October 2006 Archives

Feb.2, 2005: Cebu, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200

Lola, at her simple yet wonderfull little wood & bamboo home in the middle of a Mountain Jungle - I really love this image.

Her home has 3 very small rooms, some bamboo furniture & fixtures, curtains, etc - it's a beautiful little place without running water or electricity, but she does have a battery powered radio she likes to listen to

This day when I made the trek to see her, along the dirt paths the Caribao use to cross the Mountaintop - she was in the middle of collecting fresh eggs from her chickens, so she was in her work clothes, and she imediately took me by my hand over to a chicken's nest and gave me 2 fresh eggs for my breakfast (she actually gave me 3 eggs, but one slipped out of my hand & broke on the ground, which I felt horrible about as I scrambled to pick up the pieces before she noticed!)

I'm told she's in her late 70's, but she works her property every day, keeping house, feeding & tending to her chickens and the garden she grows her vegetables in, etc.

Her portrait is in the post below - she's a very gracious woman, and she inspires me.

Regards
PJAMES

Feb.20, 2005: Cebu, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/3.2 at 35.0mm iso400

My favorite portrait of Lola from my trek to her villiage in 2005 - she's very well respected as a tribal elder on her Mountain, and a very gracious woman who's always quite helpfull to me when I visit her little community, so I'm planning to have 100kg/220lbs of RICE treked to her place via Caribao (Asian Water Buffalo) next month when I make the trip.

The trek to the Mountain is actually quite an adventure from Naga, beginning with a very bumpy & rough bus ride (on an old bomb of a bus) navigating some tough dirt roads leading to the Mountain.

The bus stops when it can't go any farther, and you have to then get a motorcycle ride (the only vehicles that can actually make the trip) going straight up the Mountain, navigating small rocky dirt roads that narrow to some dangerous dirt and rock mud-paths that go straight UP into the Mountain on the most bone crunching, back-jarring ride you've ever taken....all the time, all of your physical strength is focused with just holding onto the bike, hoping your driver can keep it on the mud-path, as deep ravines flank both sides of that path, and it's a very long way down - if the driver loses control, you're in big trouble if he dumps that bike.

However the Honda TMX motorbikes can only go so far - they have to stop at 25 minutes from the Mountaintop because the "roads" disappear at that point and no vehicle of any kind can go farther, so you have to make that last trek on foot - straight up through the Jungle with all its humidity.

You really must be in top physical shape just to survive that motorcycle ride, and thankfully I was brought to the two top motorcycle drivers at the base of the Mountain for my ride - Kuya Neilo & Kuya Ricky are said to be the best of the best there, as they are the only drivers allowed to chauffer Lola and her Family when they need to come down from the Mountain, so they took very good care of me.

"You beat me up guys!"...but you got me there in one piece, and I'll be back next month so we can take that ride again!"

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Recently I came upon photographer John Amato's image of a destitute Child he shot in China - it's one of the most compelling portraits I've ever seen; it's very beautiful yet very sad, and we've been exchanging a few emails about it.

After John told me the story behind this girl, her love for her brother & their Father, I was so moved that I asked his permission to publish his image here, as well as his thoughts - as I see in his photograph the reflections of so many street Children I know in the Philippines.

photo © copyright John Amato - Used with permission.

John's currently in China shooting for UNESCO and UNDESA - his work is wonderfull and I wish him all the Best.
...our emails are continued below,

PJAMES

Nov.25, 2005: Manila Bay, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/800s f/5.6 at 54.0mm iso100

With the gorgeous weather and flawless Blue Skies here today in the US, I wanted to share one of my favorite sunset images from Manila's BayWalk area along Roxas Blvd. - famous for their orange & yellow sunsets, and not too far from where the poor street Children I know have to sleep.

Some days around 5pm before the sun sets, I'll run down to Baywalk to see what the skies are doing, and I'll always have the camera with me in case the sky looks really spectacular.

I've often wondered if those street kids ever have the chance to know just how beautiful the sunsets are there, or even if they notice them at all - and I tell myself 'probably not...'

On this trip next month, I think I'll save some sunsets on the E-1 to show them from the LCD, when I see them.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Feb.15, 2005
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/500s f/3.5 at 14.0mm iso100

One of my very best travel photographs from the Philippines - shot right outside my house while the Cebu SINULOG Parade was rehearsing to join the Parade at the end of the street - the same street Lisa & LetLet's Family lives on.

