Members and friends of the Camera Club of Leyte & Samar (CCLS) and the Litratista Forum group gathered together for a super fun-filled night on its Christmas Party, Dec. 28, 2009 at Casablanca Studio, Tacloban City.

As expected, it was truly one unforgettable night as members showcased their “hidden” musical and entertainment prowess highlighting talent and skills other than in the field of photography.

It was a most enjoyable night the party broke up only upon knowing it was way past 3 o’clock in the morning!

View: slideshow

View: full gallery

Photos by Luisito Cabrera, Ludette Ruiz and gerryruiz.

Couldn’t help it, everybody’s at Facebook (or so it seems).

So to those with FB accounts, do check out calle Z café’s page and add it by clicking “become a fan.”

Here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tacloban-City-Philippines/calle-Z-cafe/219433831790?v=photos&ref=nf#/pages/Tacloban-City-Philippines/calle-Z-cafe/219433831790?ref=ts

The latest scenes at calle Z:

Above, calle Z café’s staff Christmas Party, Dec. 24, 2009

Leyte National High School Class of ‘88 Christmas Reunion, Dec. 26, 2009

Holy Infant College High School Class of ‘95 Christmas Reunion, Dec. 28, 2009

I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and wonderful things coming your way in 2010!

To those far away from home and your loved ones, be joyful as well as you dream of the love and warmth of home and friends.

Let me share with you some photos taken Dec. 23 – two days before Christmas – of Tacloban’s downtown scene, with the holiday rush and all.

Happy holidays, everyone!

View more photos: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p767195133

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p767195133/slideshow

Photos taken during photowalk of CCLS’ 3rd Basic Photography Seminar-Workshop, Dec 23, 2009 in Tacloban City

“Robotic Christmas” is this year’s Tacloban City government’s theme for the Christmas celebration in the city.

A rubber artist from Marikina was commissioned to do the over-all set-up of Christmas decorations in the city based on a “crystal robotic” theme.

Here’s the late night scene at the Balyuan area where the main attraction – a giant silver Christmas tree – has been erected with robots around it.

I envy a friend who has this great backyard.

I’m envious not because of his yard’s large area. But mainly for the view he wakes up to every morning – the Cancabato Bay.

So I paid him a visit one drizzling afternoon, not really expecting to get any great photos as the weather ahead looked stormy, with heavy cloud formation amassing at the eastern horizon.

Here’s what I got at the back of Butch Celestial’s place along Sagkahan, Tacloban City:

Thanks, Butz!

More photos and slideshow >>> http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p554514949

Paru-parong Bukid Nature Conservation Center formally opened its gates to the public yesterday, Dec. 13, 2009.

With the intermittent shower driving me back to seek shelter at least three times, I was barely able to get decent photos.

Here are samplers taken during yesterday’s soft opening…

Paru-parong Bukid Nature Conservation Center offers the family a fun-filled day. Activities include fishing, kayaking in a mangrove area, fun with butterflies inside a butterfly farm, strolling around the lush gardens in a mini-forest like scenario and simply communing with nature.

Paru-parong Bukid Center is located in Brgy. Lukay, Babatngon, Leyte, just a few kilometers further up from Rafael’s Farm.

View more photos and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p39004513

Rice, a cereal grain, is the most important staple food in most countries of Southeast Asia, most specially in the Philippines.

What many do not know is it’s one important staple food not only in the region but for a large part of the world’s human population.

Centuries of trade and exportation have made it commonplace in many cultures worldwide. It is the grain with the second highest worldwide production, after maize or corn which is also cultivated for livestock feed.

Here’s rice or palay harvest time somewhere between Jaro and Sta. Fe, Leyte.

• View full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p112062618
• View slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p112062618/slideshow

I never saw it happening this fast. I meant too soon.

It was just like the start of the “ber” months and as early as in October TV networks were noticeably going the extra mile with choral groups dishing out Christmas songs already in their morning shows.

And now, it’s beginning to look a tad like Christmas. Whew, as the kids say, we are “all in denial.”

