I love Siargao so much that I went not once, but twice, this year. On my first time in February, my friends and I made sure to explore every attraction and eat as much food as we can take and afford. It meant long motorbike rides, sore butts and a (kind of big) hole in our savings, but we were determined. I also surfed for the first time. It gave me so much joy to be able to stand on the board on top of the little baby waves. My second time (last August) in Siargao was a very different experience. It was more laid back, some naps here and…
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Photo Diary: Blue Skies of Digyo Island
Location: Digyo Island, Leyte
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The Quiet Side of El Nido: Nacpan Beach
The funny thing about travel is that even though it only lasts for a few days or a week, that feeling of joy is always there in remembering. As I am writing this on my bed after work on a Monday, my heart feels full reminiscing this trip and being excited for the ones in the coming months. Outside the busy and tourist-packed town of El Nido lies a long stretch of white sand beauty called Nacpan Beach. An hour-long bumpy jeepney ride led us to a place that looked just like any provincial remote area in the Philippines, except it wasn’t. You wouldn’t guess that this beach was situated just 10 minutes…
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Golden Hour
Many photographers and cinematographers swear by the “golden hour”. A short period after sunrise and a little bit before sunset are some of the best times to capture moments. This is what we call the golden hour, when the sun shines the perfect amount of light and gives a golden cast to the components of your frame. Surely, visual artists don’t shoot only at this time of day. They shoot under a cloudy sky, on a rainy day, and even indoors with little to no natural light. They see potential in every moment, no matter how ordinary it may seem. There is no wrong or right place; there is only the thought of creating…
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Siquijor: Charisma Beach Resort
It’s summer all year long in the Philippines! Took my chances and went on a 3-day trip to Siquijor during rainy season. Lo and behold, the sun was shining so bright during our stay. The highlight of this trip was definitely the beach-front hostel we booked – Charisma Beach Resort. Not bad for 450 pesos a night. When we arrived, the first thing I did (even before checking in) was take photos of the area. I loved how everything was so Instagram worthy. I was trying out my new ultra wide angle lens, so that didn’t help tone down my excitement either (not sorry!). They also had some nice hammocks by…
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Mt. Naupa: A Night in the Mountains
It was raining that afternoon. I never understood why people trek for hours on end just to reach the summit. Is it just to escape the mundane everyday routine, away from all the noise of responsibilities and work? Maybe I’m right, or maybe there’s something more to it. This hour long hike to Mount Naupa confirmed something I already knew – how physically unfit I was. Despite being aware of this fact, I went on anyway. Maybe this had something to do with my New Year’s Resolution of saying “yes” more often. But for the most part, I did it for the stunning sunset views, Milky Way and sunrise. I got…
