Ironwulf En Route
We’re bringing back Backpack Photography this first half on 2017. We’re going to our favorite haunts in Bontoc and Batanes while offering a new offbeat destination in Biliran. Our Backpack Photography tours are not your typical tourist trip. Our itinerary are designed with photography in mind. We’ll take you to locations on the ideal times of the day and help you get back quality images you will be happy with. Check out details and trip dates of our upcoming photo tours below.
About 2–3 hours away, north of Manila, is the province of Bataan. A place commonly known for the historic Death March, where Filipino and American soldiers stood their ground in World War II and was eventually led by the Japanese to a torturous 130km march to Capas, Tarlac. The Memorial Cross at the Shrine of Valor is a towering reminder of the war and to honor these soldiers. Osprey Packs Philippines, recently led an adventurous bunch of explorers from traditional media and travel bloggers to discover Bataan, the historic attractions and beyond. Each of us were equipped with our very own Osprey Packs for the tour. My Osprey Momentum 32, a 32 liter technical pack ideal for active traveler sporting a pocket-full design along with its two major compartments, a rain-cover tucked underneath the bag and an AirScape back panel making it easy and comfortable wearing the bag as we go out and about in Bataan. For me who was last here in 2011, it was a surprise to see the development happening in this province in the realm of tourism.
Beautiful row of pastel colored houses flank the wide up uphill street of Upper McKinley Hill road. Most of the time when I pass through this opulent neighborhood in McKinley Hill, it always feels like I’m in a different place. Where structures are elegantly adorned in Venetian Gothic architecture. A faux Venice Piazza stands at the rotunda. The pace seemed to channel the holistic vibe of the people in Venice having a focused environment where they can easily live, work, play, learn and shop. A few bloggers where in for a closer look-see of this burgeoning development from Megaworld Corporation and get a feel what its like to live in a Mediterranean-inspired neighborhood mixed with the dynamism of people of Manila.
It’s always a pleasure to be distinguished on a field one is passionate about, that’s why I’m very thankful to Globe’s TattAwards 2013 for recognizing Ironwulf En Route as one of the 5 finalist for the “Best Photo Blog or Micro Blog” category in this year’s awards. Being nominated is awesome enough really as it is also one of the fuels to keep me going along with the people who visit, read and comments on this site. Yes you guys rock! I would also like to ask for your support to vote for this site online as 10% of the scores are allotted through the vote. Not that big but could spell a difference. Voting starts today June 13 until June 20 and people can vote every hour. You can vote here.
Would also like to send shout out to my fellow travel bloggers there Gay Mitra, Marky Go (Best Travel and Food Blog) and Christian Sangoyo (Fellow Photo Bog Nominee) and fellow World Vision Volunteer Eman of OrangeTV (for Blogger Phenom of the Year).
“Aliwan” is a tagalog word which means to amuse or entertain. A term fitting for this so-called “Mother of Festivals” called Aliwan Fiesta, running annually in Manila for 10 years (since 2003) which aims to gather some of the best festivals in the country and present them in one place. An ambitious task but successfully realized by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) and Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). Maybe it’s the cheery and festive nature of Filipinos that made it successful every year.
There are a couple of Photography Talks treats for you this month of March. For our Singaporean friends, Backpack Photography will introduce the wonderful world of Batanes and talk about how it would be an ideal location for Travel Photography. Starting the end of March, Sony Singapore will have a series of Sony Digital Workshops geared to improving ones photography and to kick of the opening weekend of March 30-31, 2013 myself and co-facilitator for Backpack Photography Oggie Ramos of Lagalog.com will have a couple of sessions on “Batanes: A Session about Travel Photography“.
For at least a couple of hours, people at the streets of EDSA and Ayala Avenue got a surprised and delighted look when they saw a group of colourful and artistic jeeps roam the streets. For a while they stopped what they were doing and stare, take a picture with their mobile phones or simply admire the moving steel canvasses zooming past their sights. About 43 rehabilitated jeeps have undergone a makeover in the hands of a few creative volunteers for the first ever Jeepney Arts Festival. Reviving the Filipinos creativity and ingenuity represented by the Philippine Jeepney.
