San Miguel

Haven't drank this one in a long, long time. Aaaaahhhh, "isang malamig na San Miguel Beer!"

"Sinugba"

Had grilled fish and chicken stomach for dinner. I just couldn't resist taking photos of the food while it was grilled.

NorthShore Waves

Early this year I was nominated to be a member of the Board of Directors of the North Shore Waves Swimming Club. Photo shows the first BoD meeting at the Xavier Sports and Country Club.

Working and living far away from the base of operation of the swimming club, I am just wondering how the club is doing right now?

What are you looking at?

Lion and Cheetah Park
Harare, Zimbabwe

Billboard

I was in the town of Plumtree (a border town with Botswana) to visit our border reception center there. A few months back, the office commissioned me to take photos for our "Safe Journey" information campaign. I knew that the selected photos from that shoot will be used for the production of posters but did not realize that one photo was selected for the production of billboards. I was surprised and very delighted to see a big billboard in the border showing a photo that I took. Couldn't help myself but take a shot of the billboard -- my first billboard!


Plumtree Border Post (border between Zimbabwe and Botswana)
Matabeleland Province, Zimbabwe

Black and White

Zebras in Hwange National Park

Elephants of Hwange

The Hwange National Park is home to elephants. When going to a safari inside the park, elephants are the easiest to spot. They are almost everywhere. This is not surprising given that there is over population. To date, the total recorded population is at 60,000 when ideally, the National Park (with a total land area of 14,650 sq. kms.) maximum carrying capacity is 32,000 elephants. The over population of elephants is one of the major concerns of the park administrators. Policies and programs to find a way to bring down the population are however close to none.

Over population of elephants in the park affects the resources of the area. An elephant's average consumption of water is 200 liters of water a day and it can drink 100 liters of water at a time. Elephants, having an inefficient digestive system also continuously eats. Having an inefficient digestive system, whatever they eat goes out almost immediately. Thus, elephants are known to spend an average of 18 hours just eating.

Bahay

"Bahay" is a Filipino word that means House or Home. I was in Victoria Falls a couple of weeks ago to monitor the shelter assistance project we have there for 150 mobile and vulnerable households. Photos shows the present structure they live in. These people were evicted from places that the government deemed illegal for them to stay. They have since been provided with stands to have their houses built but due to economic hardship they can't afford to build their own house following government building standards.

While I was taking these photos, the song "bahay" kept playing in my mind. It was a song that was composed by Gary Granada. He joined the Metro Manila Pop Music Festival sometime in the late 70's and he won the grand price for this song. Ever since, the song became a favorite song of activists and NGOs especially those working for the urban poor and helping communities access their right to land and decent housing.

The lyrics of the song goes like this:

"Isang araw akoy nadalaw sa bahay tambakan. Labin-limang mag-anak ang doo'y nagsiksikan. Nagtitiis sa munting barong-barong na sira-sira. Habang doon sa isang mansion, halos walang nakatira."

"Sa init ng tabla't karton, sila doo'y nakakulong. Sa lilim ng yerong kalawang at sira-sirang gulong. Pinag tagpi-taping basurang pinatungan ng bato. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ang tawag sa ganito ay BAHAY?" 

"Sinulat ko ang nakita ng aking mga mata. Ang kanilang kalagayan ginawan ko ng kanta. Iginuhit at isinalarawan ang naramdaman at sinanguni ko sa mga taong marami ang alam."

"Isang bantog na senador ang unang nilapitan ko, at dalubhasang propesor sa malaking colegio. Ang pinagpala sa mundo, ang diaryo at ang pulpito, lahat sila'y nagkasundo na ang tawag sa ganito ay BAHAY . . . . "

". . . . Baka naman isang araw kayo doon ay maligaw, mahipo nyo at marinig, at maamoy at matanaw. Hindi ako nangungutya, kayo na rin ang magpasiya, sa palagay ninyo kaya sa mata ng Maylikha, ay BAHAY?"

