Pre-war Bicol. Bicol Region is known as one of the strongest bulwarks of the Catholic Faith since Hispanic times. In fact, during its inception, the prelate of Manila was under the Diocese of the Nueva Caceres. in This album, we shall explore the different Catholic churches all over the region, their different architectures and physical structure before war invaded Bicol in 1942.

BUHI, CAMARINES SUR - 1941

LABO, CAMARINES NORTE - 1941

MAGARAO, CAMARINES SUR - 1941

QUIPAYO, CAMARINES SUR

SAN JOSE, CAMARINES SUR

SAGNAY, CAMARINES SUR

TALISAY, CAMARINES NORTE

TIGAON, CAMARINES SUR

LIBMANAN, CAMARINES SUR

CANAMAN, CAMARINES SUR

IRIGA, CAMARINES SUR

MINALABAC, CAMARINES SUR

TINAMBAC, CAMARINES SUR

CABUSAO, CAMARINES SUR

DEL GALLEGO, CAMARINES SUR

Calling all photographers and artists. Now is your chance to Shine.

Have a shot that embodies the free flow of the Surfing Lifestyle? Here is your opportunity to show off your work and be recognized.

The Surf & Music Festival brought to you by Aloha Boardsports and Travel Factor will host an artist exhibit brought to you by Havaianas.

The scope of the exhibit entails any work that you feel best embodies the Surf Culture. This can be action images, lifestyle images, beach landscapes, abstract images, music/concert imagery etc. It’s not limited to photographs only.

It can be mixed media, a painting, or any creative representation that you feel encompasses our theme of the event.

The Surf & Music Festival is all about good vibes, good music, and a celebration of life. So if you feel your image celebrates life, go and submit as many as you wish.

After careful selection, 20 of the best images will be printed on metallic paper and mounted for display at the Surf & Music Festival.

An Artist’s Bio will be featured on the print and as further recognition, those who make the exhibit will be rewarded with a generous prize package.

Copyright is maintained by the submitting artist. Their work will not be used for purposes outside the scope of the event. In keeping with celebratory festivals such as this, an Artist exhibit is one of the many components to further showcase the spirit of the event.

This is a teaser announcement. Details will follow, check back daily HERE for more information on how to enter.

a. I can organize a Halloween Party at the Wharf Galley Rock Cafe. Why not?!

b. The family can go to Subic for the weekend, and have lots of fun with Lia, the kids of H’s college friends at the Zoobic Safari.

c. H and I can go on a 5th anniversary date to Jason Mraz’s concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum

d. I can go to Baler with H and Lia and my Travel Factor friends and join in on the fun!!!! Surfing, music and friends, what can one ask for? I can also get a shot at this…..!

Aaaaargh!!! The choices, the choices!!!! It’s enough to make one crazeh!

Nevertheless, we sampled their menu, had all our breakfasts at the penthouse resto and even spent some time hanging out, literally, really, as in literally, on a cage jutting out of the building’s top floor, with some drinks.

Breakfast at Ponce Suites

If it were not for its commercial purpose, Ponce Suites in Dona Vicenta Village, Davao City, could have been placed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the most decorated establishment in the world…with artworks from a single artist. Here are a few words from PonceSuites.net about Kublai Ponce-Millan, one of the most prolific contemporary artists in the country.

Kublai Ponce-Millan, who created all these giant works, was born on July 8, 1974 in Cotabato City. He finished schooling at the University of the Philippines with a degree of Fine Arts. After which, he dedicated his life back in Mindanao, sculpting the culture from which, where which he grew up, as a human being and as a soul. The massive pieces magnify calm, passion and grief proportonately in the stone-grain finish accomplished with the five-year technique developed through various weathers accompaning their inceptions and growth, from steel and wiremesh underpinnings above and below ground, to the finishing of the last detail of the gesturing hand. - Click here for the source.

