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Contact Gigie Cruz

2012-08-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

Red Binondo

2012-01-26T17:46:00.000-08:00

Red Binondo. Binondo skyline turns red with fireworks as the Filipino-Chinese community welcomes the 2012 Lunar Year of the Water Dragon. (Photo by Gigie Cruz)

Masked: Pinoys in the Chinese Opera

2012-01-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

See full story at: AKP Images

The availability of Chinese films in VHS and DVDs caused the waning interest on live Chinese Operas that continuously impacts the already decreasing number of Chinese Opera performers- known as Kaw Kas.

Currently, only four groups are left to pursue this form of Chinese art in the Philippines including Bee Hua, a second generation Chinese who chose to tap Filipino out-of-school youth from impoverished areas around Manila to perform as Kaw Kas to keep the tradition going to show her devotion to Tian To Guan, the Master of Performers.

With faces masked with white and pink make-ups, no one would notice that the performers are actually young Filipino performers who don’t speak and understand Chinese. Despite such challenges and with no audience to watch them, these young performers gave their best in producing an authentic Chinese Opera, explaining that it’s their devotion to Tian To Guan that keeps them going. The money they earn as Kaw Kas enabled them to support their respective families and save enough to fulfil their dreams.

The Hoc Kian Chinese Opera group gets regular invitation to perform at different Chinese festivities like the King’s birthday celebration at the Four Kings Buddhist Temple at Zacatero Street in Binondo.

Seng Guan Temple, Manila

2012-01-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

Buddhists enter the Seng Guan Temple in Manila to offer prayers and pay respect to their gods as they celebrate the 2009 New Lunar Year. (Photo by Gigie Cruz/2009)

I did this story in 2009 as part of PCP's (Philippine Center for Photojournalism) project on Filipino-Chinese Culture.

Seng Guan Temple (Temple of Ten Thousand Buddhas), Narra St., Manila

Among the busy streetsof Divisoria market, a Stupa majestically stands among old and new buildings. Possessing a peculiar form, the mound-like edificeindicates importance of the structure in addition to the intricately designedmulti-tiered sweeping roofs of this Buddhist temple.

The Seng Guan Templelocated at Narra Street in Manila is said to be one of the biggest and mostrevered Buddhist Temple in the Philippines. The temple houses several large Buddha sculptures in gold relief. Threeof these Buddha sculptures were brought to Manila in 1937 according to CarlosTan the current keeper of the temple. Howeverhistorical notes trace the construction of the temple not until 1942. Unfortunately, a fire totally destroyed thewhole complex in 1948. The temple was thenrebuilt in 1950s and in 1970s.

The Seng Guan BuddhistShrine has three main halls. The groundlevel has the Avalokishvara which is used as theancestors’ shrine. This shrine allowsBuddhist practitioners to pay homage to their ancestors as they believe thatthey would guarantee their ancestors’ well-being even after death. They do this by offering prayers and lightingup joss sticks. They also ask for wisdomand guidance by praying to their ancestors particularly on making bigdecisions.

At the second level, one would find thelecture hall that shows paintings and sculptures of Gautama Buddha’s earthlylife.

The grand hall called the “Hall of the TenThousand Buddhas” houses a Giant Buddha with a large mural of Buddha’s path toenlightenment in gold leaf. At thecenter of the hall, a big lotus-shaped tile is located just below the Stupalined by the ten thousand Buddha relics.

Reverence. The Seng Guan Temple located in Narra StreetManila is said to be one of the biggest and most revered Buddhist Temple in thePhilippines. The temple has three mainhalls which houses large Buddha sculptures in gold relief.

The multi-tieredsweeping tiled roof designs are ubiquitous for Chinese temples.

Seng Guan in Red. The Seng Guan Temple entrance ornately decorated with redlanterns during Chinese New Year celebration.

The Chinese dragonor Oriental dragon is a mythical creature which is a powerful symbol of luck inChinese art.

Even with electriccables distracting the view, the Stupa still gleams majestically. The tallest stupa houses the ten thousandBuddha relics.

A devotee doing meditationinside the “Halls of the Ten Thousand Buddhas.”

Prayers offered at the“Halls of the Ten Thousand Buddhas,” which houses not only the ten thousandBuddha relics but as well as the largest Buddha in the shrine and a muraldepicting Buddha’s path to enlightenment in gold relief.

Chinese families clad inred pay homage and offer their prayers by lighting up joss sticks at the SengGuan temple as the New Chinese Lunar year enters.

The Stupa at the SengGuan temple illuminated by the firecrackers as the Seng Guan temple staff welcomethe 2009 Chinese Lunar year.

Holy Hours: The Black Nazarene Procession

2012-01-11T17:42:00.001-08:00

Thousands of devotees push and pull the wheel less carriage of the Black Nazarene as it makes its way to the Basilica Minor of the Black Nazarene at six in the morning of January 10 which is 23 hours after the procession started at eight in the morning January 9 from the Luneta Grandstand. The 2012 procession is the longest in the history of the Quiapo Church fiesta.(Photos by Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

Thousands of devotees push and pull the wheel less carriage of the Black Nazarene as it makes it way to the Basilica Minor of the Black Nazarene at six in the morning of January 10 which is 23 hours after the procession started at eight in the morning January 9 from the Luneta Grandstand. The 2012 procession is the longest in the history of the Quiapo Church fiesta.(Photos by Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

It was my first time to document the Feast of the Black Nazarene and decided to cover the procession from Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene. I was feeling a little anxious at first since I am not sure what may happen during the day. I prayed and mustered enough courage to carry on. Lucky enough, I saw colleagues from the Philippine Center for Photojournalism who were there to cover the event.

This year's procession is the Quiapo Church's longest procession in its history of 405 years of annual Translacion. I documented the event from 6:30 AM of January 9 until it ended at 6:30 AM after the Black Nazarene was brought inside the Basilica the following day.

With broken wheels, devotees had to push and pull the carriage where the Black Nazarene stands. Msgr. Jose Clemente Ignacio, Parish Priest of the Quiapo Church said that this is the “longest and most difficult procession, with the devotees offering the biggest sacrifice.” He thanked all the devotees for their sacrifices. I feel blessed to have covered this historical event.

Here are some images that I took during the Translacion 2012. Currently working on a photo essay, will post it soon.

Devotees take a rest before the procession of the Black Nazarene begins. Most of them spent the night in Luneta Park to attend the "Pahalik" and prayer vigil. (Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

A marshal from Hijos de Nazareno reaches out for the broken wheel of the carriage where the Black Nazarene stands minutes after the procession started at Luneta Park.(Photo by Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

The National government deploys hundreds of military and police officers to help secure the route of the Black Nazarene Translacion in response to an intelligence report on a possible terrorist attack during the procession, which draws millions of devotees. (Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

Devotees exert effort to grab the abaca rope and take a chance in reaching the Black Nazarene believing that this will give them protection and luck. (Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

A marshal takes a peep over the gate of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in preparation for the entry of the Black Nazarene and thousands of devotees.(Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

Devotees try to grab strands of abaca rope used during the procession of the Black Nazarene believing that this will give them protection and luck. (Gigie Cruz/AKP Images)

Related Story: Aquino thanks troops for safe, longest procession

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/125923/aquino-thanks-police-military-for-securing-nazarene-feast

By Jaymee Gamil, Jeannette I. Andrade

Philippine Daily Inquirer

2:08 am | Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

After 22 grueling hours, it left a spent army of devotees slumped on the pavement, Church leaders pondering what had become of their flock, and the government patting itself on the back for thwarting an alleged terrorist plot.

This year’s procession of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo entered the books as the longest in the history of the 17th century icon—thanks, or no thanks, to some broken wheels and the refusal of diehard believers to take shortcuts.

The statue was paraded starting at Quirino Grandstand in Manila at 8 a.m. on Monday and returned to its home at Quiapo Church at 6:11 a.m. Tuesday, inching its way through a swarm of pilgrims down a 5-kilometer route in the city’s central enclaves.

Organizers mainly traced the unprecedented delay to the Nazarene’s carriage stalling early in the procession, when two of its wheels broke under the sheer crush of devotees trying to mount it. By late afternoon, all the wheels had been damaged and devotees could only move the carriage by lifting it off the ground.

The procession could have been cut short by at least seven hours had the devotees agreed late Monday night to skip parts of the original route and take a shorter way to Quiapo, as suggested by police and parish officials.

But the predominantly male crowd angrily rejected the suggestion. For about an hour, at the corner of Palanca and Villalobos Streets, the religious ritual morphed into a tug of war—with the Nazarene caught in the middle—between the marshals who favored the shortcut and the diehard devotees who wanted to stick to tradition.

