I have yet to unload the photos I captured from last week’s National Rally for Peace organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo at the Quirino Grandstand. It’s not the first time I spent time with the brethren at such a large gathering, but this one is unlike the last one I attended.
This post covers the early hours of the morning of January 13 all the way until the Rally concludes and everyone goes home. This event was already broadcast to the media, so I’ll share more of my experience instead.
Aside from the main venue Quirino Grandstand (attended by a 1.5 million Church members – the numbers vary depending on who you asked), the rally was also held in 12 other locations across the Philippines.
I have several panorama photos to share along with you as I narrate my experience.
Just to let you know, we pulled off an online Induction and Turnover Ceremony in just a week, and there are lessons in doing so. Now, I take my body off and look at my Google Photo albums. I have backups of my past travels from Baguio, Cebu and Singapore there.
I have said before in my C3AFA Singapore 2018 Travelogue that if I won’t make it to the said event – which was marking its 10th year – I will regret it for the rest of my life.
I’m glad I made the decision to go.
Let me open the album of photos from my Singapore trip, as there are more stories beyond what I’ve told in the travelogue.
It’s best to fly as the sun rises to get the money shots
My flight to Singapore is around 5:30 in the morning, just in time for me to see the sun rise. I am reminded of our flag carrier’s memorable “Sunlight” ad with Kevyn Lettau singing to he tune of song of the same name.
As a central trading and transport hub in Southeast Asia, it’s not surprising that ships come and go into the country-state. This image shows just how many ships are in the sea as we approach the airport.
Going around
On this first trip, I am carrying a small luggage bag plus a backpack and a smaller bag. I’ve considered bringing a bigger luggage bag, which I did so when I went to Baguio. It sure is quite tedious to carry more bags.
There are a handful of moments at Suntec City, which includes seeing the “Big Picture” that the Exhibition Centre has, the first time I ate Kaya Toast, and that moment where I was asking for directions at the reception of the mall and then suddenly the receptionist asked me if I’m Filipino, then guide me to where I’m supposed to go.
I’ve seen videos of the AFA ticket queue through the post-event aftermath features online, so I’m not surprised when I saw it in person. This is coming from someone who have bought tickets in advance.
Digital TV roll-out in Singapore
By the time I arrived in Singapore, Digital TV has rolled out, and analog TV will end by December 30. The public information campaign has been aggressive – from train ads to channel notices and videos shared on social media.
In my personal opinion, Filipinos have yet to see this strategy be realized.
As far as I see it, the definition of Digital TV in the country has been almost dilapidated to pieces. We are not yet done explaining what Digital TV means to the grassroots so they can understand, and competition among broadcasters did not help.
As far as I see it, the masses’ focus for network loyalty has shifted into full overdrive as the then-dominant broadcaster got refused the privilege to operate its broadcast on terrestrial frequencies.
Despite all these, I still have the confidence that we can elevate its definition and intended purpose to the grassroots.
C3AFA Singapore 2018 moments
There are lots of things that I’ve mentioned in my C3AFA Singapore guide posted last year, but I’ll share more keepsakes for you.
Some photos here includes me, my friends and the rest of the community that I may or may not have known personally. Twitter is a home to a lot of eventers, and I’m glad to meet them in person.
I just feel that they are too powerful for me to get in touch with, so I settled with watching what they do and capture their moments.
I also took my time to pose with the standees so I can tell my mom that I am there. You don’t usually see me taking photos of myself.
Always capture the surroundings whenever, wherever you can
Singapore at day is great, but Singapore at night is fantastic. The city lights, the Marina Bay, the Jubilee and Helix Bridges which are great spots for cosplay photos, the Changi Airport…
I want to get back to all of it, stay a bit more, and get to the other unexplored areas as well. I haven’t seen the Sky Garden, or Universal Studios Singapore.
Whenever you can, wherever you are, capture the moment with your eyes first, and with your camera next.
That would be it for the photos from Singapore. Thanks for reading until the end. After the exhausting schedule, I plan to get back in action this month with new content. As always, keep yourselves safe.
Digongland 2, featuring new works by H.U. Sison and guest artists
After its successful launch last year, H.U. Sison’s “Adventures in Digongland” exhibition gets its second run at the SM Megamall Art Center, which opened last Thursday.
I went there a day after it opened and talked to the visual artist… after finding myself amused with all these artworks.