Check out the ceiling

Sadly, my mac would not let me access their website no matter how I tried so I wouldn’t know what’s there. If any of you have any idea, drop me a note. See, I wouldn’t know what Ponce Suites is now, after almost 5 years. Maybe its better? Maybe weirder? Your guess is as good as mine.

Here are some links to learn more about Ponce Suites and its artist:

• Kublai Millan invades Manila
• Kublai Millan on WikiFilipino
• Kublai Millan, southern Philippines most prolific artist

We took a trip downtown using public transportation the entire time. We went to Magsaysay Park and did shopping at the Aldevinco Shopping Center. We also bought a lot of fruits!

Shot from Magsaysay Park, Davao

The next day was another day for going around Davao. Our first stop was actually a church – The Shrine of the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague.

And then off to Jack’s Ridge we went for early lunch. The following photo was taken by H as we were going down the hill. Such image of freshness, HAHAHAHA! Poster girl for summer. I wish I was still this yummy, I mean, chummy, no really, I meant chubby.

Food is good here, but not as good as we had hoped it would be. That did not stop us from having our photo taken by one of the waiters though.

Lunch at Taklobo Restaurant

After lunch, we went around the complex for nuggets of history and took photos here and there.

Lumad - a group of indigenous peoples of the Southern Mindanao, Philippines

Durian Eaters

Taklobo Shells

Next stop on this city tour is the Crocodile Park, which also had a mini-zoo.

I find it funny that I used to post for photos like this. These days I don’t really do this anymore.

And I wasn’t going to post this photo of H with the crocodile, but then after the biggest saltwater crocodile ever caught in the wild made headlines last week, I thought, “it’s timely, why not?!”

It was one tiring day and a tiring day deserves chilling out at night! Off we went to Matina Town Square. I had a co-teacher once from Davao, he said the MTS is the inspiration for Eastwood…. (Chismis why not! *winks)

How I love it when waiters take photos of people. I was challenged in outdoing the umbrella pole right there.

And even though we went home late, we were up really early the next day to go to Eden Park. Well, we had been fighting, and thus the absence of pictures. (Haha, classic!) The absence of pictures… except this one.

I forget now what we were fighting about but I remember sleeping the entire time in the car from downtown all the way to Eden Park. I also remember how nice the herbs smelled. I had loved that park. It would be nice to come back to it too.

We spent the entire morning in Eden Park and headed to the Philippine Eagle Center where we had lunch and then a little tour.

And I think we we’re still fighting during this time because H took this photo of me, walking far ahead into the garden of Eden…. *winks*

It has taken me years to appreciate this photo. Just like some things in my life…

*Note to reader: This trip was made in November 2006.

‘IMPRINTS’ is an art installation and stop motion video screening of DISPATCH MAGAZINE’s roster of independent and alternative travelers’ favorite footwear. It is all about a traveler’s character and personality as defined by his favorite travel footwear; hence, his soul on sole: The places he go; the moments, his passions and experiences herewith.

Sept 15 / Cubao X / 7PM

Imprints by Dispatch Media

This event is brought to you by Dispatch Media with website at http://www.dispatchmagonline.com/

Our Samal House

Resting after swimming and snorkeling

Having breakfast at the resto

Having breakfast at the resto

In the evenings, we had dinner and headed to the parola bar for some singing and drinking. We took photos here and there.

Going up for some singing, drinking and hanging out with some foreigners

Capiz lanterns by the swimming pool

This was really delicious! Tropical fruits: mango, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, pomelo

Tipsy. More the one who took this photo, judging from how blurry the pic is.

Taba-ar!

The Parola at night

Waiting for the boat transfer back to mainland

Hanging out on the couch at the Pearl Farm Marina while waiting for the transfer to downtown

The resort is big enough, quiet and relaxing enough but after all these “beautiful” photos of the resort, let me tell you something or rather, some things. I hated it there. I had dreaded going to the resto to eat because there just wasn’t anything good enough. The breakfast buffet tasted all the same, whether it was fish or hotdog or longganisa or beef. The service was so slow, if at all present. Our room was never cleaned and all our requests at the desk were never granted. Our “romantic dinner” for two by the beach was mistakenly given to someone else, we had to wait an hour and a half for the staff to set up another table by the beach. Even the fruit basket had rotting fruits. There were no towels by the pool nor any service personnel. It was soooo weird.