About 200,000 devotees—out of the estimated 8 million who flocked to Manila for the procession—welcomed the statue’s arrival at Quiapo Church. Many were forced to wait it out and sleep on the sidewalks and storefronts around the church.

Aquino thanks troops

President Benigno Aquino III, who on Sunday warned that terrorists were targeting the feast and ordered tighter security in the area, yesterday thanked the police, the military and the intelligence community “for our successful operation.”

“Also laudable was the way our people followed our instructions to ensure the safety of all,” Mr. Aquino said in a speech during the installation ceremony at Villamor Air Base for the new Philippine Air Force chief, Lieutenant General Lauro Catalino de la Cruz.

“Like the preparations we showed in the past two days, you can expect that the government would remain on the alert every minute to watch the welfare, right and livelihood of every Filipino,” he said.

In a briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government continued to pursue a group believed to be composed of “bomb experts” based in Mindanao.

He did not give further details, except to say that this group may have been forced to “go underground” because of the warning issued by the President on the eve of the Quiapo procession.

Lacierda also defended the security precautions taken by the government, including the decision to ask telecommunication companies to shut down mobile phone signals in the procession area lest terrorists use phones as triggering devices for bombs.

“This is a situation where we believe that the government acted prudently, acted promptly on credible threats,” he told reporters.

Asked whether the government would resort to the same measures again, Lacierda said it would depend “on what is presented to us or to the intelligence community.”

As to criticisms that the government overreacted to the supposed terror threat, the Palace spokesperson said: “Would you rather have casualties? We did what we have decided as prudent at that point. And a statement (like that), that it was an overreaction, is always ‘hindsight 20-20.’”

‘Excess fanaticism’

A Catholic priest in charge of the procession admitted that the devotees displayed an “excess of fanaticism that needs to be corrected.”

“It’s our task to slowly form and educate the faithful about their devotion and the right way of expressing such devotion that will not harm themselves and others,” said Msgr. Clemente Ignacio, rector of the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

“We admit that there were elements or excess of fanaticism that needs to be corrected but we also saw from them yesterday the seed of their deepening devotion,” Ignacio said in a phone interview.

“I understand their very strong desire to touch the Black Nazarene. That’s their way of expressing their faith,” he said, referring to devotees who risked injury just to get near the image.

Over Church-run Radio Veritas, Novaliches Bishop Emeritus Teodoro Bacani Jr. said the Church must make the devotees realize that it was only through deep faith—and not through towels or handkerchiefs—that they could touch Jesus Christ.

“The Church must focus on catechesis because it’s not good that people are getting hurt during the procession,” Bacani said.

“They must be taught that they don’t need to jostle their way up to the carriage just to touch the image of the Black Nazarene. It’s not the touch of the hand that matters but touching the Lord through their faith.”

No alert downgrade

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Tuesday clarified that the government had “not downgraded” the terror alert level.

“We’re continuing the operations to locate (the terror suspects). We could not be sure yet,” he said.

On Monday, Gazmin said security agents were tracking six to nine members of an “extremist group” from Mindanao who arrived in Metro Manila in August last year possibly to stage a bomb attack.

“This is not an ordinary threat because the suspects were sighted and they have the intention (to stage a terrorist attack),” the defense secretary said, without giving details about the suspects’ identities, affiliation or capabilities.

“Our men are following up leads … so that even after the festivities (in Quiapo) the operations are ongoing to capture the suspects,” he said. “We will not stop until we capture these suspects.”

Also on Tuesday, the Philippine National Police said it was maintaining its full alert status in Metro Manila.

The PNP spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., said the National Capital Region Police Office would continue exercising security precautions in “vital installations and economic key points,” including government offices, business districts, train stations, bus terminals and other crowded places.

But Interior Secretary Jesse M. Robredo said he believed that the threat had passed following the raids conducted by police on suspected terrorist lairs on Sunday and Monday. The raids, though, yielded negative results.

“The downgrading of the alert status will formally come from the PNP, but because the (feast) is over, we don’t want the citizens to be alarmed by the prevailing high alert,” he said.

Robredo said various PNP units raided suspected terrorist safe houses in Angono, Rizal province; Culiat, Quezon City; and Baseco in Manila.

He also explained that previous intelligence reports indicating a possible terror threat were not specific to the Black Nazarene procession, but that recent assessments made by government experts pointed to the procession as the most likely target of an attack.

Most elaborate

Mr. Aquino’s warning sparked one of the most elaborate security deployments for an event in the capital in recent years. About 15,000 policemen, backed by hundreds of army troops,

secured the procession route, while Air Force helicopters stood by.

Police estimated 8 million people attended the feast centered on the cross-bearing statue of Jesus Christ, which is believed to have healing powers.

Devotees waving handkerchiefs and towels let out shouts of “Viva!” as the statue was finally brought inside the church at the end of the grueling procession.

The Philippine Red Cross said it had treated 569 devotees as of Tuesday morning for minor injuries, exhaustion or dehydration.

The Manila Police District (MPD) said the only security issues it encountered during the procession came from a handful of pickpockets—and an abandoned, suspicious looking box left outside Quiapo Church on Monday morning. The box later turned out to contain nothing but kalamay (a rice delicacy).

Save for four incidents of petty theft, the country’s biggest religious procession was generally crime-free, said the MPD spokesperson, Chief Inspector Erwin Margarejo. With reports from Jocelyn R. Uy and Christine O. Avendaño, DJ Yap, and Dona Z. Pazzibugan; and AP

Faith

2012-01-07T11:38:00.000-08:00

Saan man ako bumaling
Ika’y naroon
Tumalikod man sa ‘yo
Dakilang pag-ibig mo
Sa aki’y tatawag at magpapaalalang
Ako’y iyong iniibig
At siyang itatapat sa puso

This post is quite off-topic from the typical environmental issues I usually post in this blog but it is a story I have been wishing to document.

Growing up in a very religious family, I have always been fascinated to witness on TV the sea of devotees going to the Quiapo Church (Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene) during the Feast of the Black Nazarene celebrated annually every January 9. Last Friday, I went there to observe in preparation for Sunday and Monday shoot and decided to hear the first Friday mass. The experience was really unforgettable. Aside from just letting myself and a friend get pushed and go along with the flow of people, it was inspiring to witness Catholic faithful participate so actively the entire mass.

When the blessing of replicas was announced, people inside the packed Quiapo Church rushed towards the aisle to get a glimpse of the priest blessing the replicas. I decided not to take out my camera until the mass ended and took it out this time to capture how it looks like to be in the middle of devotees zealously waiting for a chance to be blessed.

For me, just the opportunity to be right there is already a blessing. Thank you God.

I am also glad that the choir sung one of my favorite songs...

Hesus Ng Aking Buhay
by Arnel Aquino, SJ

Sikat ng umaga
Buhos ng ulan
Simoy ng dapithapon
Sinag ng buwan
Batis na malinaw
Dagat na bughaw
Gayon ang Panginoon kong
Hesus ng aking buhay

Saan man ako bumaling
Ika’y naroon
Tumalikod man sa ‘yo
Dakilang pag-ibig mo
Sa aki’y tatawag at magpapaalalang
Ako’y iyong iniibig
At siyang itatapat sa puso

Tinig ng kaibigan
Oyayi ng ina
Pag-asa ng ulila
Bisig ng dukha
Ilaw ng may takot
Ginhawa ng aba
Gayon ang Panginoon kong
Hesus ng aking buhay

Saan man ako bumaling
Ika’y naroon
Tumalikod man sa ‘yo
Dakilang pag-ibig mo
Sa aki’y tatawag at magpapaalalang
Ako’y iyong iniibig
At siyang itatapat sa puso

2012 New Year Smog

2012-01-01T09:29:00.001-08:00

Got the chance to go around the metro hours after the New Year celebration to check how bad the smog is. DENR and DOH already sent warnings about the possible increase of respiratory health problems when thick smog engulfed Metro Manila the first week of December, but this was not enough to stop people from lighting firecrackers during the New Year revelry.

The first sunrise of 2012 reveals a thick smog engulfing Metro Manila as seen from Antipolo, Rizal. Health officials warned the public of possible increase in asthma and other respiratory health cases due to emissions from firecrackers.

Metro Manila Smog

2011-12-26T09:32:00.000-08:00

Environment and health officials blame pollution as thick smog continues to blanket parts of Metro Manila exacerbated by the current weather condition like the Ortigas skyline taken during sunrise. Health officials warn the public on the increase of respiratory health problems due to pollution in urban areas.

The photos below were taken late in the morning and thick smog still blankets the metropolis.

