Year: 2013

Be tough enough to follow a dream

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“If you doubt you can accomplish something, then you can’t accomplish it. You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” ― Rosalynn Carter

Sleeping Dinosaur at Sunrise

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When you visit Davao City and have enough time for a sudden road trip, try Mati City (3 hours away by private vehicle), my place of birth. Endowed with one of the longest and most beautiful white coastlines in Mindanao, Mati involves zigzagging through well-paved roads that snake up and down a cliff (locally called ‘Badas’) overlooking the deep blue sea.

Be happy today!

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“I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.” ~ Groucho Marx

Fear Factor: Palawan’s Tamilok

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Perhaps it was the rainy season that drove me crazily to do it, but I felt the revolting prospect was worth the dare. My host brought me to Kinabuch Bar & Grill, a popular restaurant providing food, music and entertainment in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

Among its most sought after delicacies are the crocodile sisig and the Tamilok for pulutan with beer.

Here kitty, kitty…

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“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.” ~ Judy Blume, author

Kadayawan sa Davao Festival 2013

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Kadayawan sa Dabaw, Davao City, Philippines © Jojie Alcantara I am lucky to have spanned more than a decade of covering Mindanao’s most colorful and biggest festival in the islands. Through my work in the media as a TV anchor, columnist and photographer, I have been able to document more than a bird’s eye view of the dazzling pomp and spectacle that is Davao’s Kadayawan Festival, which earned its prestige as one of the most beautiful ethnic celebrations in the country.

SM’s Musical Fountain

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SM Lanang Premier Musical Fountain My beloved Davao City © Jojie Alcantara 2013 This night shot was for an advertorial in Philippine Airlines’ inflight Mabuhay Magazine.  I was commissioned by SM Malls to do the layout spread for the international magazine. The Fountain Court is a two-level strip of fine dining restaurants with a spectacular view of this 122-meter musical fountain, the first of its kind in Davao and Mindanao and the longest in the country. It stages a Waterworks Show, a water and light show that runs daily at the Fountain Court and has become the mall’s regular attraction. At night, friends and families come over to hang out in the breezy garden area and watch the dancing fountain play every hour.  Children scoot around dancing with the music while older ones just chill out by the stairs which double as viewing seats.  Most of them whip out cellphones and cameras for colorful shots of the amazing spectacle which, according to my Mom whom I often bring here, makes one forget the stress of …