Colors of Masskara Festival 2017
Among the Philippine festivals, MassKara is one of the most colorful which earned a surge of tourism influx from all over.
All posts filed under: Festivals
Reach high, dream deep
“Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.” ~ Pamela Vaull Starr
General Luna, Siargao
“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
Prayer for Peace
“May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace.” Stop the War.
Promise of a new day
“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” ~ Cesare Pavese
Here’s a beautiful sunrise captured in a different side of Dahican beach in Mati, Davao Oriental.
Regatta de Zamboanga
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.
Indak Indak selfie
Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival 2015
Selfie with the streetdancing performers
Head of the Sandstone Buddha
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.
Badjaos of Zamboanga
The playful Badjao kids of Zamboanga will jump overboard and retrieve the coins you throw at sea with remarkable agility and ease in a matter of seconds, earning the nickname “sea gypsies” for a reason.
No Te Vayas de Zamboanga
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.
The Best of the Best Philippines Book
Launched on April 10 of this year at the Tapas Bar of the Makati Shangri-La Manila hotel, the first travel coffee table book of its kind with a quirky and confident title of The Best of the Best of the Philippines was recently unveiled to the public.
Bird watching in Zamboanga
“You have to believe in happiness, or happiness never comes … Ah, that’s the reason a bird can sing — On his darkest day he believes in spring.” – Douglas Malloch
Light a small world
“No matter how small we are or what color we might be; Like a small candle, we all can produce the same light. Spread light with your thoughts, words and actions. It’s a dark world… and you are here to create light.”
Bayugyug: proudly Dabawenyo
“Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.” ~ William Jennings Bryan
Kadayawan sa Davao Festival 2013
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.
Cagwait’s White Beach
The small municipality of Cagwait in Surigao del Sur has a hidden paradise to boast of and a festivity to crow about. Blessed with a horseshoe-shaped cove with a long stretch of fine powdered sand and surrounded by azure colors matching sky and sea, the White Beach (or Waikiki, as the famous American aviator Charles Lindbergh called it the first time he saw it) is a tourism potential once known only to its neighboring municipalities until now.
Tagum’s Giant Christmas Tree Lights Up Sky
The iconic Giant Holiday Tree was lighted on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 in the City of Tagum, Davao del Norte, to officially start the festive season of Christmas, and coinciding with Tagum’s 3rd Food Festival, one of the 14 monthly celebrations cooked up by the city with the most festivals.
Life is a daring adventure
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” ~ Helen Keller Skimboarder in Dahican, Mati, Davao Oriental during the 12th Sambuokan Festival 2012 © Jojie Alcantara Mati is known for its long, gorgeous coastlines of white sand beaches and sparkling blue waters perfect for surfing. View more photos here
Nurture young dreams
“There is hope in dreams, imagination, and in the courage of those who wish to make those dreams a reality.” ~ Jonas Salk A young skimboarder dreams big in the skimboarding competition held in Dahican Beach, Mati City during the 12th Sambuokan Festival Mati is known for its long, gorgeous coastlines of white sand beaches and sparkling blue waters perfect for surfing. View more photos here
My Fine Art Photography
Welcome to my world of art, travel, writing and photography. Just sharing my passion in a positive way and hoping it will inspire you to follow your dreams too.
Moments matter
“Even though fixed in time, a photograph evokes as much feeling as that which comes from music or dance. Whatever the mode – from the snapshot to the decisive moment to multi-media montage – the intent and purpose of photography is to render in visual terms feelings and experiences that often elude the ability of words to describe. In any case, the eyes have it, and the imagination will always soar farther than was expected”. – Ralph Gibson
The Scene Stealer 