Saturday, December 5, 2009 found us at Robinson’s Place Tacloban where Ms. Ludette was made chairperson of the board of judges of a Parol-Making Contest.

Spearheaded by Tacloban City Councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez, the contest had eight finalists from a number of entries submitted by participants limited to residents of Tacloban City. The parols (Christmas lanterns) were intricately designed using local, indigenous materials which the contest guidelines highly encouraged. Impressive.

Here’s the scene at the new mall in Tacloban City last Saturday…

Photo above, the eight finalist lanterns are displayed before the panel of judges.

The winners…

Above, 3rd Place (P2,000 prize): Entry by Ricky Partoza

2nd Place (P4,000 prize): Ronnel Peñaranda of Brgy. 103 – Palanog, Tacloban City

1st Place (P6,000 prize): Evelyn Galanza of Brgy. 35-A, Pampango, Tacloban City

Councilor Cristina Gonzales-Romualdez

• View more photos >>> http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p96342482
• View slideshow >>> http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p96342482/slideshow

Break of dawn on top of the San Juanico Bridge.

Just another daybreak at the famous bridge? Well, not quite it.

Witnessing daybreak from atop the San Juanico Bridge is really something else. The panoramic view the vantage point provides as the initial ray of sunlight breaks through the mountains on the horizon gives a broader sense of scale to one’s earthly existence.

Sunrise of November 29, 2009 atop the San Juanico Bridge. All is quiet and peaceful in the world.

This gets shattered suddenly by the screaming sirens of mobile police escorts. It was signaling the start of the walkathon.

For it was also the 6th Annual San Juanico Bridge Walk, dubbed as “Sumpay Sangkay 2009″ – a walkathon across the  2.16-kilometer graceful bridge from the Samar side to Leyte side.

Some 300 participants, mostly students from UP in the Visayas Tacloban College, Eastern Visayas State University and the Leyte Normal University crossed the bridge as the gentle sunlight lent a golden tinge around the tranquil and picturesque scene.

Spearheaded by the Runggiyan Social Development Foundation and the UP Runggiyan, the annual walk-for-a-cause was held in commemoration of the international 18-day Campaign Against Violence Against Women.

Its sponsors included various government agencies such as the DPWH Regional Office 8, the Provincial Government of Leyte, the City Government of Tacloban and the Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Trafficking of Persons of Region 8 (RIACAT 8). Other government agencies which participated in the walk were the Commission on Human Rights, DSWD and the Department of Health.

A prayer was said in memory of the women victims of the recent Maguindanao massacre.  Doves bearing the walkers’ inspirational messages of peace and justice for women victims of violence were released to freedom.

I had had my chance at capturing the swift sunrise and the changing of the light. Also snapped a few of the walk-for-a-cause.

I then felt the urge for a hearty breakfast.

• View full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p1007624661
• View slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p1007624661/slideshow

For a long time I had a problem with the terms “macro” & “micro.”

Especially in Economics. Not among my favorite subjects back in college hehe.

In photography, it’s far easier to understand them. That’s simply because the terms “macro” and “micro” are loosely used interchangeably and refer to the same thing: taking extreme close up photos of tiny subjects – tiny objects, insects, bugs or butterflies – using a dedicated true macro lens.

Nowadays, it’s common for most cameras to be able to get close up shots of small subjects. And, as a marketing ploy, camera manufacturers write “macro” in their lenses which can take close up photos.

And therein lies the confusion. For there is such a thing as  “true” and “real” macro lenses. True macro lenses allow one to take photos on a 1:1 ratio and even larger (note that you can fit and shoot the whole San Juanico Bridge and the head of a dragonfly in your camera sensor but the bridge would be extremely compressed while that of the dragonfly would be magnified).

Photos taken by true macro lenses, by design and manufacture, are very much sharper and show the tiniest details of the subject (e.g. cell patterns of the eyes of a bee or dragonfly) compared to those taken by normal lenses.