Dirtiest air found at Edsa-Taft Aves.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/107541/dirtiest-air-found-at-edsa-taft-aves

By Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer

11:03 pm | Thursday, December 8th, 2011

People suffering from asthma or lung ailments should stay away from the corner of Edsa and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

According to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje, the air in the vicinity of the busy intersection has been measured to be the dirtiest in Metro Manila.

Paje said that the measuring station of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the area had indicated that the amount of total suspended particles (TSP) in the intersection was at 280 ug/ncm (microgram per normal cubic meter). The normal standard is 90 ug/ncm.

As of the third quarter of the year, the average level of air pollution in Metro Manila was at 116 ug/ncm.

Suspended particulates from vehicles consist of carbon monoxide and sulfur molecules that have mixed with dust.

Weather and environment officials said that pollution is responsible for the smog that blankets the metropolis at this time of the year.

It also leaves residents in the metropolis vulnerable to upper respiratory diseases.

Paje said that about half of the medicine sold in Metro Manila are for respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic cough.

To reduce pollution, the DENR secretary urged local governments to regulate the use of fireworks during the holiday season.

Paje noted that pollution from firecrackers would also set back the country’s gains in reducing air pollution, especially in Metro Manila, where the TSP levels declined during the first three quarters of the year.

He said it would be helpful if local governments would establish common firecracker zones where people could safely enjoy fireworks and make cleaning up afterward an easier task, translating into fewer fires, injuries and deaths.

2011 Rock the Riles

2011-12-11T08:36:00.000-08:00

Rock vs Hunger. Commuters at MRT (Metro Railway Transit) Taft station get a taste of rock and roll as Filipino bands raise awareness against hunger through their music. Around 80 bands and performers rock eight MRT stations to celebrate the 2011 International Human Rights Day last December 11 organized by RockEd Philippines. (Photo by Gigie Cruz)

Exhibit: Taken from Memory

2011-12-09T19:09:00.001-08:00

My friend Angel Carballo will have her story on Breastfeeding exhibited tonight until December 24 as part of the Masterclass in Documentary Photography conducted by Alex Baluyut.

Congratulations Angel and Sir Alex.

TAKEN FROM MEMORY" and other new photo stories is the 5th exhibit of the MASTERCLASS IN DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY (MCDP)

Exhibitors are Diana Verzosa Moraleda/ Jullian Okubo/ Migo Prado/ Angelica Carballo/Piya Constantino/Zer Cabatuan OPENING NIGHT IS ON DEC 10, SATURDAY, 6PM AT CONSPIRACY CAFE.FULL MOON MCDP XMAS PARTY/SLIDE PRESENTATIONS/ARTIST TALKS/ THE PUBLIC IS INVITED. ADMISSION IS FREE.

Photo Essay: Mining the Urban Ore

2011-11-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

"Mining the Urban Ore" got accepted by PhotoPhilanthropy for the 2011 Activist Award. It is an honor to see my story with other compelling stories submitted around the globe.

http://photophilanthropy.org/gallery-posts/mining-the-urban-ore/

As the Asia region’s economy grows, changing consumption patterns and exponentially increasing waste generation are causing environmental and health impacts. In the interest of promoting an ecological discards management system, (Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives) recognizes the importance of working on environmental and social justice issues connected to waste disposal.

GAIA works for the recognition of wastepickers and the important role they play in ensuring resource efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction through the recovery of valuable resources that would have been otherwise wasted by dumping and incineration. Studies show that approximately 1% of the developing world’s urban population lives by informal recycling. This presents an opportunity for the development of green jobs that would involve integration of informal recyclers into a more ecological materials management system.

The opportunity of working with GAIA gave me a deeper insight and appreciation of wastepickers in implementing ecological waste management systems in the country. I have seen initiatives done by GAIA members in India and Egypt that successfully integrated these informal recyclers to increase recycling rates in their cities as well and most importantly improve their access to basic social services, ensure workers safety and develop their self esteem by recognizing their contribution to the society.

You may also check: http://aninag.org/2011/01/mining-the-urban-ore/

Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga tumulong.

6th PCP Professional Photojournalism Workshop

2011-10-20T08:17:00.000-07:00

LEARN PHOTOJOURNALISM FROM THE PROFESSIONALS!
6th PCP Professional Photojournalism Workshop

23 – 27 NOVEMBER 2011

FSC Forest Complex, Subic Bay Freeport Zone

The Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP) is now accepting participants to the 6th Professional Photojournalism Workshop to be held on 23-27 November 2011 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The five-day intensive workshop aims to raise the participants’ level of understanding of the roots of and current trends on photography and photojournalism. Through lectures, demonstrations and practical exercises, the workshop aims to enhance artistic, aesthetic and ethical practice of the profession.

Instructors include: Alex Baluyut, freelance photographer and mentor in Masterclass in Documentary Photography (MCDP) and Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ), Fernando Sepe, photo editor of abs-cbnNEWS.com, Jimmy Domingo, freelance photographer and teacher at the Ateneo de Manila and De La Salle University, Rem Zamora, photojournalist from abs-cbnNEWS.com and Rolex Dela Peña from the European PressPhoto Agency (EPA)..

PCP was established in 1997 by noted Filipino photojournalists working in various local and international newspapers and publications and this workshop series is one of its flagship projects to help raise the bar of photojournalism practice in the country.

For this workshop, we are looking for passionate photographers from universities, newspapers, government agencies, private corporations. Widen your knowledge and perspectives and hone your skills in visual journalism! This open workshop gives the opportunity for you to collaborate and plan future photographic stories with the workshop facilitators.

Expect almost a week in the middle of a forest packed with unique photo classes, panel discussions, field stories, slideshows and interactive photo editing sessions. Meet new friends, have a chance to integrate with the locals, shoot and develop your own photo story in a community in Olongapo.

REGISTRATION

To register, CLICK HERE and submit a scanned deposit slip to pcpworkshops@gmail.com
**REGISTRATION CLOSES ON NOVEMBER 15**

PAYMENT
Subsidized workshop fee is P8,000 inclusive of food and accommodation, learning materials, limited edition workshop t-shirt and certificate of completion.
Note: Transportation to venue and back is not included.
Discounts are available to early registrants until October 20.
*Limited to 30 slots only. Seats will be reserved once full payment is received.

**This workshop is supported by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, abs-cbnNEWS.com, Manila Bulletin and the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
—
For more information, email pcpworkshops@gmail.com

Feasting on Sovereignty, Musing on a Bike Ride by Red Constantino

2011-09-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

Check out the article written by Red Constantino in commemoration of the 20th year RP-US military Bases rejection on September 16, 1991.

My photos were published with the Red's article.
http://www.interaksyon.com/feasting-on-sovereignty-musings-on-a-bike-ride

Sanctuary

2011-09-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Never got the chance to have these photos published. I took this when I and other members of the Philippine Center for Photojournalism (Pam Chua, Jimmy Domingo and Raymond Panaligan) visited Macao through a travel grant we received from the Macao Tourism Government in 2009.

When you get the chance to visit Macao and want to see or experience something different, visit the the Saint Francis Xavier Home for the Aged.

SANCTUARY

“Blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed”

A sanctuary for the visually-impaired and abandoned aged women in Macau, the Saint Francis Xavier Home for the Aged provides educational, physical, recreational and spiritual activities for the elderly to keep them independent and productive despite their old age. Every afternoon, the residents spend time in the chapel to pray.

Established in 1965, Saint Francis Xavier Home for the Aged is a center managed by Caritas Macau catering to the needs of elderly people. The center was originally founded by Canossian Sisters in 1907 for abandoned babies but underwent restructuring when the demand for the services for elderly increased under the sponsorship of the Macau Government.

2011 Plastic Bag-free Day

2011-06-24T20:21:00.000-07:00

On July 3, 2011, groups around the world will organize activities to show the need to address excessive use of plastic packaging materials.

To join the activity, please check
www.bagfreeday.org
http://www.no-burn.org/2010-international-plastic-bag-free-day

PDI: Muntinlupa flood-free; landmark plastics ban cited

2011-06-24T17:50:00.000-07:00

One of the good news I got today. I have been campaigning against disposable packaging materials since the 90s and I am glad that the City of Muntinlupa decided to have this initiative despite the pressure from the plastics industry and some groups. This is indeed commendable.

PDI: Muntinlupa flood-free; landmark plastics ban cited

By Miko Morelos
Philippine Daily Inquirer

1:25 am | Saturday, June 25th, 2011

0 24 24

With the intensity of the intermittent rains that began on Thursday, certain areas in Muntinlupa City could have been just another statistic in the national government’s flood monitoring.

But to Muntinlupa Mayor Aldrin San Pedro’s surprise, the anticipated flooding in some parts of the city did not happen, with rainwater flowing freely through canals and waterways and making their way to Laguna de Bay.

