Miscellaneous Pics

I took this pic from the 32nd floor balcony of our office in Pasong Tamo. Left side buildings are along Arnaiz Street (formerly Pasay Road).  Opposite are the houses in San Lorenzo Village.

   This picture was taken last February.  I was on my way home to Bulacan when i spotted this tree along
   TriNoMa service road.

This kamyas tree naman is from our backyard.  I don't know why it has so much fruit. My nanay would use this to cook paksiw sa kamyas.

Labor Day Weekend and a Loony

It's Labor Day weekend.  GMA declared Monday (May 3) a holiday, so that's 3 straight days of pure bliss. Hehehe!  But naaah.  I have to work today.  My boss asked me to do some research on alternative power sources like wind turbines and solar energy.  I have very little knowledge about these things so i will definitely rely on my ever dependable source of information - the internet.  Our plant's (a small boutique facility - as described by my boss) monthly electric bill zoomed and were now paying P130K!  It used be 80-90K monthly.

On a different note, I slept late texting and calling people.  For a week now, my team leader has been receiving threats from a loony who got jealous of him.  He thought my team leader and his gf (who is my staff also) are having an affair.  The girl denied that the  loony is his bf but i discovered otherwise.

Sa lahat, ayoko guluhin ang isip ko about some things that does not concern my job. But my team leader is worried.  Because this loony has started to threaten his family as well.  Told him not to be worried because people who threatens are usually the ones who do nothing.

Then i found out that the loony is our contractors nephew! I immediately called my contractor and asked him to take care of the situation.  I also called loony (got his number from my team leader) several times but he dropped the calls. I sent him a text message though and i said:

"You stupid moron, i know who you are and if you will continue harassing my staff, i have some friends who can literally shove your ass to the gutter!" tapang 'noh. hehehe!

No. i didn't text him that.  Instead i said:

"This is from the office of Sr. Insp.  Alex Roberto of *blah-blah* police station. We received a complaint that you are harassing and threatening Mr. *blah-blah* and his family.  Please be advised that your continuous threats are being monitored and that offense of this nature are punishable by law - Republic Act 9262.  If you will continue this threats against Mr. *blah-blah* and his family, we will take necessary actions to prevent you from committing the crime against Mr. *blah-blah*. Consider this message our final warning.

Hahaha!  I don't know any Sr. Insp. Alex Roberto but so far, my staff have not received any threat from this loony. I just hope this will work.  If not, i need to find a Sr. Insp. Alex Roberto.  Hahaha!  And the Republic Act 9262? i read or heard it somewhere. I'm sure this loony is so stupid that he will not research.  I hope. Hahaha!

Anyway, now i really need to research about about alternative power sources.  Or else, Meralco will just drain us out.  Happy Labor Day!

Samut-saring Ibon

I was having second thoughts of going to Jurong Bird Park. But i remember the beautiful pictures of Bing (a former high school classmate) when he was there last January of 2010. Bing is also a photography enthusiast.

Armed with my DSLR camera and a newly purchased 70-300mm Tamron lens (bought from a electronic shop along Orchard Road), i took the MRT and bus ride to Jurong. At the park, i was first greeted by the local staff and was ushered to the ticket booth. I was asked if i would like to take the train ride to navigate the park but i decided not to. It will be difficult taking pictures of the birds from the tree tops. So i prepared myself to a loooong walk.

After i got in, we were initially guided to the penguin room. There were different types of penguins but the ones i recognized are the Emperor Penguins. These type of penguins are the bidas in the movie "Happy Feet". It's kinda sad as i remember the story and the plight of dancing penguin Mumble - the main character of the movie, as he fought against humans' over fishing. Mumble was captured and became part of a caged penguin display similar to what i have seen in Jurong Bird Park.

Anyway, the staff through his PA system announced that it is feeding time. A man with a big pale appeared in the center of this giant aquarium. The penguins went into frenzy as food (fresh fish) were thrown into the water. The glass wall separating the penguins from the visitors are stained so it is difficult to take clear pictures. After the feeding session, i was able to talk to the park attendant whose in-charge of the penguin show. He's pinoy pala and he's from Bicol. His name is Carlo. We chat a little about work and seems to be happy with his job. But he said that locals gets bigger pay compared to foreign staff like him.

Moving on, there's a big pond with flocks of red flamingos. It was a perfect subject. So i took my camera and did some several shots. Red flamingos are separated from the pink ones which is located naman at the other side of the park. There's quite a number of bird species at the park. From the smallest love birds to ostriches and other flightless birds (which names i forgot). Hahaha!

Well, here are some of the pictures from Jurong Bird Park.

