Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.  ~ Confucius

F 6.3, 1/200 sec, ISO 200, 50mm

Jaq Dionisio of the band Kiss Jane. When I was traveling in Laoag, Ilocos Norte, I happened to pass by their mall. Coincidently, Filipino rapper Gloc 9 and Jaq were scheduled to perform later that afternoon. So, I decided to stay and watch.

When you hear the name of the band, you'd think that the vocalist's name is Jane. Well, I did (so I guess it's just me). Their band is composed of members Jaq (vocals), Jeff (guitars), Heinz (bass), and Sheila (drums... yes, a girl on the drums, which happens to be their songwriter as well). Their music is somewhat unique, though it reminds me of 90's OPM hits from bands with female vocalists on them (Moonstar 88, anyone?). Nostalgic. Some of their famous hits are Kahit Na, Baliw, and Lagi.

What was surprising was that the female voice on the songs Elmer and Kung Tama Siya of Gloc 9 was actually Jaq... Amazing! Original Pinoy Music has gone a long way since I was High School, listening to bands Rivermaya, Yano, and Barbie's Cradle. Long live our music!

Here a few more shots of Jaq. Her Facebook Fan Page can be accessed here.

Picture 1: F 5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 800, 200mm; Picture 2: F 5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 800, 171mm; Picture 3: F 5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 800, 200mm; Picture 4: F 5.6, 1/30 sec, ISO 800, 171mm

A girl enjoying her afternoon coffee in the mall. I took this shot while waiting in line in an autograph signing event. The girl may be waiting for someone, or just passing the time.

Filipinos in general consume a lot of coffee daily. You would expect to find coffee in every household, as it is generally considered to be a household staple in the country. According to the USDA GAIN Report, instant coffee accounts for about 90% of all the coffee consumed in the country. The report also suggests that the Business Process Outsourcing industry, which usually operates at odd hours of the day, is expected to contribute to the increase in coffee consumption. What is more interesting is that coffee is considered more of a social drink, as are alcoholic beverages, than a drink to perk you up when needed. It would have been great to share a cup or two with someone just passing the time.

F 4.0, 1/15 sec, ISO 800, 28mm

A picture of a rice cake vendor and her child. In Calasiao, Pangasinan, there is a stretch of vendors that sell various Philippine rice cakes, like the famous puto and kutchinta. These vendors claim that their rice cakes don't spoil that easily, but considering that it doesn't last a day until it gets eaten (they are quite tasty), you wouldn't have to worry about it. If ever you get to go to this area, don't forget to drop by and buy a kilo or two of these treats for your loved ones back home or for a snack while on the road. A kilo of their puto would cost around PHP 70.

When I went out of the car carrying my camera, this vendor particularly approached me and asked if I could take a picture of her and her child. I noticed that the child was particularly camera friendly. What's even more strange was that she asked me if I could add her in Facebook! Sad to say, I forgot her name. I hope she finds this set of pictures!

Picture 1: F 5, 1/15 sec, ISO 500, 38mm; Picture 2: F 3.5, 1/20 sec, ISO 400, 20mm; Picture 3: F 3.5, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 20mm; Picture 4: F 3.5, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 20mm; Picture 5: F 3.5, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 20mm; Picture 6: F 3.5, 1/25 sec, ISO 400, 20mm

A woman views the Cebu skyline from inside the mall while she takes a call. I wonder what they were talking about on the line that made her look out the window. I guess the green is a good stress reliever.

This shot was taken in SM City Cebu.

F 6.3, 1/500 sec, ISO 400, 100mm