San Pedro cited Muntinlupa’s landmark ban on plastics and polyestrene containers, which was implemented early this year, as among the factors that kept the city free from flooding.

“When our personnel did the cleanups in the past weeks, there was less trash along waterways,” he said in an interview. San Pedro acknowledged that the ban was not the ultimate solution to the flooding problem, but pointed out that it eased the local government’s headaches in ensuring that rainwater would leave the city’s streets as soon as possible.

He identified three areas in Muntinlupa’s National Road that he and other officials had anticipated to be flooded—the part near City Hall, the part near Barangay (village) Putatan, and the part near the Pepsi plant in Barangay Tunasan.

These portions of the road are among the low areas on the thoroughfare that act like a catch basin, and floodwaters there rise up to the knee on the average, he said.

San Pedro also surmised that the construction developments in these areas could also be a factor in the flooding situation. But overall, he said, the city government minimized the effect of the intermittent rains by making sure the areas were drained immediately.

“We could still have pushed through with classes in the city had not the Department of Education suspended the classes in Metro Manila [on Friday],” he said.

Taken at San Juan River ( as seen along E. Rodriguez avenue near Araneta Avenue), Quezon City in 2008.

2011-05-31T01:30:00.000-07:00

What peace this scene gives! Taken at Janao Bay, Mabini, Batangas as the sunset. May 30, 2011.

Summer Farewell

2011-05-30T00:07:00.000-07:00

Summer Farewell. Rain clouds hover Anilao, Batangas as PAG-ASA officially declares the start of the wet season bidding goodbye to summer with barely two days left before June. (Photo by Gigie Cruz)

Mam-eh: The First Aeta Festival

2011-05-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

I luckily got invited by my friend Rei Panaligan to document the Mam-eh Aeta Festival organized by Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran ng mga Ayta, Inc. (KAKAI) and LABAYKU in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Capas, Tarlac last April 28 & 29.

"Mam-eh" (an Aeta word for sharing) was the first Aeta festival organized in the Philippines which brought together more than 350 participants (who also came in tribes) from different Aeta and Agta communities in Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales, Aurora, Quezon, and Camarines Norte.

Participants share food gathering & preparation techniques, songs, dances, rituals and traditions during the 2-day celebration. They were also given a venue to discuss different concerns like indigenous rights, health, food security, livelihood and ancestral domain claim.

Talipe is done during manganito séance. Aetas believe that dancing will help them communicate with the spirits and facilitate healing of the sick. During this ritual, the sick is placed at the center of the circle surrounded by friends and relatives as the medium dances around the circle with a red cloth.

Additional Reference: Khristin Fabian, http://litera1no4.tripod.com/pinatuboaeta_frame.html

Angat water rising, but we direly need to conserve our water

2010-07-23T16:28:00.000-07:00

When I was in Angat last week, I know I have to write about what I witnessed there. I was really appalled and scared by what I saw exactly 3 months after April 2010 when I stayed in the watershed area for Greenpeace Water Watch Camp. I wish I can do more for the environment. I don't mean to scare people but I want t...hem to understand the problem.

I am glad that the water level increased by 70 cm yesterday but I think the public should still be reminded on how important it is to CONSERVE WATER. Here's my attempt in expressing my thoughts.

CLICK IMAGE to make it bigger-Comparative image of Angat between April and July 2010 Photos by Gigie Cruz

The news that water level in Angat went up by almost 1meter today comes as a good news most specially for communities experiencing interrupted water supply (or even worst without any supply at all).

Despite heavy rains, Angat’s water level went down to its historical low of 157.55[1] according to news report just 3 months after it has reached its critical level last April 14 at 180 masl (meters above sea level).

Having documented in Angat and seeing the water level subsided between April and July, I believe that the public should still be encouraged to CONSERVE water since we still haven’t reached the safe level.

We all pray that Angat’s water will reach its normal level the soonest time, but I hope the media will still remind the public that everyone has a role to play by using our water wisely.

Simple steps would include spending less time and water in the shower, using low-flush water closets, reusing water for cleaning and gardening, installing rainwater harvest systems, using basins when washing the dishes, using glass when brushing your teeth among others.

I hope the Aquino government will include environmental issues in their agenda like addressing climate change and access to clean water. They can also begin by strictly implementing existing environmental laws and initiate other steps that will help prevent further damage to our already battered environment.

[1] “Angat dam reserves breach historic low” http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/top-stories/21642-angat-dam-reserves-breach-historic-low

El Nino in Isabela

2010-04-06T03:21:00.000-07:00

Went to Isabela last March 23 to 26 2010 to work on a photoessay on El Nino. I was really saddened when I saw Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela drying up. I didn't realize that the water level of the dam was so low, which residents say already exceeded its critical level. Almost seeing hills which used to be underwater. Isabela's irrigation system is severely affected due to lack of rain since December 2009.

I hope people will realize the value of water even if we are being serviced with "enough" in Manila.

CONSERVE WATER NOW!

(Photos by Gigie Cruz)

Artist walks across Luzon for kids with cancer

2010-01-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

I am thankful Tomas' Step Juan is getting enough attention. He's about to take his first step on Monday, January 11, 2010 from Pagudpod, Ilocos Norte.

Tomas went with me to Batangas and Mindoro as my buddy when I worked on my story on Cancer Warriors and we were both touched by the courage shown by the families and the young cancer patients themselves.

GO TOMAS!

Please support STEP JUAN and CANCER WARRIORS!

CARMELA LAPEÑA, GMANews.TV 01/08/2010 | 05:00 PM

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181100/artist-walks-across-luzon-for-kids-with-cancer

On January 11 (Monday), Tomas Leonor, a 27-year-old UP artist and mountaineer will begin his walking expedition from Pagudpod to Sorsogon in an effort to raise funds for children with cancer.

Step Juan is envisioned to be a project where each step is “a step for life."

Leonor first met the Cancer Warriors in July 2008, when he had helped a photographer friend cover a basketball fundraising event of the said foundation. Upon meeting the children, he felt a calling.

“Nahulog yung loob ko sa kanila and for the cause," shared Leonor in a press conference Thursday morning.

Leonor has since been involved in the foundation’s activities. This time, he is going a step further to do something on his own. The idea of Step Juan is a walking expedition from Pagudpud to Sorsogon, without any means of vehicular assistance for several weeks, straight, stopping only for food and rest. “The backbone and foundation for this idea is to raise funds for the cancer children under the Cancer Warriors Foundation," proclaims the statement in the Step Juan website.

Asked if he feels confident about the task ahead, Leonor says he can hardly wait.

“May halong kaba, but then I’m really excited. Hindi na nga ako nakakatulog," said Leonor in a press conference Thursday morning, three days before the walk is set to begin on January 11.

The walk was originally planned for 2009, but was postponed in light of last year’s harsh weather conditions.

Fit for the long journey

“The original plan of two years ago was an island-hopping/walk that would start from Batanes," said Leonor, adding that he had to downscale it for this specific cause.

LEONOR'S ON-THE-ROAD LOAD

One of Leonor’s friends who is a Physical Science major will monitor his health along the way. PhilHealth has also extended assistance by directing PhilHealth accredited hospitals along Leonor’s route to give him free treatment if necessary. S
Last year, Leonor was the lead artist for the Philippine Children's Medical Center wall mural.

Step Juan has also coordinated with local government units, and there are a few who have already offered a place for Leonor to stay along the way for food and rest. Apart from a Frisbee, Leonor is not bringing any unnecessary baggage. “It’s more of being lightweight, convenient, and ready for whatever will come my way," he said.

These will be packed inside Karl, his custom-made two-wheel cart. Karl is named after Karl Bushby of the Goliath Expedition. Bushby’s mission is to walk from Chile to England. He began his quest in 1998 and expects to finish it by 2014.

Karl, a lightweight aluminum cart with a maximum load of 50 kilograms was made from scratch by Leonor and his friend Rodney Liwanag. Leonor gladly gave reporters a glimpse of Karl’s contents, displaying its convenient all-around zipper. “Para s’yang picnic basket, para easy-access. I can open it from the back or from the front," said Leonor as he demonstrated.

Karl is designed especially so that no weight will be carried by Leonor, unless he goes uphill. This will not be a problem, said Leonor, adding that he had checked the route and it is mostly flat land. “Hindi naman ako aakyat ng Baguio," he laughed.

