Ang Langyaw featured in Jessica Soho show

Its not everyday that one can get featured in national TV. But I got that chance and it was aired on GMA by Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho (KMJS) show’s travel special last 31 March 2012, 2030H.

I got featured for the second time: My beetle collection featured in Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho

For the video, check it here.

And how did I wound up with the KMJS show? Thanx to James, who was featured in the same show before, referred me to Joyce, their researcher. They were going to do a travel special in time for the summer season and they were looking for a travel photographer. Unfortunately, because of the late notice, I initially declined.

But on second thought, it was a unique opportunity that I have to grab, and probably, a god send that will benefit me in the long run. After talking to another photographer friend, who wasn’t also available, I texted Joyce and told her that I will be available for a shoot on Tuesday last week but I have to leave on Monday night, just right after my Digital Photography workshop that I am conducting in Makati.

Preparing the itinerary was kind of difficult. I was looking for a place that was not so common but beautiful. Remote but at the same time available for the lightning shoot. I was going over different places mentally but it was limited to Ilocos.

Should I bring them to Kingfisher which I haven’t visited before? Document bu-os being gathered in Adams or its many waterfalls? How about going to Pudtol in Apayao and Buguey, Cagayan? But the thought of these distant places almost scared me.

But then, I thought, how about Kingfisher and then travel to Taggat Lagoon? I remembered this beautiful place last year but due to the rain, we just spent a few minutes in the area and I vowed to return.

It was fun shooting. From the bus terminal in Partas Pasay where I rode a bus going to Vigan at 11PM, I cut the trip to several legs since I wasn’t able to ride Florida’s Manila – Sanchez Mira bus that leaves at 8PM.

In Vigan, we had lunch, shoot and short interview at Calle Crisologo and ate a bowl of sinanglao. From their, I rode a minibus going to Pagudpud.

The plan to first go to Pagudpud, to a new resort was scrapped after the driver forgot about the turn in the town and instead headed directly to Pancian, the last town in Ilocos and bordering Cagayan province. Alas, it was already late, weather’s bad and we decided to just head to Taggat.

It was drizzling and all the more I was fidgety, not sure if the shoot will be good due to the weather. But we proceeded. The rains stopped but it was still cloudy with rain clouds scheming to pour its load. But we did finish it. It was already late afternoon and we spent the night in Claveria. It rained the whole evening.

The next day was a marathon of sorts. The initial plan was to head to Ilocos and ride a bus for Manila but looking at the time and van schedule that leaves from Claveria, I can’t make it to my last digital photography workshop session scheduled at 6PM that day. Fortunately, I was able to book a cheap ticket from Tuguegarao to Manila the night before, there is wireless broadband internet in that remote town) and that flight saved me.

What a trip! From Makati, I traveled for almost thirteen hours for an hour of location shoot and another thirty minutes of short interview then raced down south to be back again in Makati the next day. What a life!