I was getting ready to go out to the store & vist LetLet's Family, when I heard the loud bass drums pounding out on the street; I had no idea there was a Parade rehearsing that day!

I went to the window, looked outside & ran to grab the E-1...I rushed outside and found a myriad of colors & music, and slowly moved into the parade line to get this shot of the girl holding the Senior Santo Nino statue, and got a great wideangle capture.

I'll be bringing LetLet's Family a print of this image, along with their Family photos I took earlier this year when I see them next month.

A wonderfull country with beautiful people.

Regards,
PJAMES

May 4, 2004: Manila, Philippines
Nokia 6820 cellphone camera

This day I was buying lunch for Rosa & Marylou (more on Marylou later this week - she's a great oil pastel painter who's trying to support her 4 children as a single Mother, and really struggling) - and we'd just come from the 7-11 where Rosa wanted Siopao for her lunch.

Rosa was really into wearing hats & baseball caps back then - she's always wear them backwards on her head, and I'd always smile when I saw her doing that.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Jan.3, 2006: Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400

A portrait of Sharie, who I shot while out on a long walk home after going to a local store in Cebu.
...I couldn't get any local tricycle driver in my neighborhood to take me on the 10 minute ride to the local grocery store, so I had to make the 30 minute walk myself.

Same scenario after I left the store - I couldn't get a tricycle ride back (seems all the local drivers banded together after I'd moved in, and decided I'd have to pay them 10 times the going rate for a ride) so I walked home, and I had the camera with me.

Sharie & her friends were outside a house I passed by, and they called to me to take their pictures - she's got wonderfull light brown eyes, and although she was shy she let me take her portrait, and then her Family invited me to stop by their simple home, which I did.

The Family was what I call part of the working poor there - their house was quite simple; one room with nearly no amenities - they had some electricity, but no TV or running water or aircon, etc.
...but the 7 people in that Family were quite close & seemed very happy together, and offered me their hospitality; I had a very nice chat with her Father & uncles, and they all had simple jobs & seemed hard working, and were proud to show me through their simple home - it was quite obvoius they kept it clean & neat, with beautiful baby palms & flowers growing eveywhere inside coffee cans.

I'm glad I had the camera with me that day - it was a totally spontaneous shoot, with a very nice Family I'd never met before.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

ps: with all the local drivers who refused my fares, I have to say I DID find 2 or 3 really nice tricycle drivers just by chance, who only charged me the local fare - I always thanked & tipped them, but I was never able to find them every day, so I would walk - and if they saw me walking they'd always stop to pick me up.

Today, my letter went out to Jennifer Lyons, Public Relations Manager at Olympus Imaging America.

I had emailed Olympus Pro Services Division earlier this month about requesting a back-up E-1 digital camera body & battery grip, as well as one of their fast 35-100mm F2 pro zooms, or their 150mm F2 pro telephoto lenses, for the upcomming trip (I only own the one Digital Zuiko 14-54mm lens & can't shoot longer tele images with it) - as at over $2,200/USD each I can't possibly afford to purchase them, and their Pro Svs. Diviision does make loaner equipment available to their working Pro's for evaluation in the field.

I also sent the link to this website, in the hopes that Olympus can see what I'm trying to do with my photography in Philippines, to raise awareness & support for the street Children & Families in need I'm trying to help there - and documenting their needs with my personal Olympus cameras. (I've used Olympus digital cameras since 1999, and their Pro SLR's in Philippines since 2003)

Having said that, I took it a step further and asked Jennifer at Olympus if they would consider becoming a Sponsor of Project Rice, in whatever way they'd choose to - but specifically I asked them for their support in 2 areas:

1. Sponsoring/underwriting a portion of my logistical support & overhead costs while in Philippines.
2. Sponsoring Project Rice with an equipment donation (refurbished, demos, salesmans samples of one E-1 camera body & one or two lenses of their choosing - they don't need to be new)

I told Jennifer I'd be pleased to put up 2 Olympus banners on pages 1 & 2 of this website, and be proud to tell the world that Olympus is an Official Sponsor of Project Rice (and we do get pRICE viewers from all over the World, including the USA & Canada, Europe, Mexico, Australia, Asia, UAE and more - last week alone I think there were over 21 countries tuning in here)

Canon Imaging is already doing this for www.digitaljournalist.org (click on "dispatches, notes from the field" link) where they have a prominent banner at the top of that page proclaiming their support - and for other humanitarian photojournalists using their equipment around the world.
see Canon's Sponsorship logo here on digitaljournalist.org

The bottom line is that with all the time & energy I'm putting into this, my own resources are only carrying me so far.

