Send off in Sorsogon

In true office fashion, our farewell party for an outgoing colleague brought us in miles away from Naga to the south of Bicol in Albay and particularly Sorsogon*

Leaving Naga right after lunch and after a three-hour drive that could have been a four hour drive in a bus, our first stop was in this Holy Family Parish dating 1916. It was a very long drive so we got out of the car just to walk around.

We stopped by Pilar port in Albay where we extended a few moments taking pictures of the scenery. After approximately five cementeries and traces of the recent El Verde trees planted along the highway, we arrive at Donsol, Sorsogon* in search for an affordable resort that would allow us to camp in. The Shoreline resort and resto looked the part so we pitched our tent within their territory – after waiting for the sun to set and taking pictures along the shore, that is.

Us "foreigners" building the tent.

the closest we can get with the butandings

Since Butanding (or whaleshark) watching season was still in March, April and May and would cost a littlemore around Php 3,000.00 (Php 1,700 = 7 people in a boat), we opted to go firefly watching in the river instead. We had arranged through the restaurant staff to inform their contacts in the boat boarding area that our group would be viewing fireflies so we left Shorelines fifteen minutes before 8 pm as advised.

Stopping by a boat boarding area we had passed by the Donsol River, we found out that they close at 8 pm and they weren't informed of our arrival. Fortunately, there was another boarding area a few miles away in Ugod River, where we were actually listed. Cost? Php 1,500 per boat, good for five people. 

A sign that an area is not yet polluted are the presence of fireflies, which dwell in coastal areas like Calabanga (like that one night during Summer A-WILL immersion when I walked out in the yard to fetch water and suddenly felt like a fairy with all the fireflies around me!). The motor boat took us along the path of the river and stopped by the few mangroves that had fireflies swarming in it. Their yellow green lights flickered on and off while our guide Josh gave us details about the firefly’s life cycle.

Capturing their lights on camera turned out to be harder than anyone of us anticipated. The use of flash was not allowed – you’d find yourself merely picturing the mangroves while the fireflies would disperse and get themselves together afterwards. I had to set my simplistic digital camera’s setting to 'night mode' and 'cloudy' while I increased the ISO to 1400 and exposure to +2 to capture anything at all. Here’s what I got.

Close-up of a firefly. Ate Jen cupped one with both of her hands while I attempted to click my camera at the same time its bulb-like little butt glowed. It’s great working with a cooperative model. Ha!

Mga alitaptap/alipopot iyan. Maniwala ka!

So far Fr. Ritche’s got the best shot of the bunch, though he admits not recalling how he got it. I had all these mental notes to myself with all the tidbits of tips of information from Father to Son: increase appecture, adjust the shutter speed, higher ISO...

.

The weather was cloudy that morning, thus we saw no sunrise. We left the Shoreline that morning for the Astillero nearby (the Astillero is supposedly the largest shipyard in Bicol). But it turned out the archeological site of the place was no longer there; any remnants were relocated somewhere else by a high official of the land. O_O

Our next stop was in Ligñon Hill back in Albay where one could view Mount Mayon and the whole town of Albay at its feet. The first time I went there a few years ago with relatives, the place was still under construction and the sky was cloudy. It was still cloudy and rainy when we came up, though cars and food were no longer allowed to go all the way to the top and the small center is open for a few business enterprises. The zip line is still there, but this all the rain and the budget consideration (cost of the riding the zip line=P250 per head), all we can do is watch wistfully at the lucky boy or girl gliding in the air.

Tribe Art Souvenir shop, where I bought a simple but this pretty pendant below that almost looked like a moonstone.

tumbling down?

We also checked out Embarcadero, the lighthouse along the port in Albay, though it would have been better to visit these venues at night. The weather didn’t seem to cooperate this time.

embarcadero!

best friends forever

a sour note during the trip.

Last stop was in Cagsawa ruins, which managed to survive Reming back it 2009, though I’m not so sure whether the stores now stationed outside the park actually did back in those times. With the limited time, all I did was hop from one store to another in search for a sturdy backpack or a hat. I ended up with a hat:

A cute summer hat in the store. Better than spending Php 500+ for ones they sell at the malls.

To whom do we dedicate this trip? Why for none other than Jenny Fernandez, of course! Adios, Ate Jen! Who will do my liquidation for me? Who will bring me my favourite kandingga? Who will disrupt me from work and agitate ourselves with the freaky public announcement system? With your dedication to your work and not to mention calmness amidst all complaints, who wouldn't hire you? I sincerely hope that you have a good (and safe) time while you're in Manila. Don't forget to shower us with your blessings once you're on the top! Hehehe! ;)

Adios, Fernandez! See you later! 

*from the word Solsog, meaning "against the tide."

