November 2007 Archives
© AFP
Just as I got out of Manila yesterday, the BBC & local TV news was locked on the live coverage of the Military Personnel (on trial for the 2003 coup attempt) escaping from their courthouse yesterday, and taking over a prominent Manila hotel and barricading themselves inside.
1,500 Troops including the Philippine Marines then responded by storming the hotel in APC's with tons of heavily armed troops firing tear gas into the hotel, to re-capture them.
from BBC News: hotel stormed, in pictures
Since then a 12 midnight to 5am curfew is now in effect - that's what's happening here now.
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/250s f/5.6 at 14.0mm iso200
Spent the entire afternoon at Divisoria Market shopping for the Families, aside from buying rice. (Jvena pictured above, in yellow - Arnel above her in the red shirt; you can also see Anna's face behind Arnel)
...HUGE crowds at the street market, absolutely congested shoulder to shoulder on the streets, so you're constantly banging into people while Jeeps and all sorts of vehicles attempt to actually DRIVE down the same streets pictured above (truly insane) - all the while I'm trying to look out for the personal security of my Entourage, but that's where the deals are, and that's where I need to shop, considering the number of people I'm buying for.
Everyone got clothes they needed, from the older girls down to the babies (early Christmas presents) dresses, shirts & shorts, to a baby's covered sleeper made from mosquito proof fabric.
THANK YOU TO MY FRIENDS AND READERS WHO ALLOW ME TO DO THIS FOR THESE FAMILIES!
I took Anna & her neighbor Jvena with me, and Arnel was the adult in-charge, and I have thanked him for a job well done, as he helped me make a list of all the Family members and their sizes, etc. as well as being the one who actually held the cash & paid the vendors for all the purchases.
I walked slightly behind our group and sent them out ahead of me, so I remain unseen by the vendors at least, and I do it this way to avoid the automatic price increases if I were to walk into the vendors stall to buy the clothes - they automatically think I'm "their BANK" if they see the foreigner come in to buy.
It's also better if I'm the one who takes charge of their security this way, as I can see who's got eyes on them, and who seems to be approaching them from behind, etc.
...this street market in particular is noted for pick pockets, thefts & snatching, as well as more serious crime - so I literally have my eyes 360 around me to watch my own back, especially since I'm carrying the Olympus (hand held & very securely wrapped several times around my left arm with the thick neoprene OpTech camera strap)
Anna's Family: Anna, Melvin, Rowena, ChrisMae, Mama Tess, Papa, Arnel, Mama Myrna (pregnant w/babyJames) Myrna's husband, daughter Jvena, along with Auntie Janice, Auntie Grace.
Rosa's Family: Rosa & Edison, brother Francisco, sisters Zira & Ren, Auntie Josie, numerous cousins in Pasay City.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Rosa, photographed Nov.26, 2007 outside the abandoned building she used to stay in, at 3:56pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200
She's 13 now; just had her birthday - when I first saw her I didn't recognize her with short hair (she told me her biological Mother cut it)
Just visiting her new squatters place with Auntie Josie via taxi cab was a chore, as the taxi was surrounded as soon as it pulled next to the walled squatters area (no foreigners go there, obviously)
I absolutely did not want to cause a commotion and draw any more attention to myself if it could be helped, so I was shepherded inside by Family, cousins & neighbors - and I quickly found her doorway, got a chair & sat down out of the sightline of mostly everyone outside; they knew I was there and a small crowd did come over, but I laid low while I talked to Rosa & Auntie Josie.
I hate the fact that she has to stay here now - it's foul, dirty, smells terrible, etc. but they have no other place to go now, and all 6 people sleep on the floor of the 6'x9' area, the floor of which is terribly tilted to one side, and its easy to slip & fall.
The old abandoned building she just moved out of seems like a 4-star condo compared to this place.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso1600
Edison & Rosa illuminated by a single bare lightbulb in their place, after we got back from the rice store where I got them 25kg. to get them through the next 2 weeks.
My friend from Australia, Peter M. was in Manila a few days ago, and took me to a nice dinner here along with his wife.
Peter has supported Mama Helen's & LittleFish's Family this past year with food, and I had a wonderful time talking with both of them; they brought me to a small Japanese restaurant and treated me to a very nice evening, and I want to say a big Thank You to them both.
