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? =)

Just Another Foolish Story

It's far from graduation but it's one of those commencement speeches people can be raving about. It also recalls to mind the advice of our keynote speaker Fr. Joaquin Bernas, S.J.to "be daring!" during our own graduation day. =)

http://baldoso.blogspot.com/2008/05/of-tsamba-fools-and-silent-walks-by.html

A foolish story:

I met two of my teachers back in high school yesterday. Despite not being as nostalgic as others may be when it comes to recalling this medieval age of my personal history, I was still happy to see them. One of them was my former English teacher who immediately recognized me, since she probably recalled me with all the stuff I wrote back then. I failed to recognize the other one until I heard her introduced herself during the meeting we were called in. Imagine my surprise to realize that she was actually my sharp but witty Religion teacher Ms. B! (She grew her hair) I was just thinking about her the other day, recalling her awesome style of teaching. (It's strange how I often think of some things only to encounter them in front of me a little later...) We talked a bit after the meeting and I had to drop the name of some famous classmate so that Ms. B could remember which batch I belonged to (yep, that's me, the wallflower). Yes, ma'am I'm working here. No ma'am I'm not married. Not today, I still like being single. Hahaha! =)

Despite the challenges, life isn't so bad...yet or after all.

I think I'm gonna write another article...

Minalabac Adveture

I love traveling!

Apart from theater arts, fine arts, fashion design, interior design, digital illustration and animation, and long before Psychology was introduced to us in Career Day during my last year in high school, I had also considered taking up Tourism as my course. 

Last year was favorable for the traveler in me. I got the chance to go on an eco-tour in Culion, Palawan, stay in a five-star hotel, immerse in Calabanga with their harvest of watermelons and crabs, visit the people and rice fields of Sagnay and camp in the white shores of Calaguas, Camarines Norte – all courtesy of doing my job and being with equally enthusiastic colleagues.  It doesn’t hurt to have been in Samar, Leyte, Cebu and particularly Bohol where I got my first sight of a white sand beach underneath the full bright moon. (I know, I sound conceited and cheesy in this part, hehe). I hope to visit Mindanao at least before going overboard with dreams of going abroad. There’s still so much to see in the Philippines and the desire to go or even work abroad is not that strong, at least, not yet.  

Taking into account what I have been up to for the last five years, I realized I haven’t done so much of the things I used to really love. Apart from reading fiction and drawing, I hadn’t grabbed the chance to go to other places, despite my love for travelling. I didn’t join the educational trip in sophomore year, couldn’t afford to join the PAPJA convention in third year, and many other mini-trips that I had considered rather costly and would take time that could have been spent on studies, responsibilities and friends. I turned to people instead of just books for a change, surrounded with happy, talented and responsible individuals and thought of others instead of me, myself and I.

Though a certified city girl by heart, visiting municipalities around Camarines Sur can invite one to take a second look on rural life and learn what kind of culture and mindset prevail among its people. Once, for a research paper in Filipino Psychology class regarding the famous parahilots of Magarao, my groupmates and I confirmed the fact that western approaches on data gathering are not appropriate for the local setting. The secrets of their ‘trade’ could not just be asked through structured interviews and questionnaires alone.  We had to avail for a massage that would relieve us from any ailment we were experiencing (though the famous parahilot Ligid in the town merely advised one groupmate to find a man). 

Rains, Roads and Rocks*

The itinerary for this year starts with yesterday’s trip to Minalabac in search for an area to conduct a photography workshop. After asking a couple of strangers which between Barangay Salingogon and Barangay Bagolatao provided less road difficulty and driving through hills and trees, we finally arrived at the pebbled shores of Minalabac. Instead of sand, big and small light-colored stones littered the shoreline, with small waves of water calmly moving towards land. Though the place was not quite as majestic as Caramoan or Culion, one can definitely swim in the waters without worrying about being swept away into the ocean. Plus, the stones made a difference and added to its subtle but unique charm. My boss (an avid photographer, traveler, and mountaineer) couldn’t help but take photographs of the view and the people and we ourselves couldn’t help but be his subjects. It was too bad that the weather couldn’t spare us a bit of light, not to mention the fact I completely forgot to bring my own camera (palm to the forehead!). 

 Shots taken by Fr. Ritche B. Elot using Kuya Sonny's Nikon D3100., Title Rains, Roads and Rocks courtesy of Sonny SB. Virtus, Jr.

Oh well, more places to go in the future. I’ve heard of other places we can still go to, hopefully with some pieces of artifacts and history next time. There isn’t much extensive information in the net or anywhere else regarding other possible destinations in Bicol that can draw locals as well as foreigners to travel in here. Any recommendations regarding hotspots (how to get there, who can be contacted, what food should we try, and so on) are very much welcome. Isn’t it about time to know more about our own?