November 2008 Archives

I've been offline all week long, as I packed a bag & drove south to North Carolina to see my sister, her boys & MSG Bill for the Thanksgiving week.

I haven't seen them all since January last year, and being all alone in Nov/Dec is not healthy for me, so I've come down here and it's been so good for us all to be back together.

I've been getting some work done, but only a little - I've been spending almost all my time with my nephews (talking, hanging out, crusing out to the stores) and I've missed them so much, as I've missed my sister.

I'm trying to finish prepping for the trip to Manila, as I leave on Dec.3rd - just a few days away, and there's so much last minute stuff to get done.

I also just heard from Big Kev who returned yesterday from Manila, and gave me a short update on how everyone's doing there, and I'll post it shortly.

Good Sunday morning to you all,
PJAMES

I remembered that in my conversation last week with Leonard in Texas who'd bought 3 of Marylou's paintings, that I was telling him that I really don't pick up the camera much when I'm in the USA, and that made me think "what am I shooting when I'm not in the Philippines...?"

So went back through some files and found a nice sunflower shot in New York City a while back at a street side deli, just to give people an example of my 'non-people' street shooting, although this flower shot was indeed a 'street shot' as I walked by the NYC deli.

























Kevin's also sent me an example of a beautiful scenic hay wagon image of his from the Western USA, and although this was an impromptu post, I found both our images within seconds of looking for a good example from both of us, of what we're shooting when we're not shooting in Philippines.




















Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

My friend Kevin Weir has been emailing me trying to help resolve some travel issues for my impending trip - namely higher airfares, and finding a sponsor for a few hotel nights.

He's been looking for sub $1,000USD airfares online, and finding links online for unusually low fares ($500/$600USD) and those fares are of course, not available (if they were available, it may have been 3 or 4 seats on a flight, etc)

One of those links DID work, in finding a 'too good to be true' airfare for $210 ($546 with tax & tip as I say) leaving from Los Angeles USA and I just laughed, as I found it was for a 7 day stay (seven DAYS) and not for the months I'm actually there, but it was still nice to actually be able to locate a 'real deal', even though it's not something I can use.

This has been stressing me out big time, so I'm trying my best to smile, laugh and carry on.....as I have yet to find any sponsorship for the few hotel nights required for Manila & Cebu City, and without this I won't be able to aid, shoot or even see any of the Families there.

Kev's arriving in Manila on Nov.26th - the same day I was initially looking to depart the USA and work this project together with him.

Big Kev has sent me some images from his most recent trip to Philippines, where he made the time to fly down to Cebu after Manila to see Lisa & LetLet's Family, and he included a shot of a blind begging woman, taken in Colon, Cebu City.

FUJIFILM, FinePix S3Pro: 1/1000s f/4 at 95.0mm iso200



























I was floored, and instantly recognized this blind woman as the same women I photographed in the same place, 4 years ago in April 2004, when I was in a taxi that had stopped at a light and saw her approach my car, felt for the window with her hands, as I carefully lowered the window to put some coins in her hands before the car pulled away.

Cebu Philippines, April 2004: Olympus E-10






























I'll get with Kev as to the exact place her saw her last, because I want to see her again and learn her name.

There's no way for her to see her photographs, but I think she'd appreciate a meal if I brought her one, and I do remember her having a male attendant or friend with her when I saw her in 2004, but I wasn't there long enough to see if either of them spoke English, but I adore meeting & talking with those I photograph - and I want to try my best to find her again as soon as I arrive in Cebu City.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

My friend Leonard in Texas has bought 3 of Manila artist Marylou's paintings that she gave to me to sell here on her behalf, and last night I got an unexpected phone call from him, and it was so good to talk with him; we chatted for well over an hour until my phone battery began beeping...

