October 2008 Archives

Open Notice to Michael Ferrenci & Leonard in Texas (they've bought her paintings in the past)

Just wanted to let everyone know, including Michael & Leonard - that I have one last painting from Marylou in Manila that she wishes me to sell for her: the "Fish" acrylic on bristol board & wood, photographed below.

I met with Marylou in Manila last November '07 and paid her for the paintings that Michael & Leonard bought, and she was beside herself with delight that her paintings sold.

There are also a few I sent out that I believe Leonard has on consignment - Leonard, please email me and give me an update if you can on this.

First $50USD + $9.95USD shipping/insurance via PayPal from any of my readers takes it, and I very much need to put this last $50 bill into Marylou's hands as soon as I arrive in Manila (I'm trying to arrange some type of Hotel Sponsor for a shorter stay in Manila & Cebu City for 3 days each city, so that I'm able to get to Marylou & the other Families - if anyone is able to participate PLEASE contact me as soon as possible)

You can get to PayPal from the donate button on this page.

Details on this painting are below.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Besides my friend Michael Ferrenci, I have to thank Steve Griffith and Kevin Weir for their personal support, guidance and encouragement, and between Michael, Steven & Kev my trips wouldn't have been possible or productive, and this website simply would not exist.



Steve Griffith found me online 2 years ago and took an interest in my photography and personal experiences with the poor I know in Philippines, and being generous by nature, he asked me what I needed to take what I was doing to the next level.

I thought for a moment and answered "I think I need a website..."

I'm not a web designer nor am I a programmer, and Steve's a programmer so we hit it off on a good note in late 2005/early 2006 when he decided to donate this site, the web host and his design/programming skills to get this website up and running, as well as supplying all technical support.

Although I host the site now, Steve is still my go-to person when I need technical programming for the site while in the USA and/or Philippines, or when I just need to rant (he's a very patient person, and equally compassionate when it comes to the poor in Philippines, even though he's never traveled there)

Steven's the guy who always gives of himself and has never asked for anything in return (if he ever did, I would never be able to afford or repay him!)

I can't thank him enough; it's because of him I have this journal.

I can get Steven anytime on the phone or internet messenger (he's always paid for the long distance calls, as well as blog and site building books he's bought & shipped to me) and although I've never met Steven in person, he's Family to me.

Thank you brother.



Big Kev "Don't Ask Me To Travel Light" Weir (I've never seen another photographer who's not on an official assignment carry more crap/gear/luggage & bags while traveling internationally) became instant friends in 2005 when we met on a a Cebu bus bound for the province of Negros - he turned me onto an inexpensive and secure hotel in Negros, and we've been best friends since.

We share the same sense of humor, adventure, love of photography and an affection for those less fortunate, and when Kev found out what I was doing with my photography and trying to feed the poor I knew in Philippines, he didn't hesitate for a second; he just strode his 6'5" frame right into the picture and immediately began doing the same (he'd already been street shooting with the poor he knew there before we'd met, as well as buying food & incidentals for the poor kids in his neighborhood in Negros, so we were on exactly the same page from the beginning)

Since Kevin knew he had WAY more resources then I did, and when he realized what I was trying to do on very little donated money (which had all but stopped coming in) he didn't hesitate for a second in stepping in and opening his wallet - asking me to take him to the Families in Manila, Cebu & Santa Fe so he could participate, and good things were happening again.

I did just that, and Kevin was the sole reason from February 2008 onward that the children & Families featured here on the website had the Rice for their meals, additional food to eat and even some new clothes to wear.

With the rough year my own Family has had, Kev just recently offered to Sponsor my domestic flight from Manila to Cebu (after arrival) and from Cebu back to Manila when it's time to leave, because he knew it was a hardship for me to afford it.

I write more and post images about Kev only because he's the only one I've actually met and spent time with, amongst my other ProjectRice Family members Steve Griffith and Michael Ferrenci.

Thank you brother, you're Family too.

PJAMES

It's time to begin to thank a few people here, for what they've done for me on my past trip to Philippines.

First and foremost, I want to thank Michael Ferrenci who actually made the Manila & Cebu City part of the trip possible, by sponsoring my operational and on-the-ground support costs (hotel & domestic flight Manila to Cebu) involved with my short stays in those cities so I could shoot and have the time I needed to spend with the Families featured here.

If it were not for Michael's kindness and generosity, I actually wouldn't have been able to have a hotel room in Manila and Cebu to stay in upon arrival - and I was actually looking at flying into Manila from the USA on a 22hr flight, landing in Manila's International Airport around 12 midnight, and instead of checking into a regular small hotel I'd head directly over to Manila's Domestic Terminal which opens at before 5am so I could hop a flight to Cebu City on the first flight of the day, all on no sleep - only to have to repeat it again after arriving at Cebu's domestic airport.

That was a very crazy idea, not to mention impractical - but it couldn't be helped, as I simply did not have a physical budget for even 1 night in Manila or Cebu, and it was becoming apparent to me that I might not get to see any of the Families, much less do any shooting there - and I raise awareness to the plight of the poor and working poor I know in Philippines solely through my photography.

I thought about trying to stay at one of the cheapest places ($13USD per night) I knew of, close to where the Families are, but these flop houses have zero security and can be a bit dangerous to stay in,  and since I'm traveling with my mobile office (notebook, monitor, etc) good physical security at any hotel is an absolute must, and I could not afford to gamble with the security of my gear in a place like that, so the flop house was not an option, and I couldn't afford anything else.
 