I do not have a true macro lens (yet! paging Santa!) but some of my lenses allow me to get close, real close up shots

• All photos taken using a Canon EF-S 10-22mm ultrawide(!) lens fitted with an ED-Digital Wide Converter with Macro 0.5X 77mm.

• Taken at the soon-to-open Paru-parong Bukid Conservation Center in Brgy. Lukay, Babatngon, Leyte. Special thanks to Doc Gil & Helly Asoy!

• View the full gallery and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p414744370

• Update: Additional photos at http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p795199861

We were at the star basketball game last Saturday, November 14 at the Astrodome – a fund raising activity of the Sacred Heart College.

The main attraction was the All Star Selection team composed of – you guessed it – national TV’s current showbiz teen stars pitted against the SHC Varsity Team.

You could hear the scream of the fans a mile away.

View the full gallery: SHC vs All Star Selection Basketball

View: CCLS at the SHC-All Star Basketball Game

Members of the Camera Club of Leyte & Samar take 5 after the game.

Joey Reyna – yes, the famed photographer of Tacloban City – last week showed us his weekend hideaway at their farm located in Brgy. Tigbao, one of the northern barangays of Tacloban City.

It’s near the approach to San Juanico Bridge on the left side of the highway with a big white signage that screams. “Fresh Buko!” A motorist wouldn’t notice it but perched high up in the hills at the back is a simple yet homey cottage offering a fantastic view of the San Juanico Strait and its famous bridge.

The occasion was the baptismal reception for Jillian Lexy – the latest addition to the budding family of Joey & Lilibeth Reyna. Naturally, members of the Camera Club of Leyte & Samar were there to welcome Jillian Lexy to the Christian world.

Like I said, the place provides one a fresh, fantastic view of San Juanico Bridge!

View the full gallery and slideshow >>> http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p753624115

Sent off the wifey at the airport this morning and on my way back, I decided to go pass by Brgy San Jose at the area by the bay.

Snapped a few too at the Sagkahan boulevard.

My photos’ exif info say the first shot was taken at 6:55AM Saturday, November 7.

6:55 AM Sat in Tacloban…
12:55 AM Sat in Cairo
1:55AM Sat in Moscow
2:55 AM Sat in Dubai
5:55 AM Sat in Bangkok
6:55 AM Sat in Hong Kong
7:55 AM Sat in Tokyo
9:55 AM Sat in Sydney

2:55 PM Fri in Tijuana, Mexico
2:55 PM Fri in Los Angeles
4:55 PM Fri in Chicago
5:55 PM Fri in Toronto & Montreal
5:55 PM Fri in New York
10:55 PM Fri London
11:55 PM Fri in Paris
12:55 PM Fri in Honolulu

Lovely day ahead!

Here’s the scene at the Tacloban Public Cemetery on All Saints’ Day & All Souls’ Day – November 1 & 2 respectively.

From all accounts the public cemetery had been declared full and closed to new burials, and yet, each year we find new tombs sprouting all over, even on what has been considered for years as public passage ways. As such, visiting the dearly departed nowadays is not for the elderly ones, as the old pathways have been turned into obstacle courses – one has to climb over new tombs just to get through to the family graveyard.

This public cemetery’s time has come to an end. It’s full to the brim, literally overflowing. It deserves a proper finis and burial, the proper maintenance and the respect due of a sacred burial ground.

Not the kind one sees today.

View the full gallery and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p5175950

View the full gallery and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p5175950

Awoooooo!!!

Here are the winners of the recent 65th Leyte Landings Photo Contest organized by the Camera Club of Leyte and Samar (CCLS), the Department of Tourism (DOT) Reg Ofc 8, and the Leyte Provincial Government.

Three winners were chosen under three categories, namely: War Memorabilia, Engagement Site and Uniquely Leyte.

From hundreds of entries submitted by 49 participants (a participant was allowed to submit a maximum of two entries per category), the top 10 photos per category were selected and finally the top 3 per catagery.

First prize was P10,000, 2nd was P6,000 and 3rd prize was P4,000. Each of the other 7 of the top 10 chosen got a P1,000 consolation prize.

The winning photos were exhibited Oct 16-22, 2009 at the main entrance of Robinson’s Place Tacloban.

The winners:

Category: War Memorabilia

1st Place: WWII Telephone EE-8-B by Jessica Mayo

2nd place: Fight for your Life by Lary Abria

3rd place: Rewarded Valor by Allan Arcallana

Category: Engagement Site

1st Place: The Two Towers by Oliver Norman Yee

2nd Place: A Gleam of Hope by Riann Bañez

3rd Place: Shoot Through by Paul Opiniano

Category: Uniquely Leyte

1st Place: Leyte Provincial Capitol by Jovino Cuayzon

2nd Place: Great Taste by Melchor Tagana

3rd Place: Malaguicay Falls by Erwin Lanante

The other runner-up entries were submitted by:

• Christian Vincent Alcazaren
• Richellieu Rouchelle Tuliao
• Jerome Tuazon
• Joel Opiniano
• Paul Opiniano
• Jerby Santo
• Eva Hingpis
• Mark Carlo Singh
• Janwill Pades
• Joel Manadong
• Alex Arcallana
• Ernesto Guarino

View the full gallery of 30 photos (Top 10 of 3 categories) at:

http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p580326711

View other galleries on the 65th Leyte Landing Photo Contest Exhibit held at Robinson’s Place Tacloban:

• Opening of Exhibit: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p821550383
• Pinning of Winners: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p540612337
• Awarding of Prizes (at the Bethel International School): http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p851831295

We did it!

The Warays made history Sunday by breaking the Guinness World Records (GWR) on the largest wine tasting event.

The official figure: 7,187 participants.

Prior to Sunday’s event, the Guinness World Records wrote An Waray Party-List – Octubafest Tagay’s organizers:

“The current record for ‘Largest wine tasting event’ is:

The largest wine tasting event involved 5,095 participants at the Plaza de Toros in Aranda de Duero, Spain on September 15, 2006.“

That changed Sunday, October 18, 2009 when over 10,000 Waray-warays trekked to the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park at the Government Center in Pawing, Palo to participate in the world breaking attempt and also to raise relief aid for the victims of the recent typhoons that devastated Luzon.

After validating registration records, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) certified that 7,187 actually participated in the wine tasting event of our native coconut wine – tuba. There were at least 3,000 more who were there to witness the event.

Before the record can be officially changed, organizers have to submit to GWR all evidence – registration records, official certifications and documentary evidence to back up the formal claim.

Once done, we hope it would put the Warays on the world map!

Official photographic and video documentation was done by the calle Zaragosa Productions group.

Visit the full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p1060428914

Registration

Donations for typhoon victims pile up

Moving force behind Octubafest – Cong. Bem Noel of AnWaray Party-List

Gov. Jericho “Icot” Petilla

K Brosas works up the crowd into fits of laughter

PICPA announces its official verdict: 7,187 participants – a new world record!

Preparations for the holding  of the 2nd Octubafest shift to high gear this week as organizers buckle up to accomplish two major objectives in this year’s tuba-tasting feat: that of establishing a new world record of having the most number of participants tasting wine together; and raising relief aid for typhoon victims of Ondoy and Pepeng in Luzon.

Octubafest’s “Tagay,” to be held Sunday, October 18, 2009 at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, aims to assemble over 7,107 participants (symbolizing the country’s number of islands) and all together taste the native wine, tuba in an attempt to break the current Guinness World Record of  5,000+ wine tasters being held by Spain.

At the same time, the event aims to raise relief aid donations – rice, canned goods, clothing, toiletries, etc. – for the thousands of victims of the recent typhoons which hit Luzon.

calle Zaragosa Productions has been commissioned to document (stills photography and video) the world record breaking attempt.

Read more >>> http://callezaragosa.com/czproductions/2009/10/13/octubafest-09-world-record-attempt-aid-for-typhoon-victims/

Update >>> Tagay! We broke the record!

Up in the hills at Brgy Rizal, at an elevation of 172 meters above sea level overlooking Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte, is a small cave which was developed by its original owners into a shrine with a quaint chapel inside it.

Over the years, the Monte Cueva de la Virgen Shrine has become a site for pilgrims and devotees and has become one of Maasin’s popular tourist destinations.

It’s not for those afraid of heights nor for those with weak knees…

When I first got to the site together with a group of tourism officials about 2 years ago, I faced the prospect of a laborious climb up the hill via a zigzagging concrete stairway consisting of more than 400 steps! Having had no sleep the previous night after a long trip from Surigao, I politely declined the challenge and handed over the camera to my wife who was up to the dare to conquer the hill.

Later, upon seeing the pictures she took, I was regretful I didn’t join the climb. Next time, I told myself.

Last Friday, we were in Maasin and my mind was made up I had to make THE climb. Upon reaching the site, I saw some improvements, notably the construction of a new concrete stairway which local folks say is more difficult to climb due to the steep design. And more steps than the old stairway. So, we took to the old, but reliable stairway, zigzagging and snaking its way up beneath a cool canopy of trees.

We were soon amply rewarded…

Climb up via the old route of zigzagging stairway of more than 300 steps…

Inside the cave at the top of the hill…

The view from atop the hill, 172 meters above sea level – Maasin City:

The new stairway… 400+ steps down…

View more photos of Maasin, Southern Leyte:

Gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p121823491

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p121823491/slideshow

I am a night person.

Been that way since way back college, and during our band’s days when playing the last set, say, at Holiday Inn was from 12:30AM-1:30AM and after having the usual nightcap meant getting to bed at 3AM at the earliest. Driving from Roxas Blvd to Cubao, QC and home in Makati. Every night for months; nay, years!

So when the wifey says she was taking the early morning flight from Manila and could I please meet her at the airport? No probs. It was a no brainer, not that it helped the fact that I also had to meet my sister who was arriving with her son from Cebu the same day at 6:30 in the morning.

So even if I have to sleep at past 1AM, I had to be up by 6AM. Geez! But, hey, if one has to be up by such an unholy hour, why not just wake up earlier and catch the sunrise for a change? Ok. Deal.

So at past 1:30AM, I reset my alarm from 6AM to 5 AM to be able to catch the sunrise.

I got in just in time!

Shots taken starting at 5:34AM, today October 04, 2009 at the Rotary Center, Astrodome compound, Cancabato Bay, Sagkahan District.

Good morning, Tacloban!!!

View slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p789729546/slideshow

We commiserate with the plight of all the victims of Typhoon Ondoy in Metro-Mla and elsewhere in Luzon.

Our prayers to those who perished, their families and loved ones, in one of the most devastating calamities ever to hit the country in decades.

It’s so peaceful and serene at the American Cemetery in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, Metro-Manila… belying actual circumstances behind their non-peaceful deaths: war.

Photos taken September 16, 2009.

View full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p45244287

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p45244287/slideshow

After our beach sunrise shoot (and a hearty breakfast at McDo), CCLS-Litratista members had a photowalk at Downtown Area, Tacloban City last Monday, September 21, 2009.

Since it was a non-working holiday, the scene was not that busy that morning.

Here’s what I got…

View more:

Full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p435427277

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p435427277/slideshow

Daybreak at White Beach, San Jose, Tacloban City

Members of the Camera Club of Leyte & Samar/Litratista were up very early this morning (4:30AM) for a sunrise shoot at White Beach, San Jose, Tacloban City.

The east horizon had an overcast sky as a tandem of fishermen puts out to sea, the otherwise peaceful scene rudely interrupted with the arrival of the early morning flights…

View gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p195361265

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p195361265/slideshow

Had the opportunity to take in the dusk scene at Cancabato Bay with the Astrodome in the background.

It’s a very relaxing and peaceful scene…