Karl contains the following:

• waterproof tent
• waterproof jacket (purchased at 200 pesos from ukay-ukay but costs thousands in outdoor shops, Leonor happily discloses)
• waterproof cap
• clothes
• sombrero (for sunny days courtesy of Lagalag)
• hammock
• emergency stove
• canned goods
• “jinakolight" (a flashlight that is operated by vigorous shaking)
• handheld electric fan
• camera
• cellphone (for real-time blogging)
• solar battery charger (Leonor is also a member of Greenpeace)
• petroleum jelly
• Swiss knife
• books by Carlos Castañeda
• mp3 player
• pedometer (to measure progress, heart rate, and calories burned)
• Frisbee (for kids who want to play along the way)
• GPS unit (his location can be pinpointed on the website real-time during the trip)

James Auste, founder of the Cancer Warriors Foundation has faith that Leonor will make it. Despite jesting with reporters that they attend the next press conference “to see if he has made it back alive," Auste added with all seriousness, “Sigurado naman, malakas naman ’yan, trained naman. Hindi naman biglaan ito. Gustong gusto na n’ya maglakad."

Auste—a cancer survivor,who has biked from Manila to Davao, Manila to Cebu, and the Northern Luzon Circuit in CWF’s Bike for Life in the past—will accompany Leonor on certain legs of the odyssey.

Contrary to the artist stereotype (non-athletic and vice-dependent), Leonor is undoubtedly physically fit. Apart from playing basketball and Frisbee, he also plays a mean game of patintero.

For his 47-day journey, Leonor which will cover approximately 1,294 kilometers, he prepared by walking at least 10 kilometers a day, apart from other physical conditioning.

Leonor had gone on a similar expedition before, although without a cause other than his personal enjoyment of the activity. “Ang walking para sa akin ay may pagka-spiritual. Before it was just my personal preference for walking. Now it’s a challenge to help these kids," said Leonor.

The cost of cancer

Indeed, Leonor’s walk will make a world of difference in the lives of cancer-stricken kids.

Auste explains that in other countries, 8 out of 10 cancer patients survive. Here, it is the opposite that happens. Out of 10 only 2 survive just because they do not have money to buy medicine. Cancer treatment costs 5,000 pesos monthly on the average. Treatment for leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer should last for three years.

“Ang presyo ng gamot sa Pilipinas ay pangalawa sa Japan na pinakamataas sa buong Asya. Habang hindi pa bumababa kailangan naming mag-raise ng funds. Yun ang ginagawa ng Step Juan," he said. “We are focused on helping kids fight cancer. [We want to help them with] their treatment. Pag tinanggap namin ang bata, we sustain them from start to finish."

Vignettes of Macau: A Photo Essay Exhibit

2009-12-01T09:13:00.000-08:00

The Macau Government Tourism Office in partnership with Philippine Center for Photojournalism are pleased to invite you to view the "Vignettes of Macau" Photo Essay Exhibit on December 4-6, 2009 at the Atrium, Level 2, The Block, SM North Edsa, EDSA corner North Avenue, Quezon City. The exhibit will run during mall hours.

Photographs of Ms. Pam Chua, Mr. Jimmy Domingo, Mr. Raymond Panaligan and Ms. Gigie Cruz-Sy will be featured in the said exhibit.

454mm: Typhoon Ketsana

2009-10-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

I did this story in 2009 during Typhoon Ondoy. I was not feeling well the morning Ondoy hit Manila but the things I saw from our window pushed me to document what was happening. Seeing people submerged on neck deep water prompted us to call for help several times. The person from the fire station informed us that different rescue efforts are being organized in many parts of San Juan and they will try their best to send a rescue team as soon as they can.

Other photos were taken during the Rapid Response/rescue effort in Quezon City and Mairkina where I joined as part of Greenpeace's boat team.

455 millimeters
455 millimeters of rain dumped by Typhoon Ketsana (local name “Ondoy”) in a span of 24 hours caused severe flooding in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces. The epic flood displaced thousands of people with 464 deaths reported. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration ( PAG-ASA) and environmental groups are raising serious concern on the unpredictable weather patterns in the country which they attribute to climate change.

Caught unprepared by the severe flooding, the country was immediately declared under a “State of Calamity.” Civilian volunteers assisted government troops to respond to overwhelming number of distress calls coming from thousands of affected residents.

The Story of Stuff celebrates its 1 year anniversary, launches International Page

2008-12-10T03:13:00.000-08:00

What is the Story of Stuff?

From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever

The Story of Stuff celebrates its 1 year anniversary with the launch of its
international page

www.storyofstuff.com/international

Launched on December 4, 2007, the Story of Stuff website has now been viewed by 4.8 million people in 228 countries and territories around the world as well as in thousands of classrooms, conferences, offices, churches, synagogues, public TV channels and community meetings. The film has received a phenomenal response from all over the world, inspiring additional films,
study groups, songs, theater pieces and most importantly, a renewed public discourse about alternatives to the toxics-laden, consumer-frenzied focus of today's mainstream economy and culture.

In response to literally thousands of requests for translations, The Story of Stuff Project and Free Range Studios worked with friends around the world to translate the film into many languages. Ply Media donated its services to add the subtitling feature to the new international web page, allowing the film to reach beyond English-speaking communities. The international page currently includes subtitled versions of the film in 10 languages, plus English at the request of many hearing-impaired viewers. Additional languages, both in subtitled and dubbed versions, will be added to the international page throughout 2009.

The initial subtitled translations on the Story of Stuff international page are: Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hebrew, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Taiwanese, and Thai.

The creators of the Story of Stuff will continue to add to the Story of Stuff website, so please check back for more translations and other good stuff during the coming year. If you would like to get on our mailing list for regular updates, please sign up at www.storyofstuff.com.

For more information, please contact:

The Story of Stuff: For enquiries about the translations:
sostranslations@gmail.com.

General Story of Stuff enquiries, media interviews: Contact Annie Leonard
and Nathan Embretson at email: storyofstuff@gmail.com or by telephone
+1-510-883-1055 or fax +1-510-883-9493.

Free Range Studios: www.freerangestudios.com
; Contact Erica Priggen at
erica@freerangestudios.com or by telephone: +1-510-981-0353

Ply Media: www.plymedia.com ; Contact: Yoni
Silberberg at email yoni@plymedia.com or by telephone +1-650-353-0964

Photo Essay: Dede- A Term of Endearment

2008-10-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

If you missed the Sunday Inquirer Magazine last October 19, here's my photo essay on indigenous breastfeeding practices that got featured.

Thank you to Sir Ernie Sarmiento for inviting me to submit the story and my tutors at the Asian Center for Journalism-World Press Photo Diploma course in Photojournalism Alex Baluyut, Jimmy Domingo, Isabel Kenny, Luz Rimban, Romy Gacad and additional critiques Sonny Yabao and Beau Baconguis.

DROP the word among adolescents and you’re bound to get a slew of embarrassed giggles. Among doctors, the term describes a healthy feeding practice. Artists meanwhile see it as a favorite subject, the perfect prelude to circles and curves, while Tagalogs equate the word with “milk.”

Among the Irayas, one of seven tribes belonging to the indigenous group commonly known as Mangyans in Oriental Mindoro, dede is a term of endearment used to address mothers. As such, according to Iraya storytellers, dede describes a culture of nourishment and the strong bond between mother and child established initially through breastfeeding.

Thanks to their remote location, the Irayas in Sitio Balugbog Kabayo, Barangay Bigaan in San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro, have yet to hear about the vaunted merits of infant formula that media constantly advertise.

What the Irayas know is that breastfeeding is part of their culture, an age-old tradition that has nourished their children across generations.

According to Unicef, an international body on child welfare, breastfed children in the developing world are three times more likely to survive infancy than those fed milk from commercial sources. After all, in areas like Sitio Balugbog Kabayo, clean water, sterilized bottles and ready cash for infant formula are severely lacking. To make limited milk formula last longer, mothers are apt to water this down and undernourish their babies in the process. To save on water and fuel, mothers using infant formula may scrimp on resources such that the hygienic preparation of feeding bottles and nipples could be spotty at best. Babies then are exposed to the risks of improper feeding practices.

In contrast, breastfeeding is accessible and readily available. It also provides all a baby needs for proper sustenance and health, including protein, vitamins, calcium and iron. Compared to cow’s milk, breast milk is easily digestible and enables mothers to share their antibodies, a form of immunization, with their babies.

While breastfeeding has been declining in other areas, it continues to flourish among the Irayas, whose culture enlists even the menfolk in childcare. Cited by the Health Department’s National Center for Health Promotion, the Irayas may be lacking in creature comforts, but they certainly know what’s best for their babies. •

2008-10-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

You are cordially invited to the Exhibit opening of "Mapping Invisible Cities" on October 17, 2008, 6PM at Shangri-la Mall, Mandaluyong.

