6:55 AM Saturday, Nov 7 in Tacloban City

Sent off the wifey at the airport this morning and on my way back, I decided to go pass by Brgy San Jose at the area by the bay.

Snapped a few too at the Sagkahan boulevard.

My photos’ exif info say the first shot was taken at 6:55AM Saturday, November 7.

6:55 AM Sat in Tacloban…
12:55 AM Sat in Cairo
1:55AM Sat in Moscow
2:55 AM Sat in Dubai
5:55 AM Sat in Bangkok
6:55 AM Sat in Hong Kong
7:55 AM Sat in Tokyo
9:55 AM Sat in Sydney

2:55 PM Fri in Tijuana, Mexico
2:55 PM Fri in Los Angeles
4:55 PM Fri in Chicago
5:55 PM Fri in Toronto & Montreal
5:55 PM Fri in New York
10:55 PM Fri London
11:55 PM Fri in Paris
12:55 PM Fri in Honolulu

Lovely day ahead!

All Saints’ Day & All Souls’ Day 2009

Here’s the scene at the Tacloban Public Cemetery on All Saints’ Day & All Souls’ Day – November 1 & 2 respectively.

From all accounts the public cemetery had been declared full and closed to new burials, and yet, each year we find new tombs sprouting all over, even on what has been considered for years as public passage ways. As such, visiting the dearly departed nowadays is not for the elderly ones, as the old pathways have been turned into obstacle courses – one has to climb over new tombs just to get through to the family graveyard.

This public cemetery’s time has come to an end. It’s full to the brim, literally overflowing. It deserves a proper finis and burial, the proper maintenance and the respect due of a sacred burial ground.

Not the kind one sees today.

View the full gallery and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p5175950

View the full gallery and slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p5175950

Scene at a remote cemetery…

Awoooooo!!!

Winners of the CCLS Leyte Landings Photo Contest

Here are the winners of the recent 65th Leyte Landings Photo Contest organized by the Camera Club of Leyte and Samar (CCLS), the Department of Tourism (DOT) Reg Ofc 8, and the Leyte Provincial Government.

Three winners were chosen under three categories, namely: War Memorabilia, Engagement Site and Uniquely Leyte.

From hundreds of entries submitted by 49 participants (a participant was allowed to submit a maximum of two entries per category), the top 10 photos per category were selected and finally the top 3 per catagery.

First prize was P10,000, 2nd was P6,000 and 3rd prize was P4,000. Each of the other 7 of the top 10 chosen got a P1,000 consolation prize.

The winning photos were exhibited Oct 16-22, 2009 at the main entrance of Robinson’s Place Tacloban.

The winners:

Category: War Memorabilia

1st Place: WWII Telephone EE-8-B by Jessica Mayo

2nd place: Fight for your Life by Lary Abria

3rd place: Rewarded Valor by Allan Arcallana

Category: Engagement Site

1st Place: The Two Towers by Oliver Norman Yee

2nd Place: A Gleam of Hope by Riann Bañez

3rd Place: Shoot Through by Paul Opiniano

Category: Uniquely Leyte

1st Place: Leyte Provincial Capitol by Jovino Cuayzon

2nd Place: Great Taste by Melchor Tagana

3rd Place: Malaguicay Falls by Erwin Lanante

The other runner-up entries were submitted by:

• Christian Vincent Alcazaren
• Richellieu Rouchelle Tuliao
• Jerome Tuazon
• Joel Opiniano
• Paul Opiniano
• Jerby Santo
• Eva Hingpis
• Mark Carlo Singh
• Janwill Pades
• Joel Manadong
• Alex Arcallana
• Ernesto Guarino

View the full gallery of 30 photos (Top 10 of 3 categories) at:

http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p580326711

View other galleries on the 65th Leyte Landing Photo Contest Exhibit held at Robinson’s Place Tacloban:

• Opening of Exhibit: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p821550383
• Pinning of Winners: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p540612337
• Awarding of Prizes (at the Bethel International School): http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p851831295

We broke the record!!!

We did it!

The Warays made history Sunday by breaking the Guinness World Records (GWR) on the largest wine tasting event.

The official figure: 7,187 participants.

Prior to Sunday’s event, the Guinness World Records wrote An Waray Party-List – Octubafest Tagay’s organizers:

“The current record for ‘Largest wine tasting event’ is:

The largest wine tasting event involved 5,095 participants at the Plaza de Toros in Aranda de Duero, Spain on September 15, 2006.“

That changed Sunday, October 18, 2009 when over 10,000 Waray-warays trekked to the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park at the Government Center in Pawing, Palo to participate in the world breaking attempt and also to raise relief aid for the victims of the recent typhoons that devastated Luzon.