Then we went snorkeling and there was absolutely neither corals nor fish! There were a lot of starfish and trash though. It was just really…. weird.

I pretty much vowed never to go back there. I emailed them a customer feedback and even filled out the feedback form on the dresser.

Don’t take my word for it though. I have a lot of friends who’ve been there these past years and they all say the food was great! The place was great! Yeah, you know, the usual. I guess, our experience just stands out. Oh well, I do hope to go back to Samal Island soon. Next year with the family I hope. There are a lot of other resorts in Samal Island and we don’t have to go to Pearl Farm Beach Resort if we are not so inclined. I do love Davao and if I was going back to it and would want to take a little trip to the beach, Samal Island is still the best bet.

This is where I take a trip down memory lane, in my desire to look at how I was, at twenty-four years old, a very young bride and still fresh from my year spent living in El Nido where I spent days eating six times a day and getting a full 8-hours of sleep almost every night.

This is also where I take a trip down memory lane, in my desire to look at how the very first pictures we took, with our camera, bought just the day before, its manual we never really read, looked like.

The package we got at the Pearl Farm Beach Resort was at P18,000 for the two of us for a three-days and two-nights stay with all the meals included as well as boat transfers.

To get to the resort, all boat transfers are done at the Pearl Farm Marina.

Checking in and listing in for the transfer to Samal Island

Waiting for the transfer

We just had backpacks, really. And H, is soooo, hiphop. *straight face goes here*

The Marina also has a restaurant. Since we were really early for the transfer, we spent some time at the resto; and then afterwards, hung out on the loungers outside reading books.

My Merrells, together 6 years and counting!

And soon enough, it was time to get on the boat. The pier is right in front the pool, resto and building.

I took these photos while we were still on the boat and approaching the resort. I look at these photos now the way I do food and I must say it looked good.

We and the other guests were greeted with refreshing “welcome drinks” (otherwise known as iced tea), and was thereafter led to our respective accommodations. Ours was right by the water.

I did what I usually do when given a hut by the beach: sit and stare out, a cup of coffee at my feet.

The afternoon light was gentle on my tired face, I suppose.

The sunset was soon upon us. I spent a considerable amount of time toying with the camera’s settings and trying to capture a sunset on a cloudy afternoon. This is what I finally liked among a lot of photos (each one as drab as the next), and this photo is reminiscent of the times when I wanted everything dark, burned crisp.

This also reminds me of the times when I was experimenting so much that I ended up with ultra-bright photos that hurt the eyes. To be honest, it had something to do with how my monitor was calibrated. To me the photos looked fine, but to everyone else not using my laptop, it was a disaster. Really. I’ve since learned to bother with calibration… but of course, I find that too tedious. So if my photos are beginning to be too crisp, drop me a note.

Let me end this post with a photo of a sunset (because “this site is about everything I love… boats, SUNSETS..”) and I realized I haven’t been posting enough photos of sunsets lately.

My friend had picked me up at the lodge I was staying at so we can have lunch at another friend’s house in Capayas. We spent the afternoon hanging out at Cabu Beach. We were on scooters and in going to Cabu Beach, my hair had gotten all tangled from the dust. I could not comb it afterwards. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful quiet time by the beach.

Cabu Beach, Coron, Palawan, April 2008

Cabu Beach, Coron, Palawan April 2008

Cabu Beach is not a white-sand beach but it provided a beautiful view of the sea, particularly the route that Super Ferry takes to get to the Coron town port in Busuanga Island.

A bench on Lambingan Bridge

I asked my friends to take me to the best place in Coron town for a view of the sunset and they took me to Lambingan bridge.

One of my favorite boat photos

Lambingan on the bridge

The sunset in Coron

How beautiful the ripples were on the orange and black water...

