Davao’s Simple Christmas Spirit
In this special Holiday Season, I am sharing the joys of Christmas all the way from my beloved Davao City
All posts tagged: Christmas
Art of Street Photography Workshop
In 1997, street photography in Indonesia started my journey to photojournalism, eventually pushing me to explore portrait, landscape and travel which is part of the field I specialize in. Come take a walk with me for one day, as I share how I observe, compose and capture scenes in a different, thought provoking perspective.
The joy of living
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” ~Eleonora Duse Wishing everybody a Christmas filled with unwavering hope, limitless love and bountiful blessings in life.
Reach out to an angel
“When angels visit us, we do not hear the rustle of wings, nor feel the feathery touch of the breast of a dove; but we know their presence by the love they create in our hearts.” ― Mary Baker Eddy, Poems by Mary Baker Eddy
Our Silent Christmas
In Davao, the tradition is even more significant because we do not celebrate Christmas in a loud way (fireworks have been banned since 2001 so our city has zero firecracker-related injuries during this holiday season).
A beggar’s prayer
Each one prays to God according to his own light. ~ Mahatma Gandhi Simbang Gabi in Davao City
Mana Mania
Mana Davao Davao may be illuminated to the brim with Pasko Fiesta celebrations around town, thanks to the projects of the city government and supporting sectors, but there is one special area that stands out during this holiday season. Mana Davao (or Mana Davao Casa de Artes y Antiguos), a high end antique shop along Bajada highway, is a tourist landmark for several years now. The vibrant and stunning, festive montage it produces every year never fails to draw crowds every Christmas (not to mention the traffic it happily causes in the highway). Thousands of lights are set up in fantastic production, drawing excited people like moths to a flame. This year, MANA totally sets a higher standard of creative accomplishment with the spectacular Christmas tableau (I suspect it’s a “Going Green” theme) that lights up everyone’s faces, kids and adults alike. Never mind the electric bill afterwards. The people behind Mana know they deserve a spotlight in Davao’s history for making Dabawenyos proud. More of my Mana images here
Mana Mana!
Mana Davao (or Mana Davao Casa de Artes y Antiguos), a high end antique shop along Bajada highway, is a tourist landmark for several years now. The vibrant and stunning, festive montage it produces every year never fails to draw crowds every Christmas (not to mention the traffic it happily causes in the highway). Thousands of lights are set up in fantastic production, drawing excited people like moths to a flame. Here is my tribute to Mana Davao, along with one of my favorite childhood song.
Pasko Fiesta sa Davao (2010)
As a proud Dabawenya, I went around to shoot the spectacular lights and festive atmosphere in my city through the annual Pasko Fiesta sa Davao, thanks to the city government and supporting sectors. Throughout December, certain roads are blocked to accommodate makeshift stalls and eateries, for fun walks and activities in the evenings. It does cause traffic in most areas for public transports, and commuting may be a bit difficult. Then again, rain or shine, people were everywhere. Sharing with you scenes I captured one drizzling evening from People’s Park to San Pedro Street. Davao may be quieter during this season but we make up for it through bright lights and cheerful sprits. More of my Christmas captures here
A Tall Order
MAJESTIC TOOG: PHILIPPINE’S TALLEST LIVING CHRISTMAS TREE For Gil Andipa, a Manobo native who works for the Department of Natural Resources (DENR), climbing trees was a part of his life since childhood. He possesses skills that allow him to scale trees and work on grafting and collecting samples. But he has injured a rib or two from falls when he was younger. On Sept. 28 of this year, he got involved in a project which was enthusiastically started by the citizens of Alegria, a small barangay in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur. He was paid to scale the tallest tree in town to install Christmas lights, twice, because no one would dare. Not only was it a tall order, pardon the pun, but a huge amount of electric lights must be acquired to illuminate a living Christmas tree at night. Read my full story here
The Scene Stealer 