I very much need to be Sponsored, either Corporately or Privately....or both.

Thanks for listening to me today - I'll be sure to post any updates that come along on the Olympus Spoonsor Support issue,
PJAMES

Nov.13, 2003: Manila, Philippines
Olympus E-10: 1/60s f/2.8 at 9.0mm iso80

This is a never before seen image of Gina at 10:08am in Manila on 11/13/2003 where she was eating all the breakfast she had that day, half an ear of corn - and happily playing with the only toys she had, a few wire coat hangers.

The image isn't "posed" or "staged" - I shot it as I found her when I rounded the corner of Pedro Gil Street.

Later that day (and posted below) is an image of her & her Family taking their lunch sitting on the sidewalk (RICE & some chili seasonings, and Pop Cola - nothing else), so from that day on, I always made sure to bring her food when I saw her, and her Father would always thank me for doing that; Gina would just smile & hug me, as she didn't speak any English at that point in time.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Feb.22, 2006: Cebu, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800

I always enjoy visiting LetLet's Family in Cebu - their simple wood & pressboard house has windows that swing open in the early morning, and you can hear the kids playing & singing inside.

As I walk up on the window, I call out "Hi-Yo" to see who's home, and LetLet knows my voice and comes to the window to greet me with her shy smile, calling "KuyaJames"...

There are some very nice homes on Lisa & LetLet's street - homes with beautiful gardens, fixtures and yards....and LetLet's Family are the poorest, living in the poorest home near the end of the street, with no yard or pretty garden.

Yet I've always felt they're the richest Family on the block.

Do a search here on "Lisa & LetLet" for other posts & images of the sisters & their Family.

Regards,
PJAMES

Feb.18, 2006: Ste Fe, Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/80s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400

A simple Mother/Daughter portrait.

Louisa, her daughter and their entire Family are always very kind & helpfull to me when I'm there - I always enjoy being around them all, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again very soon.

PJAMES

Jan.27, 2006: Ste. Fe, Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400

Here is my favorite shot of Shiemiuzel's older Sister, outside their simple home on the beach - just a simple shot of her playing in the sand.

I've posted about her Family here before, and even though there's really no room in the family budget for toys and such for the Children, they're ok with that and enjoy just playing outside in the sand, in the water, or playing with Mama's pots & pans.

Her Family's been very good & hospitable to me earlier this year, and since I'll be there over the Christmas Holidays, I'm going to make a small Xmas gift list of some things they need, as I just recieved an email this week from my friend Robert Lariosa in California, who is sending me a donation for Christmas necessities for the Family.

Robert was one of the original 4 donors last year before my 2005/2006 trip, and after finding my images on pBase.com, he contacted me by email and actually wired $100/USD while I was in Ste.Fe, which I used for Shiemiuzel's Family needs, plus one other Family in Manila I was trying to help at the end of that trip.

Thanks for reading today - and Robert, if you're also reading today...Many Thanks for your kindness & God Bless; you're the best!
...I told Shiemiuzel's Family all about you earlier this year, and they are very gratefull to you and your Family.

PJAMES

Nov.26, 2005: Manila Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.0 at 23.0mm iso200 with flash

I've spoken here a lot about Rosa & Edison & their Family - here's a nice Family image with Tito Willie, the kids & their Auntie.

The kids had very bad eye infections when I arrived in Manila; their eyes were very red & swollen (almost like pink-eye) and they were only comfortable comming outside in the late afternoon & evenings - so I paid for their clinic vist & Willie made sure to give them their anti-biotic eye ointment the doctor had prescribed for them, each day until their condition cleared up.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Jan.2, 2005: Manila Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.4 at 44.0mm iso200

The little child in this image with her Father is the child Rosa's Tito Willie rescued from a local children's shelter earlier this year in Manila - it's unclear why the child was taken to the shelter, but when Willie too me into the abandonded building he was sharing with Rosa, the kids & her Auntie, this little child was asleep on the floor on her first day out of the shelter, and appears in my pictures of Willie's place that day.

The child, her Father & Mama were sleeping on the sidewalk along with many more homeless Families
around the corner from Wiliie & Rosa's place.
shown here with Gina on Nov.27, 2005

Regards,
PJAMES

Dec.21, 2005: Leyte, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.2 at 14.0mm iso400

I would like to be able to go "off topic" from time to time, and post some of my senic shots from the Philippines, as I would hope it would give readers the chance to see what I'm seeing while I'm in the country, doing the street-shooting with the Children & their Families.