My friends prepared dinner for us at the Siete Pecados Bar that my friend Jeff owned. Here is a photo of my friend Hope and me hanging out at the bar, which now, in hindsight, is so much better than my bar now. Hahaha. But it was all good times, good times. I miss these guys so much.

Angku and Hope at the Siete Pecados bar, Coron, Palawan, April 2008

The plan was to leave Pili very early so we’ll arrive in Bagasbas early morning for some breakfast, a bit of surfing in the morning, a little nap after lunch and some surfing in the afternoon before going back home to my dad’s house.

Total Gas Station and Ford Dealership. Avenue Square is right across the street.

I have never been a morning person and we needed to get new papers from the Ford dealership because the car’s registration plate has not arrived yet and we needed a jack for my phone and the car’s stereo, and so, we arrived in Bagasbas at two o’clock in the afternoon. We headed straight to Leo’s Cuisine – our favorite place to eat in Bagasbas Boulevard because of the delicious food and the view.

Bagasbas Beach, Camarines Norte

We ordered Bicol Pusit Express, just about my favorite in Leo’s Cuisine, while having a little bit of chit chat with Tito Leo, who told me that his son was champion at the push race in the recently held Rock & Skate 4 in Naga City and that TJ was supposed to be at some place that afternoon. I made a call to TJ of Slicksurf Pilipinas who answered as if he had just woken up. He arrived shortly thereafter at Leo’s Cuisine in a swanky attire and a motorcycle.

Leo's Cuisine - my favorite place to eat in Bagasbas Boulevard

Lia had loved going up and down the stairs.

Look at me Papa! Papa!

While we were waiting for lunch to be served, Lia and I went down the beach to play with giant bubbles from that bubble maker we bought at the stop over at a Petron gas station somewhere in Sipocot.

Lia playing with sand

I have a 3-minute video (of nothing in particular) that I’ll find the time to upload soon. Lia is such a beach bum!

Lia had taken off her shirt again!

This hat I also bought at that gas station, along with Lia’s toys. I love this hat!

After we were done with lunch and coffee, we rented out a surf board for me and a bodyboard for Lia. The last time I went surfing was five months ago, I have not worked out since and of course was not in the best of shape. Nevertheless, I was able to ride all the waves I took, save for the first one when I was still trying to find my balance on the board, and after twenty minutes was stoked and called it a day. Makasakay lang ng board, makasakay lang ng alon, mabasa lang ng konti ng tubig-dagat, ok na ako.

Lia too had a great time with the body board and every time I rode my board back to her, she would wave and cry out, “Mama! Mama!” and at one point, she cried out, “Mama, kiss!! Kiss!” to which I promptly went over to get a kiss from my happy little one. What a beach babe!

By five we were done with washing up, had our big basket in the car and was ready for some fries at Jollibee. We did a little stop at Zenco Footstep, yes! Zenco Footstep, the shoe store of our childhood, and bought Lia a pair of bright pink slippers she had fallen in love with, along with a bright purple pair of shoes that had this pretty butterfly design on it.

Over-all, it was a good trip. Even if H missed his bus ride back to Manila.

H took all the photos by the way.

I found this photo of Lia H took inside my dad’s car that we borrowed for the day while I was going through the files and just had to laugh. My, my, my dear Lia, time and again you just have to prove that you are MY daughter. You smile just like me here! Mama loves you, ayt?

Aloha Boardsports & Travel Factor Surf & Music Festival 2011

October 29-31, 2011 Baler, Aurora

This October 29-31, 2011, Aloha Boardsports and Travel Factor bring to you the biggest surfing event of the year!

Aloha Boardsports & Travel Factor Surf & Music Festival 2011

Get ready for an action-packed weekend featuring two of modern life’s greatest things: surf and music! It’s gonna be a surf fest as Aloha Boardsports team riders Okoy Rojo, Jeff Dela Torre, Saddam Faraon, Nikki Dela Paz, Buji Libarnes and Mike Oida teach you the 101′s of surfing. With some of the best Filipino surfers as your instructors, you’ll be riding the waves of Baler in no time!

