July 2007 Archives
Feb.23, 2006: Manila Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/3.0 at 23.0mm iso800
I miss my good friend...I've been looking for some previously unpublished images of her and I found more favorites this evening; I love these images of Marylou.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/50s f/3.0 at 23.0mm iso800
PJAMES
UPDATED:
...the day after the story in Marylou's post below, and after I went shopping for her stock so she'd enjoy a small profit on the items she was selling, I watched her get onto a Jeepney after the long workday, hauling multiple bags of her valuable possessions (the cigs & candies she was vending) and it was clear she was struggling with so many shopping bags to wrangle.
Late in the afternoon of the following day, I was chatting with her at her little spot on the street - I made sure I brought her her meals so she could stand her 12hr post with some energy, and I also made sure she had enough fluids to drink - and I was asking her what else she thought she needed.
Marylou replied: "...a Stroller"
It took me a while to understand what she meant - but she'd seen other vendors with a push-cart type stroller that carried ALL the bags of their stock and had wheels, and with all the bags she was struggling with it made perfect sense, so I surprised her again by getting her to leave early and taking her down the street to the Mall.
She found the perfect stroller, a vertical baggage carrier on wheels at the Handyman store for P1,000 and I knew I had to get it for her.
Along with the stroller, I thought she could benefit by having some Tupperware waterproof type containers for her stock; there was even one that had individual compartments inside, to act like a money tray where she could keep her coins for the sales, and she gave me that sweet smile of hers as I loaded up her shopping cart with necessities - she would have never been able to afford any of these things on her own, and I just wanted her to have a competitive edge, with some quality tools of the trade, so to speak.
We went back to my hotel to sort out all that we'd bought, and she chose the Tupperware containers best suited for her coins, cigarettes & candies we'd gotten earlier that week, and it pleased me to see the smile on her face; her new presents would let her do business a little easier, and it all fit into this perfect stroller that seemed custom made for street vending in Philippines.
It also made it easier for her to get on that last Jeep of the day, with everything neatly packed away, instead of all the stray bags she was used to dragging aboard.
As I watched her get on the back of the Jeep, she didn't struggle at all this time - she had all her items packed away, and I remembered how hard she works in her 12hr shift, and that I was happy I could make her 90minute ride home just a little easier.
I'd also given her my Cebu Pacific Airlines cap (she's wearing it in the photographs in the posts below, where she displays her paintings) - it helped to keep the sun off her head, and I gave her my big golf umbrella so she could stay dry on the sidewalk when it rained, and I loaned her my favorite TaylorMade navy blue golf windproof pullover, because she said she would get cold when it rained - in size XL it was hanging off her petite frame, but she needed it more than I did.
I was very proud of her that day; I learned a lot about the real meaning of hard work, and what it means to be that dedicated to supporting a Family.
PJAMES
Feb.23, 2006: Manila Philippines: Photographed at 1:14pm only with available window light.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.4 at 46.0mm iso800
My favorite image of Marylou, my dear friend; an artist in-need.
Please read the posts below to see her artistic talents, expressed in oil pastels.
PJAMES
*UPDATED July 27, 2007:
Marylou's Work Ethic: A Story
In late 2004 when Marylou was vending cigarettes & candies on the sidewalk corner to support her Family, I had come to Manila and was out shooting on the streets by 7am, and decided to go to the local 7-11 for some water.
About a block from the store, I saw Marylou standing on the sidewalk with a small tray of cigs & candies; I greeted her & asked if she'd like anything from the 7-11, and her eyes opened wider - I asked her if she'd had her breakfast but she just stared at me (I knew then she hadn't eaten anything) so I told her I'd bring her back anything she'd like to eat from the store.
"hot dog" she said.
"hot dogs for breakfast" I asked?
"hot dog please - is it ok for you"? she asked.
I said it would my pleasure to bring her a hot dog, and I went to the store and brought her 2 hot dogs with katchup, along with a liter bottle of spring water.
I told her it was important for her to drink water when she was in the hot sun, and I asked her how many hours she was working that day - she told me she begins her days there on the sidewalk at 7:30am through 7:30pm and works a 12hr. day outside.
As I went off to take care of business that day, I remembered thinking to myself what a long day a 12hr. shift can be when you're outside in the elements; I've done entertainment security work here for many years, so I know exactly what it's like to Stand Post outside in the Summertime elements for a 12 to 16hr. shift - it's not exactly easy.