He must have been reading my mind, as I'd just heard from Marylou (read about her & her paintings in previous posts here) night before last - she has a new cell number and she messaged my phone to ask when I'd arrive in Manila (she knows I usually arrive at the end of November), and she told me she's WORKING (YES!!!!) at a small art dealer's kiosk in Metro Manila, and she was ecstatic at learning her paintings sold here on the website.

Leonard & I talked about Marylou and her poor Family, and he read her personality to the letter when he saw the images I've taken of her - I told Leonard I'm always fascinated when people email me about what they see in my images, and how my photography communicates to them.

We talked about last year when my Father was alive and I was caring for him after his surgery, we talked about Rosa & Edison's Family and how their lives have taken a turn for the worse since Rosa's biological Mother came back into their lives last year (she keeps them out on the streets in Manila 9pm-5am each night 'selling' roses [read: begging money] from Foreigners) and the dangers that it creates for a soon to be 14 year old girl on the street, etc.

We talked about Papa David & Mama Helen's Family in Santa Fe, and the struggles they face as they try to re-build  their squatters shack that was 100 percent leveled from the June 2008 Typhoon Fengsheng.

We talked about Lisa & LetLet's Family in Cebu, and how Kevin Weir & I came to meet, and how Kevin has become an important part of helping the Families in Manila and Cebu, and how Lisa/LetLet's Family has really taken to him since I brought him there, etc.

We also talked about how writing here is a very slow process for me - I'm not a 'writer' and can write with syntax & grammar, but it just takes me a long time to write, start to finish, but that the photography and the editing has always come quickly for me; I'll always be a visually creative person but the act of writing is always a slow and involved process for me, although I'm trying to get better at it.

Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

Kev & the kids right before we all left for the Island Jan. 28, 2008, on their Kevin-Sponsored Holiday (images & posts below)

From Left: (Mole`, the kids friend) LetLet & Lisa on Kev's lap, Marlon (he's unable to speak) MayAnne & JunJun.

Marlon's a street child and always joins us for his meals when we're there, but we've never been able to locate his Family, if he has Family.
...he's also partially deaf, but Kevin & I are always able to communicate with him on a basic level, asking him things and having him nod back 'yes or no' (he can understand some basic English)

Lisa, LetLet, MayAnne & JunJun are all sisters/brothers, and Kev's just messaged me he'll most likely be back in Cebu around Christmas time.

PJAMES

Cebu Philippines: Olympus E-1, Olympus Zuiko 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Digital: 1/800s f/6.3 at 14.0mm iso100

I just love this image of Lisa & LetLet's brother JunJun, from when Kevin brought the kids up to Santa Fe for their Holiday, and this is such a calming photograph for me - that day when the kids were free just to run on the beach and not have to worry about city traffic or pollution, etc.

There are more images from their Kevin-Sponsored trips in the posts below, and Kev and I had taken the gang down to the beach just before sunset, and when you find a quiet, uncrowded and safe place to let everyone unwind amongst the natural beauty of the surrounding area, it's just a Godsend.

Kev just messaged me last night on yahoo about missing the kids:

KEVIN WEIR (11/5/2008 10:59:27 PM): nice of them... you know i was looking at the archives on the pr site...seeing the kids i know so well now when they were so small.. its funny to me...all so cute i really miss them





























Thanks for reading today,
PJAMES

I'm happy to report the FISH acrylic painting (in the posts below) by Marylou has been sold to my friend and travel agent guru RoseMarie from EZ Travel, who just found my website last week, and has since taken an active interest in my photography and activities with these people & Families in Manila & Cebu.

THANK YOU RoseMarie, and I'll update you as soon as soon as I see Marylou in Manila within the next few weeks, God willing.

PJAMES

nasdaq.com is reporting on a horrible tragedy that has just occurred in Philippines, where a Ferry Boat has capsized from high seas & wind in Masbate in central Philippines, killing at least 39 people.

The search is on for additional survivors, and our thoughts and prayers are with all of these Families.
PJAMES

read the story here