And if you think you got skills already, take on Travel Factor’s SURFVIVOR Challenge IV, the first and original beginner surfing competition in the Philippines. Awesome prizes await the winners!

And of course, the music. Prep your ears for some serious beats as some of the finest DJs keep the beach scene pumping. We’ve got your every night covered! Featuring performances from Franco, Wolfgang, Razorback, Tropical Depression, Coffee Break Island, Enemies of Saturn, and many more! Sabang Beach will never be the same.

And if that’s not awesome enough, we’ve still got some more! Learn how to throw and catch a disc, and then some, at our Ultimate Frisbee clinic. And if you’re up for adventures on wheels, check out our mountain bike tour of Baler. It’s gonna be an epic weekend.

All roads lead to Baler! See you at the festival!

Sponsored and supported by Tourism Aurora, the local government of Baler, the House of Representatives, Havaianas and Billabong.

*The “Aloha Boardsports & Travel Factor Surf & Music Festival 2011′′ is EXCLUSIVELY offered by Travel Factor. For bookings and complete packaged tours, please visit www.travelfactor.org or email tours@travelfactor.org

PACKAGE RATE

P3,600 per head – Fan Room
P4,200per head – Aircon Room
P5,400per head – Premium Room

PACKAGE INCLUSIONS

- Roundtrip Chartered Transfers: Manila – Baler – Manila – 3D/2N accommodation
- Surf & Music Festival 2011 Pass
- 1 Surf Lesson with Instruction and Board Rental
- Daily Breakfast
- Travel Factor ID and Lanyard
- Travel Factor Event Shirt
- Tote Bag and Freebies from Sponsors
- Free! Welcome BBQ Lunch

ITINERARY

BOOKING AND RESERVATION GUIDELINES

* Book & Buy Policy. First come, first serve basis.
* No regform, No reservation. To reserve, please fill-out registration form then send to tours@travelfactor.org
Subject: SMF 2011 – REGISTRATION (October 29-31, 2011)
* Then you will receive thru email account details where to deposit payment (BPI). For group reservations, please send your registration forms in one file & email.
* Full payment must be settled within the agreed timeframe. Should you need extension, please coordinate with Travel Factor
* The payments made to us are only refundable if we cancel due to weather issues or fortuitous events.
* Non-refundable but transferable to other person. Travel Factor must be notified asap or at least 5 days before the trip. In this case, the “proxy” must fill-out and submit registration form.

FOR INQUIRIES/COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS email your concerns to tours@travelfactor.org with your name and contact number

Subject: SMF 2011 – INQUIRIES (October 29-31, 2011) or contact TEAM TF +632-7465119 , +632-9642527 , +63917-8475341

DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

http://travelfactor.org/TF2010-REGFORM.xls

AVAILABLE SLOTS

www.travelfactor.org

DISCLAIMER

Recommended for fun-loving & adventurous people who would like to meet new friends while travelling. All participants must be of good health condition. Prior experience with surfing is not required. Non-swimmers can also join.

Travel Factor Friends at CWC April 15, 2011

Travel Factor Friends at CWC April 15, 2011

Locals!

The guys were staying over at Nagaland Hotel, a walk away from the bar, so I made them come over.

Kevin Roy of Razorback

Razorback at the old Wharf Galley Rock Cafe

To see the rest of the photos from the Razorback event at the old Wharf Galley Rock Cafe, click here.

By the aquarium downstairs

Outside! By the street! (Yes I was wearing shorts under that shirt :p)

I love you guys. Thanks for all the support! Rock on! See you soon!