MAPPING INVISIBLE CITIES

Photography Exhibit
17 Oct to 07 Nov 2008
Opening reception on 17 October, 6pm
3/F Shangri-la Plaza, EDSA corner Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
free admission
+63 2 8405723 to 24
program@manila.goethe.org

When German photographer Peter Bialobrzeski traveled through Southeast Asia in winter 2007/8, he combined his own photographic investigations with workshops for young talents in six foremost cities of the region: Jakarta, Hanoi, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Singapore. What came out of the workshops was a multifaceted kaleidoscope of these six metropoles, culminating in the exhibition “Mapping Invisible Cities”.

“Mapping Invisible Cities”, which opens on October 17, 6pm at 3/F Shangri-la Plaza, features the works of 27 photographers, including 8 (Cathy Quiogue, Che Katigbak, Cris Sevilla, Dennis Rito, Estan Cabigas, Gigie Cruz, Kidlat de Guia and Tammy David) from the Philippines. The diverse themes and approaches in the 105 pieces, in addition to Peter Bialobrzeski’s work, are like fragments of the unseen and unnoticed ordinariness hidden in these 6 cities. When these fragments are joined in one single frame, like a map, they begin to show what was formerly invisible.

In mapping them, these photographers have made their cities more obvious and bring to the surface what we do not (want to) see or notice. Their works act as maps that show the organization of space, movement and people. Some also show how maps can be tied to the imagination and abstractions. Altogether, they serve as valuable insights to and experiences of Southeast Asia’s largest cities. They also give audiences the ability to see into the future of Southeast Asian photography.

“Mapping Invisible Cities” will be on display until November 7. The exhibit is brought to you by the Goethe-Institut Manila in cooperation with Shangri-la Plaza. For more information, please call 8170978.

For more information:
Tel 8170978
www.goethe.de/manila
manila.estancabigas.com

World Press Photo exhibit opens in RP - GMA.TV News

2008-08-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

Graduate na kami!!! Mabuhay ACFJ Batch 2 ; )

World Press Photo exhibit opens in RP
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/111380/World-Press-Photo-exhibit-opens-in-RP

MANILA, Philippines – The internationally acclaimed World Press Photo (WPP) exhibition opened recently at The Podium at the Ortigas Center in Pasig. The exhibit will continue until August 7, after which it will be on view at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay from August 8 to 13 and at The Block SM North-Edsa in Quezon City from August 14 to 22.

Topbilling the competition is the photo of the year – an image of an exhausted American soldier resting inside a bunker in Afghanistan. It was taken by British photographer Tim Hetherington and carried by Vanity Fair magazine.

Michiel Munneke, managing director of the Amsterdam-based foundation said: "Hetherington’s Afghanistan photograph bested about 80,536 images submitted to the competition by 5,019 photographers from 125 countries, including the Philippines."

Munneke said that “the show is part of a partnership project of the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands which was initiated in 2006 with the support of the World Press Photo."

At the heart of the ACFJ program is the Diploma in Photojournalism, a seven-course online learning program for photojournalists.

The program has drawn some of the country’s finest young photojournalists as students and is run by an international faculty of senior photographers and academics.

One of its graduates, Vicente Jaime ‘VJ’ Villafranca, freelance photographer, recently won the Ian Parry Scholarship 2008, an international competition run by The Sunday Times (London), with a photo essay on youth gangs that was the major essay in the portfolio he submitted for the diploma program.

One of the highlights of the WPP exhibit opening at The Podium was the awarding of diplomas to the second batch of ACFJ graduates.

ACFJ faculty members led by Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, president of the AdMU, Ambassador Robert Brinks of the Netherlands and Munneke awarded diplomas to nine photographers who completed the course.

The foundation has been staging the competition and traveling exhibit since 1955.

Shown each year at about 80 venues in 40 countries, the exhibit features the year’s top photo along with award-winning images from each of the 10 contests categories including spot news, general news, people in the news, nature, contemporary issues, sports actions, sports features, daily life, portraits, and arts and entertainment.

Considered to be the "top of the iceberg," in press photography, WPP which is also known as a media nongovernmental organization, gets its support from the Dutch government.

The WPP's high quality of photojournalism has set a standard in the field. WPP jurors are mostly well-respected photo editors, photographers, past WPP contest winners, and artists.

“WPP jurors are annually selected based on their experience in the field of photography," Munneke said. "They are chosen because of their reputation in the photojournalism community in countries where they operate."

Filipino photographer Albert Garcia won the first prize in the nature and environment category in the 1991 competition for his picture of the Mount Pinatubo eruption.

Munneke said that the number of Filipino photographers who joined last year’s WPP competition rose to 30. In 2006, only 17 Filipino photographers submitted their entries.

Munneke said that the principal goal of the WPP is to promote press photography to its highest standard and to provide a bridge between the images and as many people as possible.

"While people do not expect these kinds of photographs to be seen in malls, it is the importance of freedom of the press that is being relayed here," Munneke said. "The exhibit’s goal is to make people think and be aware of what is going on in this planet and the malls are the best social gathering point."

Last year, the exhibit was also staged in the same three venues, drawing huge crowds that were invariably awed, fascinated, and moved by gripping pictures of the news stories that hugged the headlines.

The show was co-sponsored by ACFJ and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with support from The Podium and SM Supermalls.

This year the group, along with Unilever Philippines, aims to bring campus journalists to the exhibit through guided tours and lectures.

A selection of the winning images is available from the world Press Photo download area (www.worldpressphoto.nl/downloads). - Joe Galvez, GMANews.TV

Dede sa Duyan

2008-05-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Reposting the AVP I created on breastfeeding three years ago.

Dede sa Duyan is a story about indigenous breastfeeding practices in the Philippines particularly the Mangyans in Mindoro. I was challenged by my mentors to present a story that would show a different perspective and capture unique breastfeeding images beyond what we commonly see.

The first day I spent in Mindoro was quite challenging since I didn't immediately find a good story to feature. I was able to cover mothers breastfeeding their children during a medical mission, the photos I took shows intimate moments between the mother and their children but I felt something is lacking in the story. Luckily, I met Milka's family the next day and stayed there until they were comfortable with me.

Burning Planet

2008-05-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

BURNING PLANET

Tire burning has been a practice in most places in the Philippines. When burned, tires produce a cocktail of hazardous emissions like carbon monoxide, an indirect greenhouse gas which reacts with “hydroxyl radicals” (OH). Studies show that tire burning also causes different health problems like asthma and other respiratory problems.

Taken in 2007 at Pier 18, Manila where wastepickers burn tires to recover metal wires to earn money for daily survival. Copper wirings are sold at sixty pesos per kilo. Unaware of the health impacts of the tire burning, people inside the dump almost burn these used tires everyday. To date, Pier 18 has been converted to a housing compound but cases of burning are still recorded.

Environmental groups push for an efficient take-back mechanism so used tires will be properly recovered avoiding irresponsible dumping and burning which is dangerous to both health and environment.

This Story received the 1st Runner-up Award for Photo Essay during the 2008 Climate Change Photo Contest organized by the European Commission and the Philippine Center for Photjournalism.

Greenpeace Clean Energy Parade calls for passage of Renewable Energy Bill

2007-12-09T21:18:00.000-08:00

PHILIPPINES — Hundreds of students, bikers, runners, volunteers, and supporters in Renewable Energy-themed costumes called for the immediate passage of the Renewable Energy Bill as they marched around the Quezon Memorial Circle to take part in the Global Day of Action Against Climate Change. READ MORE...

Exdetainee: The Bandung, Indonesia Experience

2007-12-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Time flies… it has almost been a week since that day my colleagues Neil Tangri from the USA, Shibu Nair from Kerala, India and I got detained in Bandung for “speaking in public” to raise people’s awareness on the impacts of the Waste-to-Energy project in Gedebage, Bandung. As you already know, we were scheduled to attend the Zero Waste, Zero Warming forum GAIA co-organized with Balifokus and JALA- Sampah at the Civil Society Forum in Bali but decided to attend the community forum organized by our local colleagues as part of the Global Day of Action against Waste and Incineration and the Civil Society’s Climate Justice campaign.

Seeing throngs of people marching from different parts of the community to the forum were something I never expected, what I had in mind was different. I was having goosebumps while trying to concentrate on every frame I take during the activity. This is the biggest GDA activity I have attended so far and I am glad I went there. Even more inspiring was seeing GDA campaign materials I designed in the past printed on their shirts, stickers, and other campaign materials- that was very fulfilling.

At the forum, lots of community leaders and civil society representatives shared their thoughts. For GAIA, it was Neil who gave the first talk on the hazards of incineration being translated by our local colleagues. Shibu then presented a manual on Zero Waste and spoke about it. I was the last one who gave a very short message of solidarity and explained to them that there are communities around the world with similar struggles and at the same time promised our assistance in their campaign.

