It was one busy weekend. So busy, I felt like not reporting for work this early Monday morning due to these stiffed legs. Just imagine feeling like having cramps all day. 7 hours of sleep from the day before simply was not enough.
As usual, the weekend started early for yours truly considering that Friday is also my off along with Sarturday and Sundays (not unless I am requested to do OT on the weekends). So off to the mall I go and at first did the usual window salivating. I am not into shopping so that is what I do, salivate.. and drool too. That is part of the itinerary whenever a poor-as-a-poor like me goes to such places.
But I came to the mall for two main reasons.
First, I want to buy "mi wifey" something. I do not care what it was going to be but I just want to give her a gift that she'll appreciate which is not really hard to do. It is just that I heard her complaining about headaches in her sleep (not because of me, it's her work!!!) that I wanted to give her something that will soothe her.
The second reason was to get myself a CPL filter for my 52mm lenses. Was planning to get a Hoya but Pixel Pro was out of stock. Due to the immediacy of my need for one, I got sales talked and went for the Nisi CPL instead. I am not sure if Nisi is a good brand for filters but I got it for only a little more than a thousand bucks which is way cheaper than the Hoya. Anyways, it is my first time trying a CPL so I do not really care.. for now (hehe maybe later I will).
A group from Sorsogon representing the Sosogon Festival in the recent Aliwan Fest 2011
Went back home after that quick tour of Megamall but I was off again after 30 minutes of staying cool in front of our older-than-me-(I think) electric fan. Manila's weather is blistering hot this summer but I have to start this little project about our National Hero Jose Rizal or else I might lose my drive again and place it in the backseat photography priorities.
As part of his 150th birthday, I am planning to shoot as many Rizal monuments, statues, busts and memorabilias of Rizal that I will post here in this blog and on facebook before the year ends.
I visited first the Jose Rizal University located in Shaw Blvd asking if I can take some snaps of the Rizal statue that I saw there before. The guard on duty promptly asked me to gain permission first from the school admin. I have no time for that at that moment so I courteously said thanks and decided to try the other university in this city.
Thinking that I will have a better chance since it is a state university, I went straight to RTU or Rizal technological University only to be informed again that permits are needed first.
Palm Sunday in Antipolo, Rizal Province
Dismayed, I went ahead to Maysilo Circle, where the seat of the city is located. I remembered that a statue of Jose Rizal is standing at the place back in the days when the place was still a good spot during our skateboarding days. Rizal was a witness to some of the bruises and other under the cover of darkness stuff that happened under those seemly innocent shrubs and trees heheh. Upon arriving, I noticed right away that the pedestal is now empty. Good ol' Jose is gone. A City hall employee was quick to explain that the statue was already transferred to Welfareville.. it must be another baranggay or subdvision but I am not in the mood of doing searches anymore. So to Makati I went.
Just like Mandaluyong, parts of Makati (if not the whole city) used to be a part of the province of Rizal. It was during the creation of the Metropolitan Manila area that makati and other cities like Pasig and others became separate locales of their own. This is the reason also why our old friend Jose is famous in these areas, hence the statues and monuments in his honor.
And there, right in front of old Makati City hall building stands in his splendor Rizal, the subject. I placed the new CPL filter into my 35mm 1.8 lens and started shooting. Switched lens to the 18-55 mm kit. Shoot some more. Switch lenses one more time and then I am satisfied. It was time to pick up wifey from work. My legs were starting to cramp up also.
This photography hobby is making me feel like a wimp. Saturday, was again a tiring day. I went and covered the Aliwan Festival 2011 held in Grandstand all the way to the CCP area in Pasay through Roxas Boulevard. It was a long walk and so there goes my legs again and still needs to travel that evening to Taytay, Rizal where we were going to spend the night.
Palm Sunday was the reason why I asked my wife that we spend the night in my in-laws place. I want us to go to the Antipolo Cathedral and celebrate it there. That way I can also shoot how the people of Antipolo celebrate the start of the Holy Week. I was there also last year, I was just hoping to get better photographs this time. After the mass and the "shoot", we ate lunch in SM Taytay so another semi-walk occured as what happens inside these "convenience" malls.
It was already about 6 pm when we reach home in Mandaluyong. My wife who is into running, decided that she wanted to do so. After advising her that she may not be able to run at the Maysilo circle due to the mass being celebrated in the church by the city hall, she decided that she'll run instead at the Ayala Triangle.
The Ayala Triangle has transformed from just being the center of business. It also now is a great spot for after-work-hours fun.
I wouldn't want her to go there alone, right?!?! Being the gentleman husband as I am (weeeh) and to the disgust of my aching legs and busted right foot, I went with my wife and did brisk walking from Boni to Ayala Triangle... non-stop!!! I did some running laps as well wanting to make sure that wifey will enjoy our "date" heheh. I was even able to do stairs when she asked me to do it!!!
I am strong hahah!!! Not!!!
Apparently, I am fatigued. But as of the moment, let me enjoy every bit of me sitting with my legs resting on top of this table.
For tomorrow is another day... and I will tell you all about it when I return.
(Will be packing my bag, clothes and gears in few minutes... gotta go where we not always go)
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