Close Encounter with the Mummies

One of my itinerary in Singapore includes a visit to the National Museum where they have a limited exhibition of ancient Egypt titled - The Quest for Immortality. With my Mastercard, i got a 50% discount to the entrance fee so i only paid SGD 7.50 or roughly P240.00.

The first part of the exhibit is an array of statues. The walls are covered with reproduced and enlarged papyrus. Stone tablets, similar to Moses' where the 10 Commandments are scribed, adorned the other side of the exhibit. They were playing some sort of ancient music and we are not allowed to use the flash of our cameras. It's difficult to take pictures because its a bit dark inside. I have to set my camera in 'night mode' to be able to capture these photos. Each relics are just highlighted with subtle lighting.

The Museum was like a labyrinth. Visitors are guided with bits of information with each artifact. My shots were blurred with the absence of proper lighting. Anyway, I decided to take some photos and see later if i can improve them with PS.

The best part of the exhibit is the close encounter with the mummies. Although they are enclosed in glass capsules, the experience is truly amazing and creepy at the same time. This is the picture of an actual mummy and his tomb.

The Fire Eaters!

From my hotel, Fort Canning Lodge, i headed to my next destination - The famous Singapore Night Safari. I was not able to take some shots during the tour because we were not allowed to use our camera flash. For an amateur photographer like me, it's pointless to take pictures of these nocturnal animals because we were in a constantly moving vehicle and the absence of proper lighting. But the experience of seeing these animals closely and in their almost natural habitat is worth all the trouble.

Anyway, after the 30 minutes or so safari tour, we were treated with a spectacular performance by the Safari's resident Fire Eaters. In between dancing and squeezing myself to a jam packed audience, i was able to capture some good shots.

First Pyrolympics at MOA (February 2010)

These are the pics i took during the last day of First Pyrolympic Competition at the Mall of Asia. These fireworks are from the host country - The Philippines!!!

Singapore Trip

I went to Singapore last February 26 for a much-needed break. Though i stayed there for 5 days lang. Hahaha! Unfortunately, hindi pa open ang Universal Studios that time. They opened mid March. But still, I enjoyed my stay there and was able to capture a lot of good pictures. Here are some of the pictures I took.

It was an eventful experience. Traveling alone is not new to me. My first trip abroad was in Hong Kong and I was all by myself. Though i met new friends during the trip. At times, i find it easier to travel alone because i can do whatever i want and go wherever i feel like going to. Wala ng diskusyon, sarili ko lang iisipin ko. Hehehe!

This Singapore trip was planned last November of 2009. It was a gift from my ever generous boss. I booked myself online to Fort Canning because its cheap and almost in the center of everything. Doby Ghaut MRT station is just a stone-throw away and they also have a forex there which gives greater value to my limited US dollar baon compared to that of the airport.

I was really excited about this trip coz my last was 2007 pa in Macau with my boss (Ma'am Petita), Enrique (her nephew) and Violy (her mayordoma).

Anyway, it's my first also to book my flight online and it was a breeze. I booked myself to Singapore Air and right then and there i was able to choose my seat, my in-flight meal and print my boarding pass at the same time.

The only brouhaha during this trip is that when i was at the departure area of the old NAIA airport, i almost lost my green Crumpler knapsack. After i let it pass through the x-ray conveyor along with my luggage, subject myself to the standard frisking and all, load my luggage back to the push-cart, i forgot to pick up my knapsack.

I only realized i don't have it when i need to take a tylenol.

I was alarmed! I went back to areas in the airport where i went before and when i passed by a security booth.... my green Crumpler bag was there on top of it! nobody was around so i took it. Hahaha! I was about to load it in my push-cart when this policeman suddenly appeared. He asked me the usual "Is that your bag sir?". I said "yes". And he asked me again, "Kailangan po nating buksan yang bag for security purposes, ano po ba laman nito?"

Nag-isip ako. Trying to recall lahat ng nilagay ko don. "I have my Sony digital camera there, my MacBook, my back-up cellphone, my medicine, my iPod at..... 5 Giordano briefs!" hehehe! Hindi na kasi kumasya sa luggage ko yung briefs. Kasi ba naman sa dami ng mga padala sa akin. May mga lata ng corned beef at bibingka para sa daughter ng officemate ko at may mangga at chicharon para sa classmate ko. Haaaaay!

Anyway, the policeman looked inside my bag and after satisfying him with my answers, he gave my bag back to me and said. "Ingatan nyo po yung gamit nyo, sayang yan pag nawala." I thanked the officer and gave a sigh of relief.

Lining up to the airline booth to deposit my check-in luggage was also easy. Since i already have a boarding pass, the female staff of Singapore Air accompanied me directly to the Business/First Class line, though i'm holding an E-class ticket. hehehe!

Mga Unang Kodakan

These are the first pictures i took with my first DSLR camera (Nikon D5000) at Greenbelt park.