Who would have thought that speaking facts about the dangers of incineration, Zero Waste, and sharing solidarity messages would cause us our freedom to speak? According to the police, we are “abusing our rights as holders of a tourist visa.” Police officers further alleged that “foreigners are not allowed to speak in public” without prior consent. I was even told that things could have been different if the activity was done indoors rather than in a public area (even if it’s inside the community gate). I am trying to decipher the logic of such reasoning… how can walls or a roof make any difference in our statement – none.

The fact that we were “invited” to the police station, detained and deported for the simple reason of giving statements is illogical and unjustified. We stand firm that every community has the right to know about possible impacts of any project to their health and environment.

I arrived in Manila 2 days (December 5, at 5AM) from a 12-hour journey from Indonesia. Neil, Shibu and I left Indonesia to Singapore December 4 at around 5PM via Singapore Air after that 3-day incident. It was indeed upsetting that we didn’t make it to the Bali meeting for the Zero Waste forum and the JALA-Sampah meeting but I’ve got NO REGRETS… it was a “blessing in disguise.” Those 3 days provided us the chance to get to know each other more especially the local partners in Indonesia. The media coverage was also great and gave us an opportunity to raise the issue in both national and international level.

Surprisingly, I didn’t fear the deportation, nor the detention since I know I didn’t harm anybody. I know we were standing on a moral high ground. The never-ending support provided by the Gedebage community members, local and international partners gave us strength and hope. Your solidarity messages kept us going on…

I wanted to share this wonderful message from Mira Kusumarini from Ashoka before we left:

“Love is when you are inspired to do beautiful things,
but of the greatest is when it inspires others to do same things.
Be this faithful memory become our faithful accompany.”

To those who stood by us all throughout… Ribuan terima kasih

Yuyun, Roni, Mira, Valen, Deni, Afif, Sawung, David, Anie, Ten, Edi,
Our legal counsels Yogaswara and France,
Balifokus, Alinsi Rakyat Tolak PLTSa, Anti Sentralisasi Insinerator, Air Susu Ibu, Ashoka Indonesia, Walhi-Jawa Barat, Institut Perempuan, LEAD, YPBB

GAIA Coordination team – Anne L., Cecilia, Christie, Dave, J.M., Manny, Monica

GAIA Family – Annie, Jayan, Nity and all the members

Yuyun’s family (Mom, Yuyun’s sister and Eri, and sister-in-law)
Greenpeace Southeast Asia ( Emi,Von, Arief, Shai, Abi) and Ateng
Prakarsa, INFID (International NGO Forum on Indonesia Development), KONTRAS (Komisi
untuk Orang Hilang dan Korban Tindakan Kekerasan/Commission for Abducted
and Violence Victims www.kontras.org), LBH (Legal Aid Institute)

This is definitely a very enriching and inspiring experience…

THANK YOU VERY MUCH,
Gigie Cruz
GAIA

Go Zero Waste for Zero Warming.

2007-12-05T14:35:00.001-08:00

Here's to explain GAIA's Zero Waste Zero Warming Campaign

Filipino green activist deported from Indonesia

2007-12-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

Wow. Never thought this would happen to me. Definitely No regrets. I am happy to have shared my knowledge to the community in Bandung.

Gigie

Filipino green activist deported from Indonesia
By TJ Burgonio
Inquirer
Last updated 07:58pm (Mla time) 12/04/2007

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view_article.php?article_id=104850

MANILA, Philippines -- A Filipino activist was ordered deported Tuesday from Indonesia, where she was held by the police for speaking on environment issues while en route to the United Nations conference on climate change in Bali.

Gigie Cruz and two other activists from the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) were held by the police in Bandung, capital city of west Java, last Sunday, after giving a talk on waste incineration.

GAIA is an environmental network made up of more than 500 organizations in 81 countries.

Cruz, American Neil Tangri and Indian Shibu Nair made brief remarks on the hazards of waste incineration and healthier alternatives before an assembly of 2,000 people organized by environmental groups.

Shortly after, police accosted and brought them to the station, subjecting them to hours of interrogation and seizing their passports, said GAIA co-coordinator Manny Calonzo.

Cruz, 33, is also a volunteer for the Eco-Waste Coalition and Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

"It was a case of criminalizing free speech,'' Calonzo rued in a phone interview. "It's in sharp contrast to the delegates discussing climate change issues in a free atmosphere in Bali.''

After being detained for a night at the station, the three were allowed to stay at a hotel in Bandung the next day but under tight security. They were ordered deported Tuesday.

Cruz is expected to be back in Manila on Wednesday.

"We find it ridiculous that we are being deported from Indonesia for speaking out on waste and climate issues in a peaceful and non-violent assembly of concerned citizens, since encouraging global public action to address the climate crisis is the whole point of the current UN Climate Change Conference in Bali,” she said in a communication sent to Manila.

Calonzo, who is also the secretary general of EcoWaste Coalition, said no charges were filed against the three.

"Their violation is unclear,'' he said.

The three were on their way to Bali to host a forum titled “Zero Waste for Zero Warming” at the conference to educate others about the strong connection between waste disposal and climate change, according to Calonzo.

"It's ridiculous to expel them for publicly speaking on climate change. It's unwarranted, unnecessary, unreasonable,'' he said.

The UN Climate Change Conference opened last Monday.

If it's any consolation, the case set off calls from green groups for the release of the activists and called public attention to the ill effects of waste incineration, said Calonzo.

“We have heard a strong and unified response from people around the world calling for the Indonesian government to allow for the immediate and unconditional release of the GAIA 3, so that their human rights are fully restored, and they are permitted to travel to Bali,” he said.

Two local activists from Balifokus and the People’s Alliance against the WTE Plant were also detained, but were eventually released.

One of them -- Yuyun Ismawati -- was quoted as saying: “We consider this incident as a victory for the global movement for zero waste and climate justice.''

"Our ordeal made it possible for us to raise public awareness and concern on how waste incinerators, including waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, are trashing and warming the climate.”

The high-profile Bali conference is aimed at working out a framework to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, the landmark treaty on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that expires in 2012.

Kallado and the Taal Embroidery

2007-11-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

This is a Photo Essay assignment for my History of Photojournalism class at the Konrad Adenauer Asia Center for Journalism (ACFJ). We were asked to document vanishing traditions and culture and here's what I did. I'll be posting more photos of that Taal experience.

Taal’s Embroidery has been known for its intricate designs specially used for men’s barong, wedding gowns and special textile. The craft is slowly disappearing due to lack of interest from younger generations to whom the older batch of craftswomen can pass the tradition to

Trace.

Nanay Rosie, 70 years old prepares the materials to trace the design for an embroidered piece before they begin applying “kallado.” “Kallado” is a process where textile is unravelled using a blade and very fine needle to create intricate designs.

“Kallado.”
Kallado is a process where textile is unravelled using a blade and very fine needle to create intricate designs. Patience could be one of the important traits for “kallado” makers using needles and blades. It often takes a week to complete the “kallado” of a 2 x 8 ft textile before embroidery is applied to this simple masterpiece.

Fine-tuned.

Nanay Siony, another craftswoman applies finishing touches on the “kallado” by covering the unravelled clothe with very fine thread. At least a week will be spent to finish the whole mantle.

Passion

With the extensive amount of work, these craftswomen only get around fifty to one hundred pesos for a week’s work.

Hope.

With the old woman getting old and younger people disinterested, there’s no assurance in the continuous production of this intricate craft.

Optimistic.

Nanay Siony stays optimistic that embroidery making will remain a practice in barrios within and around Taal since there is still an existing demand for the product. She hopes that younger people would be interested in the craft.

High Speed

Shops in Taal are now using high-speed machines for embroidery making. Also evident is the change in designs. Younger people are employed in a small shop in Taal which embroiders modern designs like this dragon for a mass produced jeans in the Philippines.

take your best SHOT

2007-08-10T04:36:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not, it was my first time to attend a State of the Nation Address (SONA) protest.

When I got a copy of our Photojournalism class schedule, I noticed that our first on-campus class coincides with GMA’s 7^th SONA, I got a hunch that covering the event would be part of it which made me quite excited – SONA finally! With 11 of my classmates, we went there to document one of the most-covered annual political events.

Photo Caption:
Eye for an eye. Photojournalists shoot activists during a role play on the implications of the Human Security Act during the 2007 State of the Nation Address protest organized by militant groups like Bayan, Gabriela, Anakpawis among others at the Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City last July 23,2007. (Photo by Gigie Cruz)

I was actually expecting more protestors and action, thinking people would voice out their growing dissatisfaction of the current leadership and protesting against the passage of the Human Security Act among many other things. Dismayingly, there were less people who protested this year. Despite my frustration with the attendance, we still achieved our purpose – to bear witness and capture good images until the end.

