And if your gift is knowing when you will die... will you use it?

In one of my earlier blog posts (dated July 29, 2009... click here to view the original blog post), I wrote about this man whom, I incidentally found sitting on a curb in front of an old, abandoned building in the city's downtown area. I took his picture that moment and as I was taking his picture, he asked me, "Mapapahamak ba ako sa litrato na yan?" (Will I get in trouble with those pictures?) Then I answered, "Hindi po 'tay, libangan lang 'to" (No, this is just for my hobby)

Then out of no where, he told me, "Kung sabagay, kahit mapahamak ako, ayos lang... Mamamatay na ako eh.. malapit na...." (Well anyway, it doesn't matter if I get into trouble... I'm going to die... very soon...)

After what he said registered in my mind... I felt a surge of coldness inside me... My head went blank and there was an empty and blunt throb in my heart... I walked backwards... slowly... away from him... and rode off in my car... I even forgot to ask his name.. (As I always take my time to talk to people in the streets whom I take pictures of...)

After a week or saw I learned his name from a common acquaintance... His name is Fedencio Aquino... or "Mang Piding" to those who are close to him...

About four days ago, our common acquaintance told me Mang Piding died of a heart attack last September 8, 2009 during the peak of a typhoon.. while the streets where flooded...

His name: Fedencio Aquino... a brother, a father, a grandfather, a friend to many, and a husband... He always had this peculiar grin in his face and he was always happy... and most of all he had this gift of knowing when he will die...

To view and read the July 29, 2009 post, please click here

Rainy Day Blues

It's been raining for a week now. Business is definitely slow. I can't go out to shoot the streets. So I decided to play around with Photoshop CS3 and a few old photos I have stashed in my hard drive. I came up with this:




I titled this post-processed photo "And Suffer As I Have" for no reason.

Well, post processing stock photos is a fun way for a Street Photography addict to let the rainy days pass...

Para sa Huling Pag Lubog ng Araw

At natapos na
ang hindi pa nasimulan.
Huling sulyap sa mga
anino
na muli't muli'y tatawid
sa atin.

Bagamat ang bukas ay ganito
pa rin ang dadatnan natin.
Mahalaga ay nandito ako
sa kanyang pagpanaw.

Ngayon ko sya nakuha,
sa panulukan ng kanyang ganda...
dahil hindi na kami
magkakilala bukas.

O dili kaya'y...
Hindi sya magpakita sa atin.



(I guess this is my ode to the sun... the only light bringer from the east... I've always had this idea that the sun we see each day is a different one... and we are strangers to each sun that rises... or perhaps a day will come when it will cease to rise... so each sunset could be our last...)
Larawan at Salita: Jay Protacio Mendoza


Lugar: Mangrove Trail, Subic Bay Freeport Zone

MAMAMATAY NA AKO, MALAPIT NA...

After taking my son to school the other day, I drove around the city's main metro area for 10 minutes. I saw this old man sitting on a curve, in front of an old abandoned building. I parked on the side of the road to take his picture and as i did, he asked me, "Mapapahamak ba ako dahil sa litrato na yan?" Then I answered, "Hindi po 'tay, libangan ko lang po ito."

Then while I was already taking his pictures, he said to me, "Kung sabagay, kahit mapahamak ako, ayos lang... mamamatay na rin naman ako... malapit na...."

It took a while before his words sank in and when it did, I felt a blank and blunt throb in my heart... I guess I was shocked with waht he said... I walked slowly away from him and rode my car... I even forgot to ask his name.

Maybe I'll see him again... and ask him what his name is... maybe...

Loosing sight of things

In the blur you seek,
is a recollection.
Your eyes have shut
yet you find them all in your heart.
And we have less to flaunt
than you.

You have seen more
than we
and in our life time...
we remain blind...

Your sight has ceased
because you have seen
it all.




Photo by: Jay Protacio M.
Location: West Bajac Bajac Market, Olongapo City

When Summer Is Gone

Summer was good to me this year. I had many opportunities to shoot pictures.

Well, not just my usual street stroll shots and gate-crashed wedding shoots but also some bonus photo ops. My wife and I went to Pundakit in San Antonio, Zambales with my dear friend Atty. Ronald Gavino and a couple of other friends. The beach was spectacular and the people were so nice. We stayed in Ronald's beach house.... ( We drank.. we ate.. we swam.. we drank.. and ate again...)

The next day was even better because we took a boat ride to the famous Capones Island. That was last March.

Last April, my photo group, the flickristasindios or "indios" as we fondly called our group went to Pundakit again not for a boat ride to Capones Island but for a ride to Anawangin Cove (Also in San Antonio, Zambales). During that group trip, I had the chance to shoot landscapes that were different from my other landscapes and I even had the chance to shoot models... (hehehehehe) Now, I don't think for shooting models since I am more comfortable with shooting street portraits and street scenes... But still it was a good learning experience for me...

But enough with the blabber. Time for photos.

I will miss summer.. that's for sure.


The First Pundakit Trip:


Boat Ride To Capones Island:



Capones Shoreline:



By now you know who this is:






Indios Anawangin Trip 2009:




Anawangin Cove:



Anawangin Waves (Long Exposure):



Model Shoot@ wood area Anawangin:
Models Jill & Juju



Juju by the Rocks:



Model Shot by the woods, Anawangin:
Model: Eureka



Eureka Pose



Eureka and the Waves


I told you, I'm going to miss this summer

Was Feeling Really Horny That Day (What ever it is your thinking.. stop it)

This shot was taken during the June 12, 2009 independence day celebration here in Olongapo City. It was taken in the local park where poeple where offering flowers to Jose Protacio Rizal's monument. A marching band was playing and I asked one of the horn section members to pose.

His name is Mr. Irish Samaranos, he plays the trombone and a local college student. Members of the first Olongapo City Marching Band are mostly composed of city scholars. They are new and yet to sport a uniform until August of this year.

Words and Photos by: Jay Protacio M.

Location: Olongapo City

Model: 1. Irish Samaranos 2. His Trombone

Tug-of-war

You hold one end of the rope
while I hold the other,
tugging each other
out of breath
And through this hempen tow
thoughts flux from my point
then towards you
and back to me.
Again, as we pull
each other's strength
with all our might,
we draw ourselves closer
thoughts moving back and forth
untl a certain understanding blooms.





Jay Protacio M. (1978- )



Photo by JPM
Location : Olongapo City Bay Area

Kaligayahan

Dahil naibaba na ang lahat ng depensa

at lahat ng sandata'y naubos.

Tanging bala ay

ay mga pumupugak na pintig

at punglong pinapurol na ng

malayang isip.

Mga ilang saglit na tuwa

(parang walang katapusan)

at nawaglit na mga ala-ala.

Ikaw iyon. Noon.

Ngayon naman ay tayo.

Ito lang ang alam kong gyera

na parehong kampo ang masaya.

Wagi.

Maligalig pero maligaya.

June 19, 2009

Photo by: me J. Protacio

Model : My Wife