I came back to my hotel by 7pm, unloaded my camera, showered and wanted to see if Marylou was still outside, so I walked down the street and saw her, still standing on the corner, still working.
She smiled and was doing this little dance - for some reason she couldn't stand still - I was just amazed she had the endurance to stand a 12hr. day in 90 degree temps.
I asked her if she was ok, and she blushed when she said she needed to use the CR (bathroom) - and she said she would use the abandoned lot across the street, to which I said no, that it wasn't safe there, and that she should use the CR's in the Mall 2 blocks down the street.
I then realized she could not allow herself a bathroom break ALL DAY LONG, as she was afraid of another street vendor that would come steal her place there, and she would have to look elsewhere to vend, so I was stunned at her perseverance just to make a few Pesos in sales.
I told her I'd stand there & mind her sales tray, while she went to the Mall, and she laughed!
...I said "I'm serious - you go do what you need to do, and I'll be here with your stuff when you get back!"
You should have seen the relief on her face, to know her money & vending tray would be safe with me, and that she could finally use the CR for the first time in a 12hr. day - so she hugged me & ran off in a SPRINT down the street.
Now you have to picture this - I'm American, and standing on the corner in Manila Philippines as a street vendor, with this small tray of cigarettes & candies - and locals would pass me and do a double-take as to this Gringo Street Vendor!
They'd stop and ask for "MarlBORO" and I'd sell them a single cigarette for the standard Manila price of 1.5 pesos (3 cents USD), and I'd sell the candies for the correct P1 price, each.
Maybe I attracted business, I don't know - but Marylou was back in 15 minutes, relieved & laughing when she saw me trying to sit comfortably on a small rock Marylou was using for a seat during her day - she thanked me over & over again for letting her go to the CR - and I remembered what a hard & determined worker she was, doing this all for her small Children.
I saw her tray nearly empty now, but it really looked like that when I saw it in the early morning and said "wow, sales must have been GREAT today!"
She just looked up at me with a sad face; it was then I realized her tray was almost empty because she didn't have the money needed to buy ANY stock to sell....she started the day with almost nothing as I remembered.
I thought to myself for a few seconds and came up with an idea, because I just couldn't see her struggling anymore; taking the few Pesos she'd earned home to her Family so she could buy baby milk & rice, and not being able to use any of that money to buy more cigarettes & stock to sell for the next day.
I told her "pack up, it's quitting time...I have an idea, so get a pencil because I need to make a shopping list."
"What do you need, Kuya?" she asked.
"What I need, is to INVEST in you dear..." I answered.
...write down the stock you need to buy for your vending stand, brand by brand.
She looked puzzled, and I came right out & said I was taking her to the Supermarket in Robinson's Mall, and that we were going to go shopping for her cartons of cigarettes & 100 count bags of the candies she & every other vendor sells.
She knew then I was serious, and that it was my gift to her, so she began crying & smiling at the same time, telling me that no one had ever done anything like this for her before.
I called out the brands and she wrote them all down: Marlboro Red, Philip Morris, HOPE Menthol, Marlboro LIGHTS.....then the candies: MAX Red, Green, Orange, etc - and the 4 or 5 other small candies people bought from the vendors I knew....we ended up with quite a list, and now we were on a Mission.
I didn't want her to be ashamed, so I tried to keep her laughing & smiling, and said 'OK then...so let's go SHOPPING!!"
We went right to the Supermarket and filled a basket with cartons of cigarettes at $5.00 per carton, and I found the 100 piece big bags of the menthol MAX wrapped candies; got 4 bags of those at P50 ($1), as well as the big bags of the other brands, and she was smiling so big I knew it was like Christmas for her, and it was my pleasure to give her the presents.
She deserved them.
Marylou taught me many lessons that day about having the endurance to stand post on the job, about courage & what it means to be in-need and to give to those in-need; about Family and about the work ethic - HER work ethic; that she would sweat in the hot sun all day long with only little money to show for it, so she could feed her Family.
I was honored to spend $28.00 USD out of my own pocket travel money (it would be another year before anyone would give me any money to spend on the working poor there), and since my hotel in 2004 was $20.00 USD per day, I had to leave Manila one day early in order for her to have what she needed for her next few days there - but it was OK because I left with a smile, thinking about my friend Marylou who taught me more then she knew.
