PhotoHunt: Wide

This is the Hunting Island Light Station, located along the coast of South Carolina, USA. The light station was operational from the 1870s to the 1930s. The 136-foot tower helped hundreds of sailors- with its light covering a wide swathe of the Atlantic Ocean, visible up to some 17 miles or more than 27 kilometers away.

The two people by the Hunting Island Lighthouse are my parents, dwarfs vis-a-vis the tower but they are giants in my book. They exert a great influence on a wide range of aspects in my life; a huge deal of what I am and what I can be is because of the light and love they have shown in my almost 29-odd years of living =]

Yep, despite my stubbornness, God still made me win the parent lottery =]

Hail! U.P. Oblation - The Centennial Photo-Op

At the crack of dawn on December 13, 2008, the country’s top photographers and international press will be on hand at the UP Amphitheatre for a Photo Expedition that will feature 100 Oblation Men from all sectors of the University (UP students, alumni, faculty and staff) to honor the immortal symbol of academic freedom, excellence and service. Models will be suited with a crafted fig leaf, exclusively designed by renowned fashion designer, Eric Pineda. As the 100 Oblation Men pose, photographers will be given time to capture the moment by interpreting the meaning of the Oblation through their camera lenses.

Top Philippine photographers including media will be invited to this photo expedition which we hope will land on the cover of TIME magazine and the front pages of national dailies. As of this writing, we already have confirmation from both local and foreign press photographers that they will cover the event. The best shots will be featured in the UP Centennial Coffee Table Book which is now a work in progress. Slots are still available for the 100 Oblation Men in this once-in-a-lifetime event.

For more details, contact Debbie at 09177913924 or Misha at 09209015107. Queries can be sent to hailupoblation@gmail.com. Photographers may also get in touch with Debbie.

Join up and spread the word! A chance like this comes only once every 100 Years.

(From the University of the Philippines Alumni Association)

PhotoHunt: Breakfast

The NGO I was previously connected with went to underserved, far-flung, lower income areas of the country- some as far as 1,000 kilometers away from the capital- to conduct surgical missions. We'd stay there for 2-3 days, seeing some 50-75 patients with problems that included cataracts, cysts, benign tumors, goiter, cleft lips and palates, among others. These areas suffered from acute lack of physicians and equipment that could have helped take care of their health concerns earlier. A full complement of volunteer surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other allied health professionals and local health volunteers operated on patients free of charge.

It was priceless to see how seemingly minor surgical procedures did wonders to lives of the long-suffering patients; their smiles and profuse expression of gratitude made the trip worthwhile. The simple but nonetheless sumptuous breakfasts (and lunches and and snacks and dinners) the local residents lovingly prepared for us were excellent treats as well!