As soon as Michael heard my concerns while the trip was in the planning stages, he stepped right up and told me that he understood what I was doing with my photography and food for the families, and that he would sponsor those expenses so I didn't have to physically skip all of Manila and all of Cebu, and Michael was my miracle last year, which was a very rough year for my own Family.

Only then was I able to stay in a standard $30 per night hotel for the few days in Manila & Cebu; both hotels there are very safe and have very good security for guests AND any gear they travel with, which is what's most important to me (I lose my gear to theft, then I lose my photographic content creation tools)

I have never met Michael before; he found me online and was a fan of my work and has always been most encouraging and positive about what I try to do, and what blew me away is that he was willing and able to financially take care of a few expenses for me when I couldn't, which made all of my ProjectRice photography and local Family issues happen in Manila and Cebu.

With Love & Appreciation I Thank You Brother...
PJAMES

Images from April, when Kevin Weir and I brought the kids to Santa Fe for their first trip outside their city - all courtesy of Kevin's generosity.

Lisa, LetLet, their older brothers & sister had never before been to a real beach, and on April 10 we took the kids out for the sunset, and both Kev & I had our cameras as the kids roamed around completely captivated with being on a real beach for the first time, seeing the beautiful sunset, and just being able to play outside the noisy, congested & dangerous streets of their neighborhood in Cebu City.

The sun had gone down and the light was fading away fast, but I managed to get some impossible shots with next to no light, of Kev taking the time to roam with the kids looking for shellfish and creatures in the low tide pools.

Santa Fe, Philippines: Kevin with his camera & the kids photographed at 6:06pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/20s f/3.5 at 54.0mm iso400
























Kev & I were both Mr. Mom and Big brother to them at the same time all that week, but it was only possible because of Kevin's generosity in both his time and money.

The kids were fascinated with what Kevin was teaching them about tide pool marine life, as he was catching smaller creatures in a bottle that Sandman (Mama Helen's son) had brought along, as I was trying my best to capture it hand-held, at 1/25th of a second, most often too slow a shutter speed to hand hold - but I got lucky.

Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/25s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso400

























Thanks Brother.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

've been working on a few new banners recently, and I've created a composite for the 'portraiture of the poor' banner using Lisa's image from early 2006, which is probably one of the most powerful portraits I've ever taken of anyone.

The eyes are truly the windows to the soul.

Lisa (search Lisa & Letlet here on the website) and her large Family are from Cebu and I've known and helped them for the past 4 years, and I've probably shot a few thousand images of her Family.

The 'Lisa Eyes' portrait is a very special image to me, and since Lisa's Family is part of the working poor in Philippines I very much wanted to use part of her portrait in the new banner, which is actually a crop from a much larger image I shot of her and a local boy who found me outside the local general merchandise store in their barangay, and so I ordered a BBQ lunch for them both while we all sat outside the store.

Lisa's image was a spur of the moment, hand-held, available light, casual street shot portrait (as all my portraits are) as she sat waiting for her lunch, and below is the 100 pct. un-sharpened crop.

Cebu, Philippines: Lisa photographed at 2:56pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/160s f/3.3 at 37.0mm iso100 (100pct. crop)




























Here's the original image in its original 4/3 aspect ratio, un-cropped:































Below is a crop of the image I used in the banner composite.

My good friend Kevin Weir was actually able to see the Family over the weekend in Cebu; he flew in for just a few days (he was already in Asia) and made it a point to travel to Lisa's house with rice and goodies for everyone there, and reports all are doing as well as can be expected, and I can't wait to see them all there, as soon as I can.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

An old man I only met one time in Cebu City - he was blind in one eye and very polite to me when I asked to take his picture.

I was with friends who had just come from the local market, and I remember sharing our small oranges we'd just bought with the old man; we asked him if he'd like some and he smiled and took a few.

Cebu City, Philippines: a gracious old gentleman photographed at 4:06pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/80s f/3.3 at 40.0mm iso800






























Thanks for reading today.
PJAMES

With auntie Josie, Rosa/Edison now gone from their former building, I don't know what the chances are of Roddy coming back to the neighborhood, but I hope she does, and that she's safe.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

One of my favorite portraits depicting the working poor of Philippines is a child from Hagnaya who was playing with a group of kids who ended up coming over to my table at Hagnaya's Pier while I was waiting for a boat.

The kids were curious about the Pelican hard side case I was wheeling, and wanted to see my gear inside, so I ended up taking the camera out and did some casual shooting.

The boy pictured joined the others at the table, and had a distinct look about him, including very bright blue eyes which is quite unusual for a Filipino.

He didn't speak, but let me shoot an informal portrait while he thought to himself a while.

I never learned his name, but most of the local kids at the Pier have Parents or Family who work long hours there, toiling in the hot sun and running the small sari sari stores that sell BBQ and soft drinks, etc.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Manila, Philippines: a Squatters Alley near my hotel, photographed at 8:36pm
Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/500s f/2.8 at 14.0mm iso200
























A view of the desolate squatters alley way down the street from my small hotel in Metro Manila - it always looks foreboding, especially at night...but I've walked it at all hours, and so has Kevin Weir when I showed him where everyone was living.

The left image from June is when they began boarding it up, after evicting those living there, and the image of Malou sitting with her daughter was taken on the top sidewalk portion (in the left image where it's boarded up), where the last board is standing against the wall.

Unless I can find out where everyone evicted is now living and sleeping, I won't get to see my homeless friends anymore, and I hope that most of them have chosen to stay close by the alleyway.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

The homeless have always known me there and now they also know Kevin and call greetings to us by name, so we've never had any issues there.