Sunset over Hwange National Park

Spent a long weekend at the Hwange (used to be called Wankie) National Park. Photos taken on our way back to the lodge after an afternoon safari. 

GREASE at the REPS Theater

For the third time now, REPS theater invited me to shoot plays they produced. The first two occasions were small plays done at the smaller theater they call "Theater Upstairs." This time, I got the chance to shoot a musical in the main theater.

Harare Annual Ballroom Dancing Competition 2008

I'm slowly working on my photo journal backlog. This is one of them. 

Last year I witnessed the staging of the Harare National Ballroom Competition and this year I was fortunate enough to watch it (and shoot on the side) again. I found last years competition better organized and the venue was much better especially the lighting. I guess the economic situation of the country last year was far more better than it is this year. This years staging was simpler but had more representation from other areas in the country. The City of Bulawayo was able to field in several couples to join.

Safe Migration Photo Exhibit

As part of IOM's Safe Journey Information Campaign Program, an art competition was staged and was participated in by youths in Zimbabwe. Winning entries were exhibited in Harare (at the Harare National Art Gallery), in Bulawayo (Bulawayo National Art Gallery) and Mutare. Photos are samples of the art work done by the contestants.

This art work won 1st place in the competition.

Ewanrigg Botanical Garden

Located around 30 kms away from Harare center. Went for a walk around the garden one Saturday afternoon with friends. Judging from a brochure I saw of the garden, I would say that the garden is no longer well maintained. Its a pity considering that the garden could be a very good place for a Saturday or Sunday afternoon picnic with friends or family. The flora arrangement is not as well kept as what the photos on the brochure shows. Nevertheless, I had a good walk that afternoon. Instead of shooting landscapes, I decided to focus my attention on details.

Victoria Falls

Had the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls three weeks ago. Here is a shot of the falls taken from the Victoria Falls Bridge (Livingstone Bridge). The part of the falls seen in this photo is already part of the Zambia side. The main falls (located within the Zimbabwe side) is about 1+ kilometer in width. One side/bank of the river is in Zimbabwe while the other bank of the river is in the Zambia side.

Chiredzi Safe Zone

In the town of Chiredzi, Masvingo Province, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) operates a youth center called Safe Zone. This is one of the two youth centers that IOM operates in Zimbabwe. The second Safe Zone is located in the City of Bulawayo. The Safe Zone is a concept that provides for the youth (12-24 years old) a safe place to come together and learn from each other about the realities of irregular migration, HIV/AIDS and Gender-Based Violence and Human Trafficking.



Each center is managed by a team of young men and women headed by a Safe Zone Coordinator and ably assisted by 8-10 peer educators trained to facilitate discussions on issues about safe migration. In addition to peer messaging interventions, the Safe Zone offers various recreational and educational activities. The Safe Zone in Chiredzi has facilities for movie presentations, talk shows, sports and even art related activities. IOM is in the process of introducing Vocational Training courses to youths in the future.



The Safe Zones are currently in need of support for books (educational and recreational) to allow the youths that frequent the center to keep them reading.

The establishment of the Safe Zones in Zimbabwe is one of the major thrust of the Safe Journey Information Campaign Program of IOM. The town of Chiredzi was selected to be one of the areas for the implementation of the Safe Zone because of the high number of youths jumping the border to South Africa or Mozambique.

Waterfalls Weekend in Nyanga National Park

Spent a weekend in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe with friends and colleagues. We spent one whole day visiting three waterfalls in the Nyanga National Park. We visited the Mtarazi falls, the Pungwe falls and the Nyangombe falls. 

Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA)

Some shots taken during the week-long celebration of the Harare International Festival of the Arts. The whole week from the 29th of April to the 4th of May, the city of Harare showcased various talents of artists coming from different countries.

Most of the events I was able to watch were concerts. Aside from concerts, HIFA also featured artists from the dance and theater genre. Artists that participated in this year's HIFA came from Portugal, Spain, Mexico, United States, South Africa, Brazil, Great Britain and West Africa.

For more photos, click here.