You're a good friend Peter,
PJAMES
At 12:30pm local time here while I was getting ready to go to the net cafe, I thought my chair in my room had bad feet; it tilted to one side, then back to the other side while I was editing in Photoshop.
10 seconds later the chair began to shake slowly...then the floor was shaking, then the whole room.
'earthquake' was the only word that lit up my brain, and I grabbed the notebook, Passport hard drives, the camera & I BOLTED down the stairs and ran outside.
This was my first earthquake today - all seems well; no buildings fell down.
PJAMES
In Manila Philippines:
Sick, yes (I came down with a sore throat, body aches & a low grade fever last night) and it's 2:17am here in Manila - of all the internet cafes in town, this is the only one who would allow me to bring in my notebook, so it took me some time to find.
I tried walking down to Mercury Drug Store for an anti biotic, but found them closed past 10pm, so I'll get some medicine tomorrow - all else equal, I've been in a very positive mood.
Yesterday I went to Pasay City & found Rosa's squatters shack, I was feeling ill within an hour of arriving back at my place - that squatters area is one of the foulest places I've recently seen (human sewage everywhere, dirt & disease, etc) must be virus' everywhere and no wonder Philippine children get fevers so often.
Got her Family 25kg of good rice, and one of the males from her Family who accompanied me (it's a very rough area) ordered me a tricycle/pedicab instead of me walking back to the shack, "for my safety".
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/60s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso800
Rosa & Family, photographed inside their 6'x9' Pasay City quatters residence, where 6 Family members sleep on the floor; not much bigger than a closet.
Sick figuratively, as I was hearing rumors of Rosa & Edison being out out to work all night long by their biological Mother, who has custody of them now - along with Auntie Josie (split from Tito Willie, hence the move to the Pasay City squatters area)
I just found Rosa "selling" ('controled begging' I call it) flowers to foreign men in front of a notorious nightclub/girlie bar & her able-bodied-yet-does-not-work 35 yr. old Mother 'supervising' close by.
Needless to say I've been upset over this, and have very respectfully communicated this to her biological Mother, who I met for the first time 2 days ago.
An hour ago I saw Rosa and brought her over to the coffee shop by the nightclub and got her dinner - I then put P100 in her hands & told her to go home and sleep; she was finished 'selling' for the night.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso800
Before I start posting new content, I want to publically thank Michael Ferenci.
My friend Michael is the sole reason I'm able to be here on the ground in a safe place here in Manila and in Cebu City next week, shooting/creating content and getting the Families featured here some very much needed necessities.
Michael, my photography from Manila & Cebu City for 2007/2008 is dedicated to you.
PJAMES
...currently at gate 23 Cathay Pacific connecting to Manila, and we board in 5 minutes.
Absolutely a wonderful flight from New York, smooth sailing all the way.
...will update from Manila as soon as I can.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
...onboard the Airbus A340-600 ultra long haul; a very smooth flight for passengers; I think my empty-spare $30 small wheeler had it rough though- in HK's duty-free there are so many upscale shops, even the Frank Muller watch aficionados get some display eye candy.
Fun is fun, until your luggage gets destroyed:
...more updates coming...thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/6.3 at 54.0mm iso200
Last post from the USA, as I leave for Philippines 2007/2008 in the morning - I'm trying to finish up, pack, run last minute errands, etc.
I'll try to be online again late Wednesday evening from Hong Kong, during the stopover from HK to MNL.
Advance Happy Thanksgiving to all my USA friends & Family - I'll be posting content from Manila as soon as I get the mobile office set up there. (thanks exclusively to Michael Ferenci for that)
PJAMES
600 miles in 12 hours one way, with a few stops along the way; we left at 4am and rolled into South Carolina to my sister's new house where he'll stay the winter while I'm in Philippines, as she and her sons came out for a very emotional welcome...
It was actually a nice ride down, considering I got zero sleep the night before, and was planning to stop if I needed to take a power-nap, but I made it all the way and we arrived before the sun was setting.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
What a beautiful day it was in South Carolina - flawless blue skies & 75 degrees
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/800s f/5.6 at 14.0mm iso100
Good Sunday morning to you all,
PJAMES
April 23, 2007: Manila Philippines - Anna (Rosa's best friend) draws on an old building poster at 5:36pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
The kids there on Rosa's street don't have much in the way of games, toys or passtimes - and the only alternatives seem to be going outside and improvising with what they can, when they have free time.