Kapag ako’y naghuhugas ng pinggan
Ayokong may ipis
Kapag ako’y nagluluto sa kalan
Ayokong may ipis
Gusto ko ay laging malinis
Ang aking paligid
Ayokong may ipis,
Ayokong may nang-iinis
Na-na-na-Nangangamoy
Oh…ang baho ng amoy,
Ganyang ang ipis
Nakakagigil gusto kung patayin
Ang makulit na ipis
Tsinelas ko’y matitikman
Kapag di ka tumigil
Istorbong ipis
Mukha’y di manipis
Pinupuno mo ako ng hinagpis
Ayokong may ipis (3x)

Bl@h was a Bicolano band that rose to fame in the 90s and I was busy hopping and skipping around in those days so as to notice what was playing in the airwaves and had no recollection whatsoever of this music. But I first heard of the band during Wharf Galley’s move from Elias Angeles St. to Avenue Square, and the band’s name kept coming up during random conversations.

It was not until I finally met Wawoo Brendia, who turned out to be the husband of one of my batchmates and friend from high school and had just come home from working abroad, and he brought up the plan of, finally, getting the band together for a reunion concert.

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

Back then, reuniting the band had seemed nearly impossible as the band’s original vocalist, Hammilan Favoreal, has long moved to Manila. Hammilan was to Bl@h as Ely was to Eraserheads. It’s just not the same if it’s not him.

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

Wawoo had given me a copy of the album and I had listened to it every so often. I ended up loving that song, Ipis. It just makes me smile every time I hear it.

So, when the live concert happened, it was truly an amazing experience for me. That band has taken my heart away, as well as this silly, silly song.

I love being silly. I miss being silly. These days I only get to be silly with Lia. Lia and me, we are silly, crazy girls.

I have videos of the gig, videos I don’t know when I’ll be able to post since I will be here in Bicol until the end of the month, where I only have access to the internet through my phone.

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

Photo credit: Wally Ocampo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/siwallyni/

It was a wonderful gig. Beautiful music. Thank you Bl@h for bringing back the music to your old fans and thank you for making new fans out of people like me. Til next time, whenever that will be.

Links:
Wally Ocampo made a blog on his site about the event. And he has beautiful pictures of it too. Thanks Wally.

Thank you TJ of Machine, Machine and Slicksurf Pilipinas for making this event happen. This is all your doing! I just helped in any way I could. I have loved working with you and I hope there would be more of Rock N Skate in Naga City.

This is going to be one awesome night! Thanks to all the bands who will be participating at the awarding ceremony and rock party at Wharf Galley Rock Cafe.

P.S.
Konti na lang magi-skate na rin ako. *winks*

AUGUST 22, 2011 7PM SM Naga Cinema 4

Tickets at Php150

Poster Design by Gouldian Colours

***Gouldian Colours

I have about a thousand images culled from Asian movies with trains, but the titles are elusive, and I am left with no other movie title in mind but a Hollywood one – one that I can’t seem to forget because people tease me about my e-cigarette.

June 29 will be the inaugural run of the Bicol Express Naga-Manila and Vic Nierva just won’t stop teasing us with photos of the train… and now the dining car. Too bad, there would be no day trips until later this year so we can actually experience “dining” during breakfast and lunch. But until then, these photos will suffice.

Final tariff will be out next week but according to the news, the cheapest would be about P600 for the reclining seats, P800 for the sleeper regular, and P1100 for the sleeper executive. All coaches are a/c. Tickets may be obtained from any PNR station in Manila (Tutuban, España or Pasay Road).

I of course have this urge to say No I can’t but my own mother (God bless her soul) told me to never say no to being godparent, it is a blessing. To say no is bad luck, if not a curse.

I read the invitation and notice a name, “La Huerta,” and mutter, “What a beautiful name.” And of course that in itself makes me wanna go. Curiosity always kills the cat. I always want to check out places with nice sounding names.

The father calls me up to ask whether I’m going to the church and reception after, and I could not help myself but say that I am supposed to be leaving for Manila this Thursday. He says, “It would be really nice if you can come. The Salingoy art group will be there. We’d like to sit down and do sketches of you.”