The “Digongland” artwork where Duterte is mashed with Mickey Mouse spawned more versions, and he said that it was the most sought-after work from last year’s exhibit.
On this year’s exhibition, you can get the artwork in small, medium and large sizes.
Now, I’m not going to spoil every artwork in this post considering that I only have my phone with me, but I was able to get a few stories about some of the artworks.
This is from guest artist Jomark Merez — H.U. Sison said he’s 22, younger than me — and while I forgot the title of Merez’s work, I will interpret his work in three words:
The. Idiot. Box.
“Riding-in-Tandem”: This artwork really, really got my attention.
For his next artwork, he searched for an image that resembles the topic of “Riding in Tandem” and happens to stumble upon a photo of (based on the hairstyles) Yuuko Aioi and Nano Shinonome from Nichijou.
Then he started from there, building up to what will be the “Riding in Tandem” series (there are two of them).
I was laughing at myself as I saw this. Quite amusing to me, yes.
There are some artworks that shows the state of current affairs in and out of the country (for example, the US-NoKor word war and the Marawi Siege)…
…and there are artworks that resembles the sentiments of the majority…
…but I think this is the best of them all: Aptly titled “Lahat Ibagsak” (Overthrow Everything), this purely-text artwork also reflects my sentiments.
Select artworks are open for bidding, and (as far as I know) you can state your bid in the venue and they will tell you if you got it after the exhibition.
The Adventures in Digongland 2 exhibit will last until January 15th.
In case you want to know what’s in last year’s exhibit, you can read my post here:
On a side note: I was supposed to be at the Artist’s Reception today by invitation of H.U. Sison but I wasn’t able to make it, as much as I would like to.
Once he opens the call for art contributions, I may pitch in.
Oh hi there — it’s been so long since I gave my last update. I’ve had my days when I’m salty sad, but since this is my space, we will share great, happy memories here.
I’m sharing to you some photos I took with my cellphone camera from way back two to three months ago.
At Hotel Jen, just near the CCP Complex.
I’ve been tinkering with my phone’s camera (a Lumia 320 Dual sim), which gives options to adjust aperture and exposure, and so far, I’m good with it. I also love taking photos with light trails, and so this happened. Give it 2 seconds or 5, place it in a steady place, and watch it take cool shots.
At Ortigas Center — from Megamall to the newly-built bridge connecting Metrowalk to Ortigas Center.
I like seeing light trails. If by any chance I’d like to test out capturing light trails on video, like those stock videos I see online.
At SM Marikina.
Some of these photos look good, some might not look good; but either way, these photos capture the night in the metro… Is what I was supposed to say, but then, I’m plain bored and doing this just pops out whenever I see roads at night.
At the Ayala Triangle Garden in Makati City.
Maybe — MAYBE — my next project will be to take a photo of myself in the middle of the road just before the vehicles start rushing through.
At EDSA corner Shaw Bouelvard in Mandaluyong City. Actually, this photo was not taken during night time, but in the early morning. …same goes with this photo at EDSA Guadalupe.
At EDSA corner Evangelista St., Makati City — minutes away from Taft Avenue.
We’re now at the end of the post. Before I cap this off, I’d like to announce that the NCR Qualifiers for the World Cosplay Summit Philippines will be held at the Megatrade Hall this month. Check out facebook.com/wcsph for details.
I look forward to see who’s going to be the NCR’s representative/s to be sent to Davao for the National Qualifiers (Finals) at the Nippon Industrial and Cultural Exchange at the Almendras Gym this April 2018. The winner of the National Qualifiers will be sent to Nagoya, Japan for WCS 2018 in August next year.
It’s the Events Weekend once again, and I was already thinking of going to Greenhills to celebrate Chika Takami’s birthday together with Aqours Philippines when this came up: A Cosplay Event in Taguig City.
I took this chance since I’m going to pass by the Felix Y. Manalo National Historical Landmark (which I did since the jeep passes there), and I was able to see cosplayer and acquaintance Sergio Sta. Ana leading the event as the organizer. Apparently, he has been running Tamiya 4WD matches in the mall, so it’s inevitable that he will go and be asked by the mall management to host a Cosplay event.
Before the competition starts, I was asked to share my thoughts on stage, and so I obliged. The video of it is on the Vlog at the end of this post.