Students Capture Pictures of God in Nature

OSA conducts Nature Photography Workshop as ACP

February 23 – with the onset of photography as an emerging hobby among Ateneans, the Office of Student Affairs sponsored a nature photography workshop entitled Captured! Picturing God as part of the Alternative Class Program (ACP) sponsored by the Ateneo de Naga University-Supreme Student Government (AdNU-SSG). Armed with their digital cameras, DSLRs and SLRs, twenty-seven students explored the picturesque views of rice fields, beach and cliffs in Sagñay, Camarines Sur.

The group left the Ateneo campus at 7:45am and arrived at the Barangay Hall of Mabca, Sagñay at around 9:15am. To formally start the workshop, Deputy Director Rodolfo “Sonny” SB. Virtus Jr. lead the Opening Prayer while Program Officer Trish Penelope B. Araña gave a brief re-orientation regarding the activity. To instruct the students on the essential skills of photography, the workshop was given by Fr. Ritche B. Elot, S.J. , an avid photographer and mountaineer who currently heads the Office of Student Affairs and the University Chaplaincy. Presenting some of his best works as well as the technology behind the lenses of the camera, Fr. Ritche emphasized having the passion to capture the best shot and being able to find the beauty in ordinary things, which is more important than having just a good camera. He cited instances such as waiting for the right moment for the sun to set, walking the extra mile just to get the best point of view, or having a camera at hand to capture moments as indicators that mark one’s passion for photography. Though he does not consider himself an expert, he encouraged the students to explore all possible combination the eye, the view and the camera can offer to produce a great photo.

To put their skills to test, the students walked among the kids coming out from school and crossed the green rice fields, taking pictures of people, plants, farm animals along their way. Shortly after, the group drove to the parish of St. Andrew at the centro of Sagñay where they were able to take pictures of the interior and exterior sights in the Church, pray and have lunch afterwards. 

The next stop took them to the port and beach of Nato just a few miles away. Sights present were the ship Jasper Peter loading some abaca from a truck, children in their bikes and in the shore, fishermen with their net and bait as well as a lone, unmanned boat in the sea from afar.

The next site the group visited brought them to higher grounds as they drove up in the hills to a spot along the highway called Odiongan. Here, the young photographers saw an outlook of Atulayan Island from a panoramic view. 

Going back to the Parish of St. Andrew, Fr. Ritche asked the students to present their pictures to the group. Shots including were stones in the beach, a boy in a bike, a close up view of a spider, a statue of Christ with arms raised up under the sun and even manure. After each presentation, good points about the pictures were given as well as recommendations to enhance the quality of their photo works. Before the activity came to a close, Fr. Ritche added some more points on acquiring pictures that are striking - it should tell a story and stir emotions, thus bringing life to the photo and not just an image.

*****

There you have it! My write up for our second visit in Sagñay, this time with photo enthusiasts! I think I need to edit it when I submit it though, since it almost borders on feature article rather than news or report. Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory – validated! (students noticeably “flowed” and lost track of the time). I guess there goes my depth of learning and imagination in crafting an activity! Whew! Now I want to draw…hehehe.

No go find Him! =D   

In search for the "perfect" place

I was allowed by my bosses to join some members of FSSO team in looking for venues for our upcoming Group Growth Activity (GGA). I should have realized I’d be the only girl tagging along but then again I couldn’t care less. I was looking for possible venues for future workshops anyway, so here’s what we’ve found:

A Hidden "Farm" in Carolina.

Retreat House owned by the Daughters of Mary in Sagñay.

Villa Peña Resort in Goa

Final Stop in CWC for some pizza. Thanks Sir Jec! 

We also went to the L-ray Sci-Farm in Calabanga but it was unfinished, though their function halls and rooms are already open for use. We also stopped by Tera Mater Resort in Ocampo but I heard it's still a mess and they're not open for business until summer.

Any other places left?

The Sea and the rest of Sagñay

Since Minalabac proved to be quite a challenging place to take the students due to the distance and the rocky unfinished road we encountered along the way, we decided to check out good ol’ Sagnay instead. 

Church in Tigaon

 

In the fields of Mabca

Eating tipong (coconut). I dared to eat at least one out of pakikisama and as usual, I ended up with itchy throat. (I think I’m ‘allergic’ to coconut and pineapple though I can’t understand how on earth anyone could be allergic to fruits, which are supposed to be good for the health.)

Sta. Clara Church in Sagñay

I want to be a lamplighter, hehe

In Odiongan with the view of Atulayan

At the port of Nato, Sagñay

Photo courtesy of Kuya Sonny. I didn't forget my camera but Kuya Sonny left his memory card in his laptop. For the sake of beautiful pictures, I lent him mine. After all, my Canon Powershot A490 is no match for his Nikon D3100. We'll go back anyway so it's no big deal.

No pictures of me falling into the mud, thank God. My companions are nice enough to entertain themselves with taking photos of ducks instead of me. Luckily, I’m no longer a stranger to rural life. Ang maarte dito ay lugi.

Thank you so much to Fr. Bernie Ramirez who brought us to the ports of Nato and the view along the highway where you can see Atulayan Island. God works wonders indeed!

Next destination? =)