My head goes, “sketches of me?” Oh vain, vain, vain. For someone who’s always wishing I can get a mani-pedi one of these days, or at least get a trim off my hair, but of course never finds the time, it is amazing how roused my vanity can be at the mere mention of “sketches” and “YOU”.

Then my friends, new ones, I got myself new friends (yay!), tell me I should check out the accessories the owner of the place makes. And my ears go, “accessories?!” Oh dear, it cannot get any better than this. I miss my beaded Palawan bracelets and anklets. I miss my surfer self. I miss my beach bum self. I miss many parts of myself. But here, I am also able to explore my creative self, even if the word “creative” means I create non-visual, seemingly intangible, things. If there is a cultural revolution stirring up in the city, I am glad I am at the heart of all of it.

I hope someone tells me this is worth all this poverty though.

I am amazed at how strong my creative and artistic circles are in Manila. There are none of those cat fights (yes, even among men, or the not-so-men-after-all) and those backstabbing, friendship breaking, and downright dirty, squabbles. My God people, can’t we just all get along? Or are you or are you not real men? My husband tells me he is amazed that there are actually men that dirty. I tell him, “Oh I’m sorry, I’m not really amazed now. I met one just last February.” And there we go. Laugh, laugh, laugh. Or more like curse. Regrets, I’ve got plenty. I have seen the absolute worst in any man AND any woman out there in this world last February, it would take a lot to surprise me these days.

So yes, I am off to a farm this Sunday. La Huerta in my mind…. I keep dreaming of the beach, but a farm will do. Any respite, actually, will do.

I have seven godchildren to date, by the way. Four boys (Sean, Justin, Euan and Gio) and three girls (Marielle, Raya and Kat).

Because Wharf Galley is not just a rock cafe….

We are premiere-ing with a Nick Olanka night (also known as the Angeli Bayani night), with his short film, Lunes ng Hapis (Cast: Angeli Bayani and McDo Bolano)

Lunes ng Hapis
Nick Olanka, UPFI

TRT: 12min.
Genre: Fiction
Theme: War and peace

Virgie and Ismael are lovers in the midst of a military offensive in Sta, Filomena; Virgia is a teacher of a local elementary school and Ismael is a captain of the troop assigned to infiltrate the rebels. Every monday, they meet and make love passionately and violently. One day, Virgie’s student Tikoy asks her to help find his missing father, Mang Lino, a rumoured rebel symphatizer. Events unfold and point to Ismael as being responsible for Mang Lino’s disappearance, because of this Virgie is overwhelmed by guilt. The next monday, as they make love, Virgie chooses between her love for Ismael and her love for her community.

The full-length film for the night would be Nick’s 2006 Cinemalaya film, Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo (Cast: Johnny Delgado, Jennifer Sevilla, Boots Anson-Roa, Arnold Reyes, Angeli Bayani, Baron Geisler, Monica Llamas and the U.P. Repertory Company and friends)

“Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo”

Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo spans a week in a life of seven individuals with interconnected narratives. Domeng is involved in networking or multi-level marketing business and plans to encourage his estranged daughter Luna to join in this unscrupulous business. Luna is abandoned by her husband and son so she asks help from her mother Aling Tess. Aling Tess is a land lady who lives alone and fancies a young male boarder named Kulas. Kulas is a grocery store employee who aspires to become a store manager to impress Julie. Julie is a laundry shop attendant who is obsessed with a male costumer named Brian. Brian is a nurse in a local hospital who wants to work abroad so he persuades his girlfriend Sally to provide for his “fixer” fees. An accounting graduate who failed to pass the board exam for two consecutive years, Sally enters Domeng’s networking business in the hopes of proving her worth. When she found out that networking is a scam Sally plans to take revenge on Domeng. The film illustrates the interconnectedness of our lives, a cycle of random events in which the decisions we make are as important as the choices we didn’t take.

