Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Fireworks at the Mall of Asia

St. James the Great Parish

Here are some shots of the wedding flower arrangements at St. James the Great Parish at Ayala Alabang Village.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

The dawg!

Buffy recently took a trip to Bag of Beans...

"The Dog" shot. On the way to the bag of beans.

Buffy in her cool weather gear.

After a long day.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Tagayatay shrouded in mist

On one of my trips to Tagaytay I had the unfortunate luck to have gone there on a day when the entire ridge was shrouded in mist.

The ridge east of one destination.

Antonio's Grill

One Destination parking.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Save the cheerleader, save the dolphins

Fourteen thousand dolphins are killed in Japan every year. The manner of killing is barbaric. I learned about this sad fact, because Hayden Panettiere went to Japan to try to save a group of pilot whales from slaughter. msnbc wrote "As a spokesperson for SaveTheWhalesAgain.org, Panettiere hopes her traumatic ordeal will help raise awareness. 'We all crossed our fingers that those whales didn’t die in vain,' she concluded."

While it is not fair to condemn an entire country or a condemn an entire people for the actions of a few, or even the actions of the majority, the rational mind has its limits, and 14,000 Dolphins is past mine. I do condemn.

"Whales and dolphins are traditionally used (as resources) in Japan," said Hideki Moronuki of the Japanese Fisheries Agency. "In this light, we cannot accept an argument simply based on emotional causes."

I am angry, and angry people are not rational ones. I just lost my taste for anything Japanese, their cars, their foods, their clothes... everything with "Made in Japan" stamped on it. I will do my best, to give Ms. Moronuki, more than "emotional causes" to change her mind.

Next time someone ask me to eat at a Japanese restaurant, I will just have to say, "I am sorry I do not eat Japanese food. They kill dolphins." Besides, all the blood killed my appetite.

Photo from SaveTheWhalesAgain.org

"Spiny"

Among the many flora in Bag of Beans Cafe, Tagaytay City.

Camera: Canon Powershot G5

Taal Lake and Volcano

I took these shots last month from Breakfast at Antonio's on the Tagaytay Ridge.





Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Something I always wanted

My girlfriend got me something I always wanted, but never did buy since... well... I really do not know what to do with it once I have it.


It now guards my desk in our new office.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Malabon City Hall construction

The new Malabon City Hall is nearing completion and is really starting to take shape.

Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

Bag of Beans in Tagaytay is one of my favorite hangouts in Tagaytay City. Great Coffee and reasonable prices (for the area).

Bag of Beans is located along the Aguinaldo Highway, just after the
public market (if you are coming from Manila)

The Cafe proper itself is located below highway level making it
a private secluded spot.

The place itself is under a thick tree cover.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Metrogate Estates Silang

Here are a couple of shots I took when I was in Metrogate Estates, in Silang, Cavite, a few weeks ago.

This was taken from the top of the hill, right after the entrance gate of Metrogate Estates Silang.

Another shot from the same place.

The Japanese Garden located at the foot of the hill.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Flowers from Silang Cavite

"Buds"

"Zinnia"

"Fireworks"

Camera: Canon Powershot G5

Let me out!

Chicco, a Pekingese want's to be released from the kennel.


Camera: Sony DSC-W35

Laguna

My work has been taken me to a lot of provincial assignments lately. Was in Sta. Cruz, Laguna twice, both on rainy days so did not get to much sight seeing. Did see an interesting monument on the way there... a giant duck in Victoria, Laguna.

The Municipal Hall at Sta. Cruz, Laguna

The Giant Duck at Victoria, Laguna

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Citta Italia

I recently moved to Citta Italia, a nice quiet community located between the border or Imus and Bacoor in the Province of Cavite. Luckily, I got a place fronting one of the several opening spaces, this one devoted as a playground and park.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMZ-FZ50

Maguai and the dog biscuit

Pekingese can be comical creatures. Maguay, the baby of Kristines family of Pekingese recently had a difficult task to accomplish. Tackling a dog treat!

A grateful dog

Yikes! Its hard (dog contemplates what to do)

Determination and...

... perseverance

More please

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Ranchu

Two years ago I bought Kristine four Ranchu's. Three died within a week, only one, name dRan Ran survived. Ranchu are fancy goldfish developed in Japan. They can grow up to 8" long, at which point they are the size of a baseball.

Meet Ran Ran.

A Ranchu can grow up to 8" long, at which point he is about as large as a baseball.

Ran Ran decides he has had enough picture taking for the day.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Update on Malabon City Hall construction

A month ago we posted pictures of the Malabon City Hall construction. I took some new shots today to which show the progress of the construction.

Construction has reached all the way to the 11th floor and the buildings facade is now clearly visible.

The new building is being built on top of the old. This is the floor right on top of the roof of old building.

The interior of the 5th floor which will house the City Council is almost done.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

Bird of Paradise

The bird of paradise flower, was so named because of a supposed resemblance of its flowers to the bird of paradise.

Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50

A Tribute in digital format

Got me a new cam'ra. Traded in my trusty little Kodak EasyShare LS633 point and shoot with a Canon Powershot G5. Nothing fancy, really. But then again, I'm not really particular with the camera as long as it allows me to take the shots I want. Lately though I'd been dabbling a lot on macro shots and my Kodak can't seem to keep up with me. The G5 should set me up well on this front. I must admit though that the G5 is a huge leap from my LS633. Complicated. Have to study the manual really well first to get decent shots.

In the meantime, let me share with you my most favorite shots taken with my Kodak EasyShare LS633 camera. A tribute of sorts...

"Snoopy"
(This shot was the "Top 20 Cute" winner 10 months ago in a Flickr group.)

"Corydoras Trilineatus"
(My personal favorite. Simply gorgeous.)

"Milk and Cookies"
(Somebody said this photo was "perfect" and asked for permission to use it in his website.)

"Plakat Betta"
(This one won a photo contest.)

Camera: Kodak Easyshare LS633