So it's really not too far 'off topic' in reality - and the sunrises/sunsets are quite beautiful there - so here's one of my favorites from Leyte, where the sky was awash with light blues, navy blues, and on fire it seemed with wonderfull orange & yellows in the distance...all this while the clouds were reflecting that magnificent light, in a 28mm wide angle low light capture.

* For any fellow photographers reading here, the focal length "mulitplier" on the Olympus 4/3rds. Digital E-System I use, is 2X - meaning my 14-54mm Digital Zuiko lens offers a field of view equivalent to 28-108mm on a 35mm system.

Thanks for indulging me with the sunsets - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
PJAMES

Dec.21, 2005: Leyte Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/100s f/3.3 at 42.0mm iso400

I do take senic images when I'm in Philippines - it's a beautiful country with wonderfull people, and I particularly enjoy when I get the chance to shoot sunrises & sunsets, when I need to take a break from street-shooting.

Here's a sunset shot I like from Leyte, where locals were gathering on a pier - not too far from where the landslide disaster would happen in Feb.2005

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Nov.13, 2003: Manila Philippines
Olympus E-10: 1/100s f/3.6 at 9.0mm iso80

I just re-worked an important image of Gina, seen here eating her lunch on the street - I was out for a daily walk and came around the corner to find her and her Father or Tito (It's not clear exactly who he is, but he is Family), and they invited me to sit with them & chat a bit.

I re-edited the image from the original file, correcting the exposure (I have a few different versions & sizes of this), created a new b&w version, and made it a bit larger.

Her lunch that day (and each day that she's able to actually get a lunch) can clearly be seen in the image: RICE with some Pop Cola; that's it...that's her total meal.
...under her left hand is a small bowl of Chilies for seasoning the RICE, and the plastic bag on the tray in the forground contains water to drink with their meal.

Regards,
PJAMES

Jan.1, 2005: Manila, Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/3.4 at 48.0mm iso400

New Years Day, 7:38am - I had just arrived in Manila the night before - and on the same day I photographed Rosa eating her simple breakfast on the street (posted elsewhere here), I found Gina again just after she awoke on the same street.

Gina saw me comming around the corner & immediately recognized me and gave me that huge smile of hers, and this is a very important image for me, as Gina always does this when she sees me on the days that I arrive; she always runs over to hug me, and I always bring her her breakfast.
...I'll go out to find her again early on the morning of Nov.15, 2006 after I arrive - I just wish I could do more for her, and every time I see her, I just feel that my hands are tied in terms of what I'm able to do.

She needs daily meals, she needs to be in a school, she needs some clean clothes & a daily bath; she needs some love & attention, she needs a place to live - a safe place to sleep, she needs simple medicines when shes sick, etc, etc.

She needs to be off that damn street.

Good Sunday Morning to all of you reading today,
PJAMES

Jan.20, 2005: Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1: 1/160s f/4.0 at 54.0mm iso200

A local street child wearing a fleece top tries to stay warm in the early morning - a solitary image of need.

That morning it was just about 70 degrees F. with a nice breeze (temps got to 85 F. by 9:30am later), but this little boy was cold (70-75F. IS "cold" to locals in this part of the world), which tells me he probably stayed out all night, or most of the night with the other street kids, where they look after each other & try to keep themselves safe.

This one of the kids we bought some baluut for, discribed in the late night photo of the little girl with the soft orange background elsewhere on this Gallery.

He stays close to where Lisa & LetLet's Family live, and I've noticed he's very aggressive with the travelers who come to the local store there ("...give me Pesos please...") and also sometimes gangs up & teases Lisa & LetLet's friends when they're around me.

If Rachael is watching Lisa & LetLet's friends, she won't hesitate to go right up to him & his male friends there to disipline him loudly - she's very protective of the children there in the neighborhood (her picture is posted below this month)

Regards,
PJAMES

April 26, 2003: Laguna, Philippines
Olympus E-10: 1/100s f/2.8 at 20.0mm iso80 with Flash

An early image from my very first trip to Philippines, where I was in town to shoot local furniture pictures for a friend of mine, and during a break from shooting I went outside and was befriended by the local children who welcomed me with their Families.