Photo Caption:
Critiquing. Dave Clark, shares his experience with the Photojournalism students during the on-campus session at CTC, Ateneo de Manila.

When the whole class had our critiquing the next morning, it was very interesting to see how each of us documented the event. You can see the distinct style of each photographer and our ability to tell stories through our images. Each of us does see things differently!

I am lucky to be attending class with this bunch of creative photojournalists.

Women Champions, Ecogroups call for Balik Bayong

2007-08-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

July 13, 2007 Quezon City, Philippines- Champion women and activists for the environment call on marketgoers and the public to minimize the use of plastic bags and instead use the traditional bayong, basket and other reusable materials to do their shopping.

The “green” queens composed of Miss Philippines-Earth Jeanne Harn, Miss Philippines-Water Joyce Nocomura, Miss Philippines-Ecotourism Ana Katrina Bautista, and former Miss Philippines-Earth Cathy Untalan, human rights activist and Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel, “Boy Bayong” and members of the EcoWaste Coalition bought fruits, vegetables and other goods using bayong, cloth bags and other reusable containers at the Nepa Q-Mart in Quezon City. The goods they bought were donated to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Reception and Action Center.

“Every rainy season, thousands of Filipinos are besieged with floods due to waterways clogged with plastic bags, styrofoam and other disposable materials. Children are forced to wade in dirty water going to school while many communities suffer from rat and pest infestations all because of our own garbage,” said Harn in a statement.

“But, we can be a part of the solution. Taking and using reusable carry bags to the supermarket, palengke or sari-sari store is a friendly gift to our environment,” she further said.

According to the latest monitoring of the 15 large pumping stations in the metropolis by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there was a drastic increase in the volume of garbage collected in 2005 from 13, 988 cubic meters to 18,796 cubic meters. Major rivers and tributaries in Metro Manila like the Pasig, Marikina, and Tullahan Rivers have been clogged with mixed waste, mostly plastics.

In the discard survey facilitated by EcoWaste Coaliton and Greenpeace in Manila Bay in 2006, 76% of the garbage collected were plastics and 51% of these are single-use disposable plastic bags.

"We have to rethink our lifestyle and minimize our demand for plastics and disposable items. Let us support the choices that provide health and ecological benefits as well as financial savings and aesthetic advantages," said Troy Lacsamana of the Task Force Plastics of EcoWaste Coalition.

The EcoWaste Coalition calls on the Congress to pass laws to regulate the production and use of plastics while giving incentives to promote earth-friendly containers. Akbayan Party-list through Baraquel filed a bill in Congress to minimize the production and use of single-use plastics and disposable plastic wares.

The ecogroup also welcomes the initiatives of different establishments to encourage the public to minimize the use of plastic bags or other disposable materials.

The Balik Bayong event also drew the participation of Concerned Citizens Against Pollution, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Health Care Without Harm, Kaalagad Katipunang Kristiyano, Miriam P.E.A.C.E., Mother Earth Foundation, November 17 Movement, Sagip Pasig Movement and Zero Waste Philippines.

For more information, please call Troy Lacsamana at 0917-8290925 or the EcoWaste Coalition at (02) 929-0376.

CREX 2007

2007-08-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

This is Assignment No. 5 for my Photojournalism Class.

A deadly "plane crash" was staged last July 10, 2007 as part of the Manila International Airport Authority’s 2007 Crash and Rescue Exercise. Firefighters from different cities in Metro Manila participated in the exercise which aims to strengthen NAIA’s disaster preparedness.

Shooting Color, Shooting Black & White

2007-07-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

This exercise for my Fundamentals of Photojournalism class focused on shooting in color but with special consideration with creating black and white images. For this assignment, i tried documenting the Manila Zoo.

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This image work on both worked on colored and black and white because of the well defined lines on Mali’s face.

Orphan. Mali which means “orphan” is a 29-year old Asian elephant donated by the Sri Lankan government to Manila Zoo in 1979. Mali’s home for 28 years was threatened by a plan to construct a sports facility for the Philippine Basketball Association. PBA cancelled their plan due to strong opposition from the different agencies, civic groups and communities.

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Image worked both on colored and black and white since the background is not as defined as the foreground due to a bigger opening and brighter background giving contrast to it.

Bonding. Father and son spend time watching Mali, Manila Zoo’s well loved 29-year old elephant. Manila Zoo was opened in 1959 and provides recreation space for families living in Manila.

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Image number 3 can pass as both colored and black and white but not as effective in color. The presence of too many colors in the background provides less contrast to the child in the foreground.

Save Me. David enjoys getting wet by bursting water from the fountain, acting as if he’s trying to hide from the big elephant. Manila Zoo was opened in 1959 and provides recreation space for families living in Manila.

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Image number 4 can pass on both colored and black and white. However, color gives the audience an idea that the children are playing in a kiddie slide and gives the image a dynamic look.

Slide. Colorful slides provide fun and excitement to these children. This little boy enjoys the rush while sliding. The Orjalo siblings and their parents support Manila’s campaign to stop the sports facility being constructed in the same site.

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The bouncing light from the signage provided contrast to the children playing in the swing, making the image effective on both colored and black and white

Moment. Lola spends time with her granddaughters. Manila Zoo patrons are relieved when PBA retracted their plan to construct their sports facility on the site. Manila Zoo was opened in 1959 and provides recreation space for families living in Manila.

Newsroom Workflows: A visit to the ABSCBN Online News Service 2

2007-07-03T09:46:00.001-07:00

Nonie Reyes taking notes during the interview with Pierre Alejandro of the ABS CBN Interactive.

Rem Zamora documents Alejandro's workspace.

Newsroom Workflows: A visit to the ABSCBN Online News Service

2007-07-03T09:17:00.000-07:00

My groupmates Nonie Reyes, Rem Zamora and I had the opportunity to visit ABS CBN Interactive newsroom to get deeper understanding of newsroom workflows. Pierre Alejandro, one of the company's publisher shared with us his insights on how things work within ABS CBN Online news.

We would also like to thank Mr. Joel Saracho for all his assistance.

SMazing

2007-07-02T16:33:00.001-07:00

On my way home from Malate, I got so fascinated with the changing colors of the globe at the Mall of Asia Rotonda in Pasay City. It is always fun to experiment with colorful lights from different sources.

lights

2007-07-02T16:05:00.002-07:00

The Rajah Sulayman fountain provides a relaxing sight to tourists and residents making it one of the favorite spots in the area.

This photo was taken as part of the practical exercise given to us by our tutor on shutter speed and aperture using manual, TV and AV mode of our cameras.

Guitar man

2007-07-02T15:59:00.001-07:00

It seems this guitar man never get exhausted despite the heavy load from the guitars he's selling.

Awe x 2

2007-07-02T15:52:00.001-07:00

With the excitement they excude, these kids caught my attention while being taught how to fish. I was surprised to learn that they were actually twin brothers ; )

Friday by the Bay ; )

2007-07-02T15:44:00.000-07:00

Late Friday aternoon in Malate, Manila.
I was trying to practice panning here - my best subject is no other than the colorful Kalesas plying around this touristy area.

Welcome to my world of Imagery ; )

2007-07-02T15:03:00.000-07:00

My passion for photography started when I was still in secondary school. I remember participating in a visual arts workshop organized by the Cultural Center of the Philippines under the Presidential Summer Youth Program in early 90s and got so frustrated for not being able to attend the photography course simply because I don’t have my own equipment.

After high school graduation, I set my goal on taking up Advertising to pursue this love for imagery, but due to my uncle’s (quite) constant prodding, I end up taking architecture as he explained that photography is part of the 5-year course. And there I’ve waited for that moment which never came…

In between those 10 looonnggg years, I had to be contented with taking a glance, peeping through friends’ cameras or lucky enough to be loaned when necessary. Thanks to many of my friends particularly Danny and Ella who entrusted their gadgets when I need them. It was only a decade after when I had the opportunity (finally!) to become financially capable on investing for something I can use to learn the skills.

Never too late to pursue the things you love…

Being an environmental activist, I got encouraged to pursue this passion in photography hoping I could raise people’s awareness on different environmental & human rights issues. My participation to the Professional Photojournalism & Digital Photography Workshop organized by the Philippine Center for Photojournalism in November 2004 inspired me to take-up this Diploma Course in Photojournalism under the Asian Center for Journalism & World Press Photo program.

I was lucky enough to have met photojournalists like Jimmy Domingo and Mel Cortez who eventually became my mentors. Danny, Ella, Marnie, Glibert, Ver among others who share the same passion for both our environmental advocacies and photography.

I am truly blessed to be given this opportunity to hone my skills and fulfil my dream. Salamat at isang bagsak sa inyong lahat!!!