After validating registration records, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) certified that 7,187 actually participated in the wine tasting event of our native coconut wine – tuba. There were at least 3,000 more who were there to witness the event.

Before the record can be officially changed, organizers have to submit to GWR all evidence – registration records, official certifications and documentary evidence to back up the formal claim.

Once done, we hope it would put the Warays on the world map!

Official photographic and video documentation was done by the calle Zaragosa Productions group.

Visit the full gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p1060428914

Registration

Donations for typhoon victims pile up

Tagay for a cause!

Preparations for the holding  of the 2nd Octubafest shift to high gear this week as organizers buckle up to accomplish two major objectives in this year’s tuba-tasting feat: that of establishing a new world record of having the most number of participants tasting wine together; and raising relief aid for typhoon victims of Ondoy and Pepeng in Luzon.

Octubafest’s “Tagay,” to be held Sunday, October 18, 2009 at the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park, aims to assemble over 7,107 participants (symbolizing the country’s number of islands) and all together taste the native wine, tuba in an attempt to break the current Guinness World Record of  5,000+ wine tasters being held by Spain.

At the same time, the event aims to raise relief aid donations – rice, canned goods, clothing, toiletries, etc. – for the thousands of victims of the recent typhoons which hit Luzon.

calle Zaragosa Productions has been commissioned to document (stills photography and video) the world record breaking attempt.

Read more >>> http://callezaragosa.com/czproductions/2009/10/13/octubafest-09-world-record-attempt-aid-for-typhoon-victims/

Update >>> Tagay! We broke the record!

Monte Cueva, Maasin, Southern Leyte

Up in the hills at Brgy Rizal, at an elevation of 172 meters above sea level overlooking Maasin City, the capital of Southern Leyte, is a small cave which was developed by its original owners into a shrine with a quaint chapel inside it.

Over the years, the Monte Cueva de la Virgen Shrine has become a site for pilgrims and devotees and has become one of Maasin’s popular tourist destinations.

It’s not for those afraid of heights nor for those with weak knees…

When I first got to the site together with a group of tourism officials about 2 years ago, I faced the prospect of a laborious climb up the hill via a zigzagging concrete stairway consisting of more than 400 steps! Having had no sleep the previous night after a long trip from Surigao, I politely declined the challenge and handed over the camera to my wife who was up to the dare to conquer the hill.

Later, upon seeing the pictures she took, I was regretful I didn’t join the climb. Next time, I told myself.

Last Friday, we were in Maasin and my mind was made up I had to make THE climb. Upon reaching the site, I saw some improvements, notably the construction of a new concrete stairway which local folks say is more difficult to climb due to the steep design. And more steps than the old stairway. So, we took to the old, but reliable stairway, zigzagging and snaking its way up beneath a cool canopy of trees.

We were soon amply rewarded…

Climb up via the old route of zigzagging stairway of more than 300 steps…

Inside the cave at the top of the hill…

The view from atop the hill, 172 meters above sea level – Maasin City:

The new stairway… 400+ steps down…

View more photos of Maasin, Southern Leyte:

Gallery: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p121823491

Slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p121823491/slideshow

Good morning, Tacloban!

I am a night person.

Been that way since way back college, and during our band’s days when playing the last set, say, at Holiday Inn was from 12:30AM-1:30AM and after having the usual nightcap meant getting to bed at 3AM at the earliest. Driving from Roxas Blvd to Cubao, QC and home in Makati. Every night for months; nay, years!

So when the wifey says she was taking the early morning flight from Manila and could I please meet her at the airport? No probs. It was a no brainer, not that it helped the fact that I also had to meet my sister who was arriving with her son from Cebu the same day at 6:30 in the morning.

So even if I have to sleep at past 1AM, I had to be up by 6AM. Geez! But, hey, if one has to be up by such an unholy hour, why not just wake up earlier and catch the sunrise for a change? Ok. Deal.

So at past 1:30AM, I reset my alarm from 6AM to 5 AM to be able to catch the sunrise.

I got in just in time!

Shots taken starting at 5:34AM, today October 04, 2009 at the Rotary Center, Astrodome compound, Cancabato Bay, Sagkahan District.

Good morning, Tacloban!!!

View slideshow: http://gerryruiz.callezaragosa.com/p789729546/slideshow