Since Anna does seem to enjoy drawing, I'm going to Robinson's Mall after I arrive, to get her some coloring books & markers, or maybe even a painting set - she seems to enjoy being creative, and might turn out to be a great artist.
(she was drawing braces on the face of the woman on the poster, and later showed me another wall portrait she had 'decorated' and it was very good artwork!)
I leave with my Father tomorrow morning at 4am for the 12hr. drive south to my sister's - I'll be offline until I get back sometime on Friday, to prepare for Philippines.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
CNN has said AP is reporting just a few minutes ago, an explosion has occurred at the Philippine House of Representatives, in Quezon City.
CNN breaking news here
GMA News.TV in Philippines is updating details here
"...(Updated 9:15 p.m.) A loud explosion occurred at the south wing lobby of the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City, radio dzBB reported about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday. The report said at least one died and several others were hurt in the incident, including at least two House lawmakers."
Jim Clancey is reporting on CNN's International Hour TV broadcast (from Hong Kong/12 midnight local time) that 2 people are dead from the blast, and he interviewed via phone a PNP/Philippine National Police Chief who said it seemed to be an IED that they believe targeted a Philippine Congressman who had also been targeted in the past.
Happy Veterans Day, to my Father (pictured on the RIGHT at Pearl Harbor in January 1945) and to all Veterans.
My Dad was a US Navy Signalman during WW2, and did tell me last year that this picture was taken by Joe Rosenthal, who later became world famous for shooting the familiar Iwo Jima photograph of the five Marines and one Navy corpsman raising the Flag on that Pacific Island, just 10 days earlier.
Dad stated that Rosenthall identified himself that day in Hawaii (apparantly Rosenthall accompanied Iwo Jima soldiers back to Hawaii for a rest) and stated 'hey, you're the guys who raised the flag...' and took one picture of my Father & his friend Stan (on the left).
PJAMES
"Citizens of nowhere": A very profound article online, that also references Filipino children and others who end up 'stateless' and all but forgotten.
the full story is here at Int'l Herald Tribune
reported by Seth Adams: April 1, 2007 - photograph © Greg Constantine for IHT
The powerful image above illustrates a man blinded after being beaten during forced labor.
"...Many of these stateless people are among the world's poorest; all are the most disenfranchised. Without citizenship, they often have no right to schooling, health care or property ownership.
...They also include tens of thousands of Filipino and Indonesian children in the Malaysian state of Sabah, victims of discriminatory laws that, in effect, deny them birth certificates and often separate them from their families."
I often wonder just who some of these people are in Metro Manila, who seem to be the worst off, scattered on the streets.
November 21, 2006: Manila Philippines - 5:47am
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso800
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
As reported on biofs.com this month:
Olympus UK gives an E3 to a group of British photographers for field testing on an outdoor photo safari weekend in Derbyshire, UK: © biofs.com
John Foster reports on the website:
"A weekend photo safari was organized for Olympus users some time before the E-3 was formally announced. It struck the organizer, Brian Mosley, that it would be a wonderful opportunity for Olympus to glean 'authentic' user opinion by giving the group access to an E-3 for true 'field' testing. Olympus agreed. The company also agreed to allow publishing of the results from the weekend, the opinion of the camera and some of the results on a completely independent website, rather than any Olympus sponsored sites."
"As to the weather, it ranged from overcast in the woods, to drizzle and overcast at Hathersage... to gale force fine rain on Mam Tor, to glorious dramatic skies and sunshine on Carhead Rocks and Higger Tor - the E-3 sailed through all conditions, producing outstanding results throughout."
