started to go to school, learning about the life of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal was part of the curriculum. And even until we reach college Jose Rizal life work's still needed to be studied. Reason? Because his life and works inspire Filipinos especially young people whom he said will be the future of our nation.

We all know that Dr. Jose Rizal traveled to places like Europe and some parts of Asia but he has never been to Daet, Camarines Norte. The reason why I am saying this is because the first and oldest monument of Jose Rizal was constructed in Daet, Camarines Norte. The Bikolanos build the monument to honor the late Dr. Jose Rizal. They started to build the monument on December 30, 1898, two years after his execution. The monument was completed after 2 months and the old mortars and boulders from the old Spanish jail were used to be the foundation of the monument.

I've been living in Paracale, Camarines Norte for the past 32 years of my life. I just recently learned that the Oldest Jose Rizal Monument was built in Daet, Camarines Norte a one-hour drive from our place. The monument is located in Freedom Park where a lot of students hang out. I used to pass that area when I visit my mom in her former office and I thought it was just a stone beside the road.

Hope you like my post and thank you for visiting! Come back for more articles to read.

Calaguas - is a group of islands composed of Tinaga Island (Major), Guintina Island (Major), Maculabo Island (Minor) and other minor island.

The Mahabang Buhangin is located at Tinaga Island where tourist are amaze by the beauty of the powdery white sand and the clear waters surrounding it.

After a long year of being away from the Philippines, my friends and I decided to reunite and have a relaxing day at Calaguas. Each of us contributed for the food and the boat that we will be using. The cost of renting a boat is 7k and its capacity is 20 to 25 people. We were just 6 in our barkada but luckily my friend Francis Kevin invited some of his friends from Manila and that lessened our contribution for the transportation

Once you're near the island you'll see the bluish clear water, you'll be entice to dive in the water! Just Be careful because the water is too deep so wait for the boat to be near shore.

Spend your summer vacation in Calaguas.

On the right side of the island, there is this rocky part. This is the the spot where you can get signal. Bring plenty of patience if you plan to txt someone.

This is us having fun with the camera while our friend covered in sand.

I suggest that you bring sun glass and your own tent. You need the sun glass to protect the eyes during noon because the sun rays reflect to the sands causing you eye to get burned by the light. There is no commercial establishment that offers any accommodation that's why you need to bring tents.

You can see to the photos how clear the water is.

 We are just having fun! We take plenty of jump shots this is the one I like.

We are going home! A group picture of my newly found friends. I don't who they are but they become a friend of mine in one day and a half.