photo essay Archives • langyaw

My brief Cebu to Dumaguete yearend 2021 trip

Even for just two nights, I planned to travel from Cebu to Dumaguete on a whim, post Typhoon Odette. Perhaps it was the stress of the great damage that the typhoon wrought not only in my province but in other islands as well, coupled with the no water and no electricity a week after it hit us that I packed my things via candle light Sunday night. Although I wasn’t yet very decided to proceed, I woke up at 4AM, prepared coffee, checked the weather….Continue Reading “My brief Cebu to Dumaguete yearend 2021 trip” →

Photoessay: Sama circumcision, a Sitangkai ritual

photo essay, Places

A cacophony of drums and shouts of merriment came out of nowhere, breaking the lazy morning vibe. I just finished my breakfast of banban, a smorgasbord of traditional Tausug delicacies often served in the coffeeshops of Tawitawi. The sounds grew louder as three boats locally called timpel and used around the shallow waterways of Sitangkai emerged from just behind a stilt house, passed under one of the many wooden footbridges between houses and disappeared into a bend. It was loaded with people with a few…Continue Reading “Photoessay: Sama circumcision, a Sitangkai ritual” →

Experiencing nature at Minalungao National Park

photo essay

Minalungao National Park blew into social media months ago because of its outstanding rock forms and picturesque view. Up close, those white rocks have been weathered and smoothed for millennia that its just got beautiful undulating curves. It reminds me of the Timbaban River in Aklan and Marmol Cliff in Cebu. And I got curious. It’s rather a long drive to reach Minalungao National Park as our bus motored its way from Fort Magsaysay, passing pastoral landscapes and rolling terrain. When we arrived, there were…Continue Reading “Experiencing nature at Minalungao National Park” →

Sto Nino procession Cebu opens the Sinulog festivities

photo essay

The nine day novena mass opened yesterday with the Sto Nino procession in Cebu from the Fuente Osmena to the Basilica del Sto Nino and this signals the start of the Cebu’s biggest festival, the Sinulog. The festivity culminates on the third Sunday of January with a boisterous and colorful street dancing but on the solemn side, devotees from the around the country and the world come to Cebu to pay homage as well as pray for blessings and healing to the Child, God and…Continue Reading “Sto Nino procession Cebu opens the Sinulog festivities” →

Christmas is all around in the Philippines

photo essay

It’s December and it’s not just the cold temperature and shorter days, but almost everywhere in the Philippines, you will almost, always stumble upon something that will remind you of the festive season: Christmas carols on radio, decors in many buildings, malls and houses, vendors selling lanterns and Christmas stuff and all these mall sales, gift packs and Christmas party reminders. Yes, Filipinos are serious about Christmas, and it’s a fact that once the ‘ber months come in, starting September, be sure to expect that…Continue Reading “Christmas is all around in the Philippines” →