B&H photo/video in New York reports availability this month, at $1,699.95USD
Good Sunday evening to you all,
PJAMES
With so many people & friends out of work in Philippines, so many not having a safe place to live, so many Families simply trying to keep their Family Unit together, I came across an article entitled:
"Peace Comes With Economic Development and Justice..." © arab news
And although it specifically deals with the peace process in southern Mindanao, I saw the following quote as especially important:
"...peace will not become a reality unless the process is accompanied by economic and infrastructure development, reconstruction, correction of injustice, and the proper settlement of the displaced population."
read the entire article here
April 22, 2007: Manila Philippines - Rosa & Anna storing their shared bicycle at their $20 per month shelter; 3:43pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/3.5 at 14.0mm iso100
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Of all the time I've spent in Philippines, I've always thought that no matter how many people - how many of my friends are in need, poor, looking for work, dealing with poverty, etc. - that I was always attracted to the sunsets at the end of the day, and everything seemed to calm down a bit; there was a bit more peace & quiet.
...and some friends in need seemed to realize the promise of a new day coming, and focused on that at the end of the day, with a smile.
Maybe that's why I've been so attracted this past year to shooting as many sunsets as practical; I'd like to share one of my favorites (and I have many) from April 13, 2007 at 6:04pm.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
PJAMES
From Manila: "11M Filipinos among 1B living on less than $1/day"
© Inquirer.net.com
the story here on Inquirer.net from Manila
Quoted excerpts from the article:
"Francisco Inorme, 78, can be considered one of the world’s most deprived....He makes a living by mending shoes in a stall beside the Barangay UP Campus clinic in Diliman, Quezon City.
"...Inorme, who charges P40 per pair of shoes, says on good days he earns P200 a day. But dividing this daily income equally among himself, his wife and his wife’s parents gives him a share of a meager P50 a day. “And these are on good days,” says Inorme."
That story reminded me of a day I went to eat at a cheap local eatery on Bantayan - I ordered a small meal of ground pork & rice for P20, and sat down at my table where a frail old man was trying to eat his noodle soup, and had spilled it all on the table...he was very weak and had barely taken a spoonfull; spilled the rest, and just sat there as if he were in a daze.
I looked at the owner and quietly said "please bring him another bowl of his soup, on my bill..."
The owner looked at me kind of strange; I just nodded my head with a smile and motioned for her to bring it over, which she did.
The old man didn't speak a word as she put another bowl of his soup in front of him - he didn't even look at me.
...he just took his spoon & slowly began to eat again.
I paid for our meals and left quickly; the server was giggling a bit to the other workers there, and that made me uncomfortable that it might turn into a conversation topic - maybe because they saw me take a quick phone cam image.
But he was a sweet old man and I just wanted him to have his soup back.
April 7, 2007: Bantayan Island, Philippines
It's not the image of the man in the news link above, but the man above at my table appeared very weak, and looked very poor, as many elderly people do who have to exist on $1 or so a day.
Food for Thought.
PJAMES
April 23, 2007: Manila Philippines - Rodelyn sits with Anna outside Rosa & Auntie Josie's Shelter at 5:02pm.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
...After I'd asked Roddy if she was ok, I asked why she ran away after Auntie Josie took her in, and she just decided not to speak much (she speaks very, very good English).
I tried to explain to her that people care about her, want her to have a safe place to live, and that she should respect Rosa's auntie for making the sacrifice to take her into their home, for feeding her, etc. - and to all this, she slowly nodded her head 'yes.
I turned to Auntie Josie and told her Roddy might have been rebelling to to the 'discipline' of actually being in a Family - getting up at a certain hour, eating certain foods, washing clothes & bathing, doing some chores, having to respect others who are older then herself, having to get to bed at a certain hour, etc.
My thoughts were that Roddy's discipline was the street - she slept where she could, she came & went where she pleased, did what she needed to do on her own schedule, and didn't have to answer to anyone, etc.
In the minute it took for me to say that to Auntie Josie, I turned around again and found Roddy had disappeared - she ran away again and this is one of the last images I have of her.
I don't know if there are any adults where Roddy is staying; I don't know who's caring for her - if there is someone caring for her.
I'll try & find out more when I get to Manila - keep Roddy in your prayers that she's able to stay safe on the street.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
Taking a break after editing in Photoshop most of the day today, I found a few Philippine news stories worth reading, especially the beautiful stories on the Good Samaritans & their acts of kindness, at mysinchew.com
the Good Samaritans stories
AP is reporting a Munity on the high seas:
MANILA, PHILIPPINES: Nine Filipino crewmen seized control of a fishing vessel from their Taiwanese captain near the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius in a mutiny over exhausting labor and paltry meals, officials and the crew leader said Tuesday (6 Nov).