Read her posts below - she's quite an emerging artist and has given me some of her oil pastel paintings to sell for her.
Many Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/80s f/3.2 at 14.0mm iso400
It was Marylou who'd initially introduced me to Rosa/Edison and the Family in early 2004.
I hired Marylou to be my helper while I was in town; she was working for the Coconut Man vending cigarettes & candy at his drink stand on the street and business was so slow he couldn't afford to pay her anymore, so I offered her 2 weeks of work and I've helped her with food & clothing ever since, each time I arrive in Manila.
In 2004 I never really knew just how poor she was, but it began to hit me when I'd take her to a small local restaurant for her daily meals, as she ate more than I'd ever seen a 4'11, 85lb. girl eat - she'd eat everything on her plate, then ask me if it was ok for her to order a 2nd. helping (common amongst those who only get to eat maybe once per day there) and of course I'd say 'yes'.
When we were done, she would then ask me if it was ok if she could have some food to bring home to her Children, so we'd order another meal for 'take out' (to go) and she'd have such a smile on her face, and thank me over & over...
I'd always told her it was ok to ask me for things that she needed; Filipinas as a whole will almost never 'ask' for anything, but hungry people will.
I remember in 2005 when she first told me she used to paint when she had some free time, and that seeing my portfolio of images that she told me were very beautiful, and that she very much wanted to be able to paint & work in oil pastels again, and I was happy to hear she was a creative person - so later that day she brought me an oil pastel of a beautiful sunset to show me (pictured below) and since my Father painted in oils and was a freelance sign painter, I myself have a graphic design background, I really wanted to be able to do something very special for her.
I knew she had absolutely no extra money for art supplies (Marylou, her 4 young Children & her sister live in a not-so-nice part of Metro Manila, in a crampt & dank 1-room, rundown place with a few light bulbs, a small b&w TV for the kids & no running water; everyone sleeps on a bed mat on a concrete floor) so one day we met in the morning and I said "let's go shopping - I want you to begin painting again..." and I took her to Robinson's Mall to the art supply store - I asked her to select what she needed, and her eyes opened wide as she looked at all that was there.
She'd pick up an oil pastel set, turn to me and ask "is it ok for you if I see this one please???"
...she always asked permission before she picked up an item, and I always said yes.
I wanted her to have a quality pastel set, and she found a very nice Professional set that came with its own case & handle; it was really nice, but the price tag said P550 ($11USD) so she looked at it for a while then just put it back on the shelf - I knew she liked that one but was ashamed of its price.
She began looking at the other smaller sets there, and I whispered to her "I think the other set with the case & handle is for a real artist like you, it's the best brand here & it's ok with me if you would choose that one...I'm happy to get it for you dear"
She smiled shyly and asked "it's really ok to you if I like that one?"
I picked it up & put it into her hands, and told her it's indeed ok with me, and that I wanted her to have it and create many beautiful things with it.
Again it was like Christmas Day - her eyes lit up and she hugged me and said thank you more times than I can count - we went through the isle & chose the proper pastel paper and some accessories, and each time I told her to choose what she needed, she'd find something, then turn to me & ask my 'permission' to pick it up (she's very sweet and respectful, and I told her she didn't need my 'permission' if she saw something she needed, but that's just how she is)
Before she boarded a Jeep for the hour ride back to her home, she thanked me again & told me she was going to give me a few of her paintings she would do with her new pastel set - I told her I had a better idea, and that she should make a few nice paintings for me to take back to the USA to put online to try to sell for her, and she thought that was a great idea, so those paintings that are available for sale are featured in the post below.
It would make both of us quite happy if I could give her the money from all 5 paintings that are left, when I see her this November; that would be a tremendous help for her & her Family, and a great encouragement for her art aspirations.
If you'd like one of her paintings pictured in the post below, either email me or send a PayPal for $50USD + $9.95 shipping/packing (PayPal ID: team@projectrice.org) and I'll get it to you right away.
If you need any more information about Marylou's paintings or situation, please feel free to email me, as she needs all the help she can get.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/250s f/3.4 at 46.0mm iso400
Marylou Banalgay in Manila Philippines has been a trusted friend & my helper since 2004, and she's been struggling to support her four children on her own since her husband left her then, with a substance abuse problem of his own (he does not currently support Marylou or his children), so she's entirely on her own.