The images I shot that day of the children & their Families inspired me to develop my current style of informal street shooting that I continue to this day, and that also lets me continue to help raise awareness of the poor children in-need that I came to know & to help on that trip, and every trip since then.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Jan. 9, 2005: Manila, Philippines
Olympus E-1: Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/80s f/3.4 at 45.0mm iso100 with flash

I've seen this little girl growing up on the streets of Metro Manila for the past 3 years, and now her begging is getting aggressive, as is her personality - but she's basically a sweet child of the streets...she always runs up to me with hugs first.

There's little discipline from her Family (I see only her Mama present), and living & sleeping on a sidewalk all your life imparts an aggressive discipline all its own - and I don't hold it against her; I totally understand where its comming from when she acts out.

I specifically included clothes for her when we shopped for Rosa's clothing drive (posted below); she sleeps on the same street Rosa did in 2005, and I just feel powerless when I realize all that she needs, and that I can only do so much.

I have the same feelings about little Gina who sleeps not too far away on that same sidewalk (search her name here to see her images) - if these kids aren't off the streets within the next couple of years, all they'll have to look forward to is becomming victimized street violence and pimps, drug addiction and all that it entails.

I'm seeing that now, in the homeless young teens on the street - sniffing their Shaboo out of a baggie (like a cross between liquid crack & speed)
...besides turning basically good kids into aggressive drugged-out Zombies, most choose to do it because it kills off the powerfull hunger pains in their stomachs when there's no food to eat.

PJAMES

Dec.16, 2005: Divisoria Market, Manila Philippines
Camera: Nokia 6822 cellphone cam

I just found this image of Rosa today that was still on my Nokia - I'd left my Olympus E1 SLR at the hotel this day (partly because I didn't want to turn this shopping trip for Rosa & the other poor neighborhood kids into a photo-op) and Rosa's Auntie can also be seen in the background choosing clothes for Rosa's brother Edison & the other children.

I'd always been warned about displaying a cellphone around the Divisoria area due to the high number of phone snatchings there, and I'm always very carefull with my gear there, so I just said 'I'm on a MISSION for Rosa & the kids - nothing's going to stop me from taking care of her needs today...'

Turned out everthing went perfect - I had no issues there that day; the locals were wonderfull, and the knuckleheads all stayed away.

Rosa, her Family & the kids got the clothes that they needed, and the donated funds from my friends & pBase.com viewers went a LONG way, as we got the very best values we could find - we negotiated for the best prices we possibly could.....THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

We'll all be back next month to do more of the same; Many Thanks to those of you who've supported this effort!

Regards,
PJAMES

May 2, 2003: Manila Philippines
Camera: Olympus E10 digital SLR: 1/80s f/2.2 at 26.0mm iso80 with Flash

While out on Mabini Street in Metro Manila, I came upon a few homeless kids from the neighborhood who were playing on the sidewalk with only an empty water bottle & a whistle - and got this nice capture.

Their clothes were pretty much tattered hand-me-downs, and after reviewing the files from this day's shooting after I returned to the USA, it gave me the idea of shopping for clothing for the kids at local outdoor markets later that year - shopping trips for childrens clothing that I continue to do to this day, and that I'll continue to do in Manila & Cebu later next month when I arrive.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

My good friend Concha in Madrid who promotes Project Rice on her TULAY blog sent me a link to news coverage of the recent Typhoon Xangsane that came through Manila and other Provinces, then went through Vietnam - please keep the victims & their Familes in your thoughts & prayers this week:
http://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=23949

She was also asking how Rosa & Edison's Family in Manila came through the Typhoon, but I have not yet been able to contact them via text messaging this week, so I don't know if they're ok.

Rosa's Auntie contacted me before the Typhoon and gave me the good news that the kids are out of the abandoned building they were living in, in Metro Manila - and that they were now in Pasay City, AND ATTENDING SCHOOL (true to their Tito Willie's promise to me earlier this year about getting the kids into school)
read more about Rosa here

Read Concha & Kyle's TULAY blog:
http://comunidadtulay.blogspot.com/

Feb.13, 2006: Ste. Fe, Cebu Philippines
Camera: Olympus E-1 ,Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/500s f/3.2 at 28.0mm iso400

A Little child practices throwing his Father's fishing line out to cast, preparing for the Family's nightly fishing outing, as the Families there are self-sufficient fisherman, feeding their Families with their nightly catch - as well as selling specialty catches of lobster & crab to the local restaurants in town.

