Adventure, Amazingness, Individuality, Passion, Philippines, Scene Stealers, Travel, Welcome, Women
Published on May 21, 2012
Comments 22

There may be a reason why you stumbled upon my page today.

written by

Boredom is one good guess, but let’s think positive and uplifting, shall we?

Welcome to my (almost) daily blog of personal images matched with inspirational quotes. 

My photography is simple in composition, more often emotional and dramatic, but easy on the eyes.  Because of my orientation as a painter and artist, I view each capture as evocative scenes I want to brush on canvas.  The changing header you see above are snippets of my life as a photojournalist all these years.

Feel free to look around and find something that matches your mood today.  Click Snapped Shots for my latest posts, or Archives for old posts, or take the Happy Pill (my comic relief).  There is no timeline here. Pick any title at random, and you can begin from last year or today.

So like I said, there just may be a reason why you stumbled upon my page today.  Serendipity!

Shooting Mount Mayon from a chopper © Jojie Alcantara

Shooting Mount Mayon from a chopper © Jojie Alcantara

‘Scene Stealer’ is my column name in a national paper.  I capture images and stolen moments in a positive light wherever I travel.  My aim for this blog is to inspire, evoke, comfort and soothe.  I also write a column in our local paper, as well as in several travel and lifestyle magazines.

I’ve been writing all my life, and traveling since 2003.  While designing and painting in my early years, I transitioned into a photographer in the late 90s (it was difficult to drag a photographer around to cover events with me), seriously building up as I started traveling solo in remote areas to feature unique destinations.

I have so much crazy, creative juices flowing in me (more like spurting from a squeezed tube of toothpaste) that I needed to let it out (I went from a dancer, model, painter, target shooter, performance artist, the works).  So I became a web designer and blogger in 1996 (but we didn’t call it a blog then, it was an online journal).  I had to let go of my dreams as a ballerina and dancer because of my asthma.

In 1995, I got my first taste of a dilapidated 40-seater turbo prop plane flying to Manado, Indonesia. I almost bade adieu to my reckless life when we flew into a storm cloud in 2003 and made an emergency landing on a rice terrace in Banaue, a heritage site!  Since then, I’ve been hitching in choppers and 19-seaters, flying around and shooting scenes from the air, published on covers and spreads (Mount Mayon’s boiling crater, cover of Mabuhay Magazine, 2011).

I proudly live in the biggest city in my country (Davao is one of the cleanest and most livable cities in Asia, according to surveys), so I would also want you to see what my islands are fantastically all about.  Mindanao is so rich in exotic landscapes and culture you have to experience them.

I am a nonconformist, complex, unpredictable, crazy — er, simple and imaginative soul with a creative eye and a big heart (according to my family).  Solo travel assignments are not considered work in my profession but perks, blessings and benefits.  My articles, published works and (mis)adventures are in another website, so I leave you links in case you want to read more.

As for my Funny Signs during travel that have gone viral among Filipino communities globally in 2006, I am rebuilding a site for my old and new collection because the defunct site has crashed from heavy traffic (I left an album on my Facebook).

I am now living a less devil-may-care attitude (but ‘mellowed’ is not the word), content with doing workshops and giving back to the community with advocacy projects, and still traveling upon request (my latest cover story is Tawi-Tawi). I have learned to turn down invitations in very remote, dangerous areas of warpath and sorcery.  I still live life on the edge, but it now has railings for good measure. (wink)

Today, I share snippets of my crazy life with you, hoping you are encouraged to pursue your own dreams and passion as well.

Sneek Peak of my country, in case you’re getting bored.

Jojie Alcantara in a shoot

Living life on the edge.

22 Comments

  2. Gibet says

    Si Jojie …. “bow” … nuff said ey !!

    ….. love your images Jojie ……………… keep on chuggin ….

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Jojie Alcantara says

      Kara! I found your message in my spam box, and wondered what it was doing there. I am very happy to know you went to Tawi-Tawi and had fun. Yes, food is certainly great. Let me know when you’re cycling down to Davao so I can take some grungy portraits of you on your bike. At least, that’s how I perceive you would want your personal shots to be. 🙂 Hugs and keep safe, sisterhood of the traveling cargo pants! 😀

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    • Jojie Alcantara says

      Hadsar! Went through old blog posts and checked which ones I haven’t replied to, and I missed your comment. So here is a verrry delayed thanks. 😀

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  6. OLAN | The Travel Teller says

    THERE MAY BE A REASON WHY YOU STUMBLED UPON MY PAGE TODAY ——————-> and I only have one reason for that – that iS because I am and will forever be your NUMBER ONE fan! I love the last photo Te Joj. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Jojie Alcantara says

      Thank you, Malate boy (or would you prefer Man?). 🙂 Only a keen observer would mention that. I did a double cord, actually. 🙂 While you were going over my posts, I was enjoying yours. Keep up the good work and hope to visit Malate one of these days. 🙂

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  10. Wild Iris says

    Jojie! What equipment do you use? What’s your go-to lens? I just discovered you! Love the old woman with all the necklaces…so beautiful!
    Iris

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Reach out and make me smile! :-)

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