I've always done all I can to help her & her Children, specifically keeping her supplied with rice & powdered baby milk while I'm there, and in late 2005 while she was looking at my portfolio, she asked me for an 8x10 print I had which was a Cebu sunrise I'd shot earlier that month, and I gave it to her.
She explained that she'd always painted in oil pastels when she could afford some 2nd. hand supplies, and since she was then vending cigarettes & candy on the sidewalks in Manila from 8am-8pm each day in the heat/rain & elements, she didn't have the time to get back into painting, but she said seeing my images had inspired her to try to paint again.
I said absolutely YES, that she should get back into painting - I never knew she was a creative artist, but if my work inspired her, I would personally take her to the art store and get her whatever she needed to begin painting again (Marylou is poor and could not afford the necessary materials, so I bought them for her)
I took her to Robinson's Mall and got her a brand new oil pastel set, and a big block of pastel paper (you should have seen the look on her face in the store; like a child at Christmas!) and said if it was ok with her, that I would be willing to bring her paintings back to the USA with me, and put them online for sale - she was ecstatic; said yes and gave me a huge smile as I told her It was my pleasure to try to help her in any way I could.
I brought back 6 of her paintings, and 5 are left (painting #3 - the painting from my sunset image has already been sold & I gave her the money for it in Dec.2006 - it's in a private collection in the USA) and of course all proceeds go to Marylou.
Marylou's oil pastels are priced at $50 each plus $9.95 shipping & insurance - and I personally know how hard she struggles to work to support her Family, so if you enjoy impressionistic oil pastels it would please Marylou (and me) greatly if you would consider buying one of her artworks for a very reasonable price.
That $50 would pay her rent for an entire month, or supply TWO 50kg sacks of rice where her & her kids could eat for TWO months.
I'll be writing more about my dear friend this week, so I personally thank you in advance for taking the time to look at her beautiful paintings featured here - if you'd like the ones that are available, just use the donate button here on the website & specify by number which painting you'd like so I can ship it to you within 24 hours.
Many Thanks for reading today - Good Sunday Evening to you all,
PJAMES
Dec.13, 2005: Manila Philippines
Olympus E-1 ,Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/400s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
April 17, 2007: Bantayan Island, Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1 ,Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/15s f/3.3 at 42.0mm iso3200
Mama Helen cooking rice for the Family on the ground, as there's no kitchen at their place - all cooking takes place on the ground - on the sand at the beach, over a coco wood fire - that's how they have to live, and never a complaint about it either.
March 25, 2007: Bantayan Island, Cebu Philippines
Olympus E-1 ,Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
LittleFish has texted me that Mama Helen gave birth to a son named Mark, on June 23, 2007 - they're both doing ok, and I'm very anxious to see them & the new baby when I get back there in November 2007.
One of my favorite images of Mama Helen is above, with her daughter's head on her stomach.
Thanks for reading tonight,
PJAMES
April 26, 2003: Laguna Province, Manila Philippines
Olympus E-10: 1/60s f/2.8 at 9.0mm iso80
May 4, 2003: Frederick photographed in Manila Philippines
Olympus E-10: 1/40s f/2.2 at 25.0mm iso80
I was talking to a famous rock 'n roll photographer 2 days ago in New Jersey, and I noticed he was almost exclusively working in black & white (his work is very striking & soulful; his use of b&w pulls the viewer into the image even more so)
I went back through my early 2003 files from Manila and re-edited another file from the Children of Laguna Province shoot (below) and an image of little Frederick, who was homeless & sleeping on the street in Manila but attending school each day according to his Momma and her photos of him wearing his medals & report cards, and although I'd processed them both in b&w I'd never published them like that before.
I wanted to share them here, as my interest in black & white photography is back, although not all my images will work that way (some do, some don't; it's all relative I guess)
It also pains me that I have not seen Frederick again, or his Family, since 2004 and I wonder where they have gone; I miss bringing him his snacks & soft drinks he liked from the 7-11 after his Mama cooked his rice for his meals right there on the sidewalk.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
April 26, 2003: Laguna Province, Manila Philippines
Olympus E-10, 1/160s f/3.2 at 27.0mm iso80 with Flash
While printing images this week I began going back through the original files from my very first trip to Philippines in April 2003, hoping to remember the exact location of the very first shoot I did with the local kids & their Families who so warmly welcomed me that day, as I very much want to locate them and gift them their prints, and thank them for introducing me to street-shooting in Philippines.