They're very hard-working, loving Families who always welcome me into their community - many times when I'm doing my photography there on the beach, they'll invite me to share their evening meal of fresh fish & RICE with their Families, and their wonderfull hospitality.......and I always bring along or send out for some fresh bread & desserts, vegetables or whatever else they need.
read my blog post about specific needs of poor children on Bantayan Island

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

It's finally confirmed - I'll be flying Cathay Pacific airlines on Nov.13th and will arrive in Manila late at night on Nov.14 - it's about a 22 hour flight after one plane change in Hong Kong (most people hear that and go "what???...22 hours?)
...I just get excited though, it doesn't stress me out in the least - I enjoy flying, and will enjoy seeing HK's airport for the first time (Tokyo's Narita & Seoul's Inchon airports are fabulous to fly through, so we'll see how HK compares)

I do get quite tired during the 2 flights though (especially during the Tokyo/Korea/HK to Manila leg), as I can't fall sleep on the plane - maybe because of the pressurized cabin.

But what helps me negate any jet lag, is that when I finally make it to the hotel in Manila around 1am, I'm so tired that I can just go right to sleep, and then wake up around 7am without any jet lag whatsoever - my body clock just sets itself 12 hours ahead without any difficulty, every time.

The most stressfull part of the beginning trip is actually after clearing Immigration in Manila's airport and heading out with my luggage into the general population outside the international arrivals area - after one last security check to make sure I have the correct baggage tags, you have to step outside into the heat and journey over to the arrivals area, where locals meeting their friends & family have to wait accross the street packed in behind a barricade, and the shouting gets a little chaotic at times when big crowds are there.

Then you're ganged up on by local taxi/transport hawkers looking to sell you a P150 taxi ride for P400 (about $8.00/USD)......I've found I can pretty much wade through them by holding my cellphone to my ear, pretending to make a call, and they don't really bother me too much...then I'm just left to negotiate that P400 fare down to around P300, as local cheaper taxis are not allowed to drive into that area seeking fares.

...more later.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Earlier this year my latest Philippine Gallery ('expressions: Philippines Nov.2005 - March 2006') on pBase.com gravitated to its 'Popular Galleries' page, as voted by its readers.

...I remember surfing the site late that night about 1am - saw my Gallery there for the first time and loudly said "YES!!!...I FINALLY Made It!"

I was so happy that I rushed to get my camera to take a quick grab-shot - it felt really good to have it voted up there.

PJAMES

Oct.4, 2006

Jennifer Lyons at Olympus Imaging Public Relations has responded to my request for an additional Olympus E1 digital camera body, battery grip & a Digital Zuiko telephoto lens as loaners for my upcomming trip. (I posted on petitioning them a few days ago, as I can't do any long lens shooting with my current Olympus gear)

I'll update all of you after I hear back from her - I'm keeping my fingers crossed & my hopes up.

PJAMES
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Paul,

Jennifer Lyons
PR Manager
Olympus Imaging America
3500 Corporate Parkway
Center Valley, PA 18034

Dec.2005: Manila, Philippines
Camera: Nokia 6822 phone camera

Im celebrating the 100th Project Rice blog entry today; it's taken a while to get a stream of content up here and I decided today to post this image, typical of local rural RICE vendors I vist & buy from when giving 50kg sacks of RICE for the Families I know who are in-need.

I can't do it all by myself now, so I thank all of you here who have donated funds to help me help those Children & Families pictured here on pRICE.

Project Rice is entirely supported by people like you & me.

Many Thanks,
PJAMES

Nov.27, 2005: Manila Philippines
Camera: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400

I've know Donnie (everyone calls him 'Donnie Boy') for the past few years in Metro Manila, and I took the portrait above at the local coffee shop we both frequent.

Say what you will about his appearance (he's just woken up in the afternoon from sleeping on the street when I took his picture, and looked like he'd just rolled out from under a rock) - he's a local street hustler hawking taxis for tourists outside a nightclub, and he's pretty much destitute & dirt-poor, but I always buy him lunch & dinner when I see him, as he somehow managed to fix my badly sprained ankle I hurt in a fall on Dec.2, 2005 in Manila.

On Dec.2nd, a few days after this image was taken, I went to take Rosa & Edison to a baseball game at Rizal Stadium, and fell when I missed a step exiting the abandoned building they were living in - I went down hard & thought I'd broken the ankle; it swelled up like a football, and I couldn't walk without a cane for the next 2 weeks. (I didn't want to disappoint the kids & their Auntie, so I DID manage to get us all to the game - I just couldn't walk after the 7th inning)
(more below)