Before the pandemic, cosplay events were a regular thing in the city and a cause for excitement among young and old avid dressers. I’m just glad the hype is slowly getting back in the malls. I didn’t bring my usual gears, though. Instead I brought an old camera just for fun.
“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere and sometimes in the middle of nowhere you find yourself.” ~Stacy Westfall
Shot on August 11 and 12 respectively, the bright full moon in Aquarius called Sturgeon Moon appeared in the sky as the last Super Moon of 2022. It is named after North America’s common and large sturgeon fish, which comes in abundance in the lakes at this time of season.
I went out and headed to Poblacion today, which held the Mindanao Art Exhibit 2021, a gathering of talented artists all over Mindanao. Stunning artworks to view all over two floors.
There are beautiful places in these islands that I do not particularly want to share, and have been hesitant to do so. These are serene spots you just want to preserve and protect yet at the same time you want others to feel what you went through.
I open up my heart and
I’m gonna do my part and
Make this a positively beautiful day.
“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” ~ Pamela Vaull Starr
“Every time I stand before a beautiful beach, its waves seem to whisper to me:
If you choose the simple things and find joy in nature’s simple treasures,
life and living need not be so hard.” ― Psyche Roxas-Mendoza
Journey of parenthood, street photography in Tokyo, Japan © Jojie Alcantara
“Be confident. Too many days are wasted comparing ourselves to others and wishing to be something we aren’t. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, and it is only when you accept everything you are – and aren’t – that you will truly succeed.” ~ Anon
We are but mere specks in the universe, our lifespan a mere second on the whole time lapse of history that keeps unfolding. So let’s make the most of our millisecond here on earth as nurturing species. Share the love and compassion. Create a ripple so that mankind will be remembered. ~ Jojie Alcantara (Sunrise seascape, Davao City)
Regatta de Zamboanga is a colorful banca race (carera de vintas) depicting colorful sails designed by the fishermen themselves and proudly displayed during the competition.
Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival 2015
Selfie with the streetdancing performers
“Never stop dreaming of moonbeams and fairy dust, shiny stars and the wonder of the heavens, a happier life and a better world.” ~ James J. Gormley
“If you love a flower, don’t pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love. So if you love a flower, let it be. Love is not about possession. Love is about appreciation.” ― Osho
“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” —Unknown
Portraits of Hope: Catching Moments of Inspiration and Courage from Kids of Hope
A photo exhibit by Rhonson Ng and Jojie Alcantara
in celebration of World Cancer Day 2015 and International Childhood Cancer Day, from February 4-15, 2015.
This Bitaog tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) in Brgy. Caloc-an, Magallanes, Agusan del Norte was officially declared the oldest tree in the country in June 1998 by the Dept. Of Tourism.
One particular sandstone head fell into the roots of a banyan tree they call a Bodhi Tree, considered sacred and symbolic to Buddhism. Over the years, this head became miraculously embedded in the tangled overgrowth, which created a stunning and powerful imagery to what the historic war represented.
I visited Zamboanga before and after a rebel siege in the city a year ago that left a portion of the central town bruised and battered, and kept many wary visitors away and in fear. Foreign travel advisories stay adamant. I expected to focus on remnants of a combat zone, but there were other things that captivated me more.
“Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself, to expand my heart out to others; to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I am going to have kind thoughts towards others, I am not going to get angry or think badly about others. I am going to benefit others as much as I can.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
The Scene Stealer 