One of the strongest images I've ever taken there is the image below of the girls in the Jeepney; it's always been a huge favorite of mine, and one of my more popular photographs.
The image ABOVE (previously unpublished) was taken after the local boys had decided that the girls in the Jeepney image had taken too much of my time, and the boys wanted their own face-time, so the boys piled into the same Jeep and wanted their pictures taken as well - and I just found this image of them that made me smile.
What struck me however, were the markings on the Jeep (in another frame) that I'd never noticed before - a hand-lettered banner that listed the ROUTE of the Jeep as Santa Cruz, and I was amazed I'd never noticed it before, as now I have a landmark of sorts, to go back to and begin my search for the Families!
I'd never been able to remember exactly where in Laguna I was for that day (I didn't drive the route, we were driven by a friend of mine who I can't locate anymore), and now I had at least something to go on when I arrive back in Manila later this coming November 2007, so needless to say I'm very excited about trying to see these kids and their Families again, 4.5 years later - I have enough prints from that shoot that show their Parents, Uncles, Aunts, etc in the frames, so I'm hopeful someone close to where I'd visited can possibly ID some of them.
The image from April 26, 2003 that started it all for me, is also offered in print:
Olympus E-10, 1/125s f/4.0 at 9.0mm iso80
On the subject of printing, the images below are thumbnails of some images that will be available as 8x10's & 5x7's matted & framed, with proceeds going for consumables (50kg. sacks of rice, meals, food & clothing) for the Families we all help support in Manila & Cebu.
...and more to follow...
I'm trying to get all the thumbnails done by tomorrow, so Steve Griffith can assemble a new Print Banner on the right side of the main page here.
Many Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
A Project Rice photo montage from 2003 through early 2006
featuring the Children of Laguna Province, Lisa (Lisa & LetLet)
Uzel on Bantayan, and Rosa when she slept on the streets.
The latest photo montage from late 2006-2007
featuring Rosa & Edison, Rodelyn (homeless & taken in by Rosa's Family in Manila)
JuvieMay on Bantayan, Lisa & LetLet.
All details are in the post below, and thanks to you all for allowing me to indulge my creative side here - I've always worked very hard on my photography, and I'm enjoying the post-processing in Photoshop and the printing so very much, and I really do want to share these with as many people as I can.
Many Thanks,
PJAMES
ps: if you'd like any other image I've shot that is not pictured here, just email me and I'll take care of it for you.
Good Saturday evening to you all, I've been busy running proof prints of my best images this week, beginning to get ready for a small photo exhibition I'll be having in October 2007, and I've decided to make some 8x10's and 5x7 hi-resolution prints available to those who have been requesting them, all supporting Project Rice.
This is the first time I've decided to make my artwork available here, and all images will be very nicely framed & matted, so I'm excited about the new printing project, and I encourage anyone who wants a print to just use the PayPal donate button on the upper right corner of this page, and to use the PayPal form to let me know the exact image & frame size they'd like (you can have any image from any pRice post or any image from my pbase.com Galleries), so until I get a dedicated Photography Page banner added to this page on the right, just use the current PayPal/credit card banner that's already up there.
I'll work with you via email to get you the exact image & frame you'd like, and the frames are a very nice commercial quality, but if you already own a favorite frame in hand for the picture, you can request just the print & no frame (same pricing)
Or, if you absolutely require a museum quality showpiece frame, and would like your local framing store to do the framing, that's ok too - just request the print alone.
I'll be shooting more pictures of some nice frames I just got today, and will post the stock I have ready to ship now, on tomorrow's post - so please - if you see something you like, just get it - as I really only have a few of each frame style.
Case in point - the 8x10 frame in the above image with Lisa & LetLet's Family montage - it's a lacquered Italian wood veneer frame only available in Cherry (shown), and in Walnut, as well as a blonde Maple version of which I have one or two of each available in either size.
In any case, webmaster Steve will be creating a new page just for the framed photographs - and I'll be updating the current pictures to show exactly what I have in stock and ready to be shipped, and this will be happening within the next few days.
I also have a 4-image commemorative montage of my Project Rice photography from 2006/2007 & another from 2003 thru 2005 that will be offered as a standard purchase, in any frame.
I'll also post tomorrow my personal selection of about 20 images available for standard purchase, so supporters can choose exactly which images they'd like to order.
Thanks for reading today, and for supporting Project Rice.
PJAMES