About the Director

Nick Joseph Olanka graduated from the U.P. Film Institute last April 2006. Active in the theater arts through the group The UP Repertory Company, he took cinematography classes in Mowelfund Film Institute under Ms. Lee Meily.”Monday of Sorrow,” (Lunes ng Hapis) his graduation film, won several international and local awards. It won 2005 Kodak Filmschool Competiton Philippines and was the Philippine entry for 2005 Kodak Filmschool Competition Asia-Pacific. It also received top prizes in the 18th CCP Independent Film and Video Competition, was shown in Slingshort Film Festival in Jakarta and is currently competing in CON-CAN Movie Festival, an online film festival based in Japan.

Production Staff

Writer/Director: Nick Joseph Olanka
Assistant Director: Emman Pascual
Production Manager: Gavin Herrera
Director of Photography: Pao Pangan
Editor: Amrei Dizon
Musical Score: Nani Naguit
Production Design: Roma Regala and Armi Cacanindin
Sound Design: Raffy Magsaysay
Post House: VitalStrats Creative Solutions

Related links:

• Click here to see more photos of Lunes ng Hapis from Nick Olanka.
• Lunes ng Hapis postcards
• Monday of Sorrow
• Ang Huling Araw ng Linggo blog

July 4 would mark the start of Cinema Mondays at Wharf Galley. And of course, who else would be featured that night but the great Nick Olanka. So July 4 is officially Nick Olanka night. We are showing his Lunes ng Hapis short and his full-length Cinemalaya film Huling Araw ng Linggo. Watch out for more films from Dada Docot, Ray Gibraltar, Raymond Lee, Sigrid Bernardo, Roxlee and other friends. This is going to be exciting!

July 6 would be the launch of the Wharf Galley membership card! We are brewing something very very exciting for Naga City (and the world!).

July 14 would be Silver Chair‘s Speed Dating event, followed by Session Road’s gig on July 15.

July would also be the start of Comedy Tuesdays, with performance from our main band Polo Jane. And of course we still have Thirsty Thursdays on July 7 and 21!

Thirsty Thursday June 23, 2011

We have a Bicolano Rappers Organization and Urban Bicolano Productions event happening on July 29 – A Fliptop Battle!

We still have our regular once-a-month Sunday night of  poetry with the  Writers Gig.

A photography workshop is scheduled for July 30 and 31, with a HUGE event by Fist Productions on the evening of July 30. Watch out for it!

All these in addition to our regular bands performing every night, Tom & Jerry, Chill Chill, Tharapadi, Tanikala Tribe, Punch Cube, Polo Jane, Elementals, Fume, Idle Pitch and Alibata. We may even have new bands on board!

We are also starting work on our compilation album project – an album of all-original music from Bicol bands. Heading this project of course is Jonjie San Vicente, with support from Gouldian Colours and the rest of the team.

In this, a big team is working. And all hands are on board! See you at Wharf Galley!

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Amidst all hesitations, not to mention warnings and advise to cancel, we proceeded with the metal night, organized by Metal Knights Production, at the new Wharf Galley in Avenue Square.

The night was cut short, and for the very first time Wharf Galley was closed at 1am, because of a brawl that started inside Wharf and was continued outside, with beer bottles breaking, still in the premises of Avenue Square. I was assured this was not going to happen, repeatedly told the audiences are also peace-loving music lovers, that the production can control their crowd – but was proven wrong.

And because of that, I, as owner and manager of Wharf Galley and tenant of Avenue Square received warnings from the head of security of Avenue Square. Bummer. That left me with no choice but to cancel all Metal Knights Productions events to be held at Wharf Galley. That doesn’t mean they cannot hold metal nights anymore. They can, but I will not be able to sponsor the venue. But hey, at least we gave it a try, yes?

No to musical discrimination, but let us all maintain peace. No brawls please. Is respect really very hard to uphold these days?

For more pictures of the event, check out Fallen Emperor‘s photo albums, they did their album launch that night. Too bad I missed it. I hope you guys had a blast though. Congratulations!!

Fallen Emperor’s Album Launch at Wharf Galley Album 1
Fallen Emperor’s Album Launch at Wharf Galley Album 2

**All photos on this blog post belong to Fallen Emperor