The Filipino MUNITY article
NEWS OF THE WIERD: And of course, the woman who hasn't taken a bath in 30 YEARS
woman in Singapore goes 30 yrs without a bath!
I needed a good laugh today.
PJAMES
I'm leaving in 2 weeks for the Philippines and I've been checking the country's weather SAT images - seems now is the time for more Tropical Storms & Typhoons; nothing's a cakewalk there.
24 Hour Public Weather Broadcast: Philippines
At 2 p.m. Monday, Tropical Storm "KABAYAN" was estimated based on satellite and surface data at 130 km West of Laoag City (18.0°N, 119.2°E) with maximum sustained winds of 105 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 135 kph. It is forecast to move West Northwest at 15 kph. Meanwhile, a Shallow Low Pressure Area (SLPA) was estimated at 570 kms East of Northern Mindanao(10.0°N, 131.0°E).
more...
The provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra will have stormy weather with rough to very rough seas. The rest of Northern Luzon will experience rains and occasional gusty winds with rough seas while Eastern Mindanao and Central Luzon will be cloudy with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms. The rest of the country will have mostly cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.
Moderate to strong winds blowing from the South and Southeast will prevail over Central Luzon and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to occasionally rough. Elsewhere, winds will be light to moderate blowing from the West and Southwest with slight to moderate seas.
Maximum Temperature 11:00 a.m. 28.8°C (83.84°F) - Relative Humidity 93% - Minimum Temperature 25.8°C (78.44°F)
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
April 23, 2007: Roddy photographed at 5:01pm in Manila Philippines
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/125s f/63.1 at 28.0mm iso400
While I had returned to Manila and went to check on Rosa & Edison's Family, I was sitting outside having a serious conversation with Rosa's Auntie Josie - Rosa & Edison were playing right next to us, it was a beautiful afternoon outside on the streets, and business was good for the Family vending candy & cigarettes (small monies that pay for the jeep transport each school day for the kids).
That's when Rodelyn suddenly shouted from accross the street and came running over, and it was the first time I'd seen her since February 2007 when I returned to Manila to shoot & see the Families again - Auntie Josie was clearly disturbed seeing Roddy suddenly appear, as she explained to me that she had taken Roddy in off the streets and given her meals and a safe place to sleep, etc. but after a time Roddy just ran away without explaination, and this was why Josie was so distressed.
I'm clearly not a social worker; I'm just a photographer...but after asking her if she was ok, I did ask her to explain to Auntie Josie why she just disappeared without notice.
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
April 23, 2007 Manila Philippines: Roddy photographed outside Rosa's Family shelter - 5:01pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/80s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
Roddy's hair has grown out, and she's starting to look different now...I love these new images of her where she's just happy & playful, because I know how dangerous it is for her to be sleeping on the streets.
Roddy's a homeless child, sleeping on the street who was taken in by Rosa's Auntie Josie earlier this year, and later ran away.
...she re-appeared on the street when I came back to Manila to check on Rosa's Family; literally bolting across the street to give me a hug.
She disappeared again a few minutes after these images were taken, and I did not see her again in April.
...I'll try to find her Family and get her some necessities later this month when I arrive in Manila - I know she very much needs some clothes.
For those not familiar with her story, please see her posts & images from the March 2007 page, here:
Roddy's images & stories from pRice: March 2007
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400
Good Sunday afternoon to you all,
PJAMES
AP, through Yahoo News Singapore is reporting Tropical Storm Peipah is expected to strengthen into a typhoon before making landfall along the northern coast of Luzon in the Philippines early Monday afternoon.
read the latest news on this in the weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/200s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200
PJAMES
December 1, 2005: Rosa & MayAnne share snacks from the 7-11 at the shelter.
Aunt Josie who cares for Rosa kept the shelter as comfortable as possible considering the circumstances (wood table, plastic chairs, etc.) and they did have some electricity for a small 12" b&w TV, but recently went to candles for light to conserve the little money they had.
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/8s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso1600
Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES
