…and a breath taking sunset to cap off a day’s worth of adventures. :D
another paradise-cove of Zambales: Anawangin Cove!
Awesome view of the cove from the top of the ridge; tents are like colorful mushrooms on the grounds; an almost perfect picnic place. :)
Only, the local government should impose regulations to minimize clutter in the surroundings.
the rustic beauty of Faro Punta de Capones, the guiding light of the Island of Grand Capon
Capones Island,
San Antonio, Zambales
Heart Warming Encounter at Pamulaklakin Village
Pamulaklakin River streams
In the very heart of Subic forests lies a community called the…
It wasn’t the first time I visited Zoobic Safari. The first time was a swirl of thrilling experience of close encounters with different species of kingdom animalia–birds, camels, rodents, reptiles and up close with a tiger gobbling up a chicken with only the screens separating us from the big…
close encounter!
photo walk with Subic Bay Photography Society
at Zoobic Safari, Subic Bay
Remember the time you graduated and the guest speaker would deliver the “talk”? Yeah, the boring talk every graduate would like to skip to receive their diplomas already and head on to partying or receiving the gifts from the dear parents.
We’ll, I got an invitation today to give the “talk” on my Alma Matter’s commencement exercises My reaction was “whaaaaat??” Really, that’s the text message I sent to my batch mate who is now a teacher in the school they want me to be the guest speaker to.
On one hand, I’m flattered, of course, that they see me as one of those who “qualify” to deliver a speech that good heavens is supposed to encourage another batch of young dreamers to continue dreaming and striving to reach their dreams. On the other hand, I’m also thinking that I am the only option because I’m the only one left from my batch mates who have not gone working abroad yet. I panicked. hahah.
I had to turn down the invitation. Really, what substance can they get from me? With all humility, I cannot do it. For one, I dread speaking in public. It makes me so uncomfortable they would regret inviting me over. Number 2, they have no idea how far far away I am to even an inch of getting to where I dreamed of becoming a decade and a half ago. Number 3, I really feel I am not the right person to give the “talk”. I am not society’s definition of success.
I mean, come on, 15 years after I stepped out of my Alma Matter, there wasn’t much change in me. I am still the playful, day-dreaming short girl who just do whatever makes her feel good—alright, except for a few pounds additional. And hey, what would I tell the young ones? Get real, it’s more fun to go on road trips and trek and climb mountains and volcanoes or chase waterfalls than spend another decade studying! Pff! I spent a total of 19 years in school but it is not the measure of how wiser or foolish I have become.
Fifteen years after I received my diploma in that school, I’m still a dreamer and a day dreamer. Only this time, my dreams are different.
Fifteen years ago, I dreamt of becoming a doctor. Right now, I am in no way close to a doctor, except a month ago when I needed to consult to one because of my asthma. Ten years ago, I dreamt of becoming a journalist. Right now, I am a non-sociable individual who can’t even speak in public and express her own thoughts straight forward. My thoughts are a whirlwind of many things, FYI! Three years ago, I just want to finish my master’s degree and be done with it. Enough already. I have gone tired of trying to fit in the society of adults. I stopped dreaming of titles, or nice labels the society gives to people.
Right now, I just dream of places. Not really that far of places - but being able to reach different places, and the rush of adrenalin to take in the adventure of going to and getting lost in these places make me feel more alive than ever. Mountains, volcanoes, lakes, rivers, far-flung islands, waterfalls… the pieces of paradise I have seen have made me come alive and draw a connection to the world.
I do have a desk job, boring and all that adults’ favorite self-inflicted pains and stress. But I can say I manage not to become a zombie. I am alive because outside the my 9-5 routine, I am able to make a connection to the world, to people, to beautiful strangers on the road. And I learned a lot more stuff outside which I never learned in the whole 20 years I spent in school. I am more balanced whenever I’m away from anything familiar.
You see, I can’t give a “talk” because I’m not good at it. But I can write them this instead: “Your dreams are cool, but get real. You’ll get bored with it, too, when you achieved it but sucks the life out of you. Dreams have to be the reality that would make one come alive and be a better, real person who feels, connects and shares whatever he/she has to inspire and help other people feel and become better, too. More than the desire of achieving your dreams, you need to discover what would make you come alive. Be alive, inspiring and contagiously passionate about life, not another successful zombie”. :D
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman
I had a fun shoot again with the tweeters! The last time I was here, it was only Lorie that entertained me big time. This time around, there’s more of them! Birds of different sizes and vibrant colors that loves to perch on my shoulders and tickle me with their tiny little beaks.
I can’t wait ‘till the whole bird park is finished. I’d probably spend the weekends here than in the malls (again). :D
Subic Bay Jest Camp
My previous post was a sour rant regarding my one of photo that was apparently used for commercial purposes without permission. But since they have already made a public apology on the social media where it all started, I’m cool with it. That’s all I really wanted after all.
It’s not to flatter my self that I demanded a public apology but to make people aware that artists, rookie or professional, in my case a plain hobbyist, deserves to be respected because the art that we create are something of great value to us. Artists not only invest equipment and time, but they also do the thing they do with passion—the very element, I believe, that would set their work apart from others.
I treasure the fairly good photographs I’m able to capture. When I got a good shot, it makes me smile from within. I cannot rival the caliber of really good photographers I’m also looking up to, but I’m happy I get inspiration from them to try and create my own art. And I’m more than willing to share stories and happy thoughts to others through these photos—the very fact why I put up my own personal blog to chronicle amazing places, awesome sunsets, and my own happy trails frozen in time through photographs.
And at the end of the day, I’d rather chase sunsets and discounted air fare tickets and plan where I’d go on a road trip than chase after people and stress myself over their non-appreciation of life and art.
For the record, Mr. Ronald Tan of Dream Out Loud Events and Marketing has already made a public apology and recognized their inadvertent mistake of using my Harbor Point photo for commercial purposes without permission. We can now put this case to rest and start on a new slate. :)
as much as id like to keep a positive atmosphere on my tumblr, i just have to share this.
the old poster has my Harbor Point photo, used without permission and my watermark cropped off.
after i found out what they did, they changed the poster with my almost unreadable watermark. a couple of days after, they changed it again with a different photo of Harbor Point Subic with proper, readable acknowledgement to their photographer. what’s wrong with this people? it’s plain insulting!
i maybe an amateur, but i put great value to my art.
jacky barnayha
