Nancy Castigleoni's moods

If you are from the Philippines, it would be impossible for you not to know Nancy Castigleoni, a famous film and TV actress who is also well known for a multitude of TV and print media commercials all over the country. Cindy was born of Filipino & Italian parentage, was raised in Manitoba, Canada and has since practiced her acting and modelling career in her hometown, the Philippines.

Casual in her off-camera engagements, she exudes elegance and flair in her appearance and bearing, a dainty, slim and elegant lady in her blossoming career life. Posing for our camera club, Nancy exhibited her professional modeling poses from the childlike, to girl-next-door, to professional in the hundred of moves while posing for the cameras.

Bangus - the Philippine National Fish

Bangus fish, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Five pieces left on a market vendor's tray.

The fish is likened to the fish described in the Bible.

Milkfish, a farmed fish that grows to sizable proportions if left in large lakes and the open sea. Often comes back to breed in a lake where water is slightly brackish. But now, this fish as a food for the masses, is farmed in many communities in the nation. It is cooked in a hundred different ways by the locals. Served with broth, simply fried, baked and garnished, sauteed in garlic, onions and tomatoes, it is a delicacy almost anywhere you go. But the most famous way of cooking this fish is by broiling it. The locals calls it "Inihaw na Bangus" (grilled bangus).

The fish used to be only caught in the brackish waters of the Philippine islands. Soon it was farmed by many hands in several fish farming communities of the land. But alas, some countries stole the fingerlings from locals and brought it to their homelands to copy the fish farming techniques. Now those neighboring nations also has this Filipino fish - Bangus!

The wild version of this fish could grow to sizable proportions as large as 3 feet long and this type of bangus is called "Banglis", now rarely caught even in large inland lakes. In Naujan Lake, this fish is caught by fishing line, but the government has disallowed fishing this fish in protected lakes.

Markets around the entire Philippines sells this fish more than any kind on the market as it is the favourite of many locals.

Banawe Rice Terraces- Philippines

Banawe Rice Terraces 1, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Considered as one of the 8 Wonders of the World, the Banaue Rice Terraces is and intriguing pieced of engineering and agricultural work.

Historians of the place, says this method of rice farming dates back many centuries ago and the technique and method of building the rice paddies on terraces has been handed down from generations to generations and has survived the modernity that is looming into this hidden eden of agricultural magnificence.

Though not indigenous and exclusive to the Philippines, the technique of terracing rice paddies is one for the Guiness Book of World Records. Engineering this land with bare hands at a height of 2,500 meters above sea level is a magnificent work. There are similar construction in Taiwan, Hainan and even the Korean peninsula. In my travels, the architecture and tribal costumes in all this three locations are very much similar if not the same.

People who toil this land starts young even at the age of ten, they start learning the methods of keeping the terraced paddies from breaking water and thus starting an avalanche. They grow up to it, and spending the rest of their life toiling at this land which is high up on the mountains of Banaue.

The climate on this height is quite cool and dry, making skin dry and tough. But the residents has been accustomed to the climate and has developed a resistance to the climate's harsh treatment to them. It is thus not too uncommon to see older folk resorting to taking local herbs that strengthen their stamina, like that of dope or cocaine.

Tourists have flocked to this place for many years, and somehow, my recent visit to this mountains has showed that modernity is taking it's toll at this natural and historic sculpture of the land. Houses of masonry and tin has started to spring up even on the cliff sides along the streets towards this place. The natural museums started by the government has turned to souvenir shopping stalls, destroying the views and ecology of the place.

Noynoy's friends

Noynoy's friends, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Where is our children going?

Children, the future of this country. Let them grow into a caring society and the country will see the future of this nation bloom, economically, politically and culturally.

Culture of the Filipinos revolves around the family. One attribute that is slowly dying away from many Filipinos of the younger generations. The Koreans by example still has retained many of the virtues of family togetherness. Their kids though started at an early age to be independent, learns the value of connecting with their parents, elders and ancestors. It is in their belief, like the Chinese that the support they will get in their life will be from their elders.

The beauty of a Miss Earth 2004

The beauty of a Miss Earth 2004, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Miss Priscilla Mireillies, Miss Brazil 2004, and Miss Earth 2004 was our model guest of the month for February 2007. A lady of elegance and stature, she exhibited her professionalism in modeling for our group, the Camera Club of the Philippines.

Priscilla, speaks four languages, which of course includes Spanish and a Brazilian dialect, and some borrowed Tagalog (Philippine language). She is good at conversations, but tends to be quiet most of the times, probably because she does not know much about our club in general.

Her poses for the camera revealed her very athletic body as she follows a lot of football matches whilst in Brazil. She is a sports enthusiast and loves the water and the outdoors. Her skin colors shows that she really loves being under the sun too.

Her photos showed many different Priscillas as she has many photogenic angles that showed a different look. Her profile is flawless and her face sculpture is that of the greek demi goddesses we see in European magazines.

Cindy Korleto in a pensive mood

Cindy2, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

A portrait in warm tones to express the mood Cindy was in.

Cindy Korleto - the famous Philippine TV & Film actress and TV host, was the monthly guest model for March, 2007 by our Camera Club of the Philippines. She walked into the room with an aura, she only has, dignified and graceful, she was greeted by the president - Mr. Leo Riingen and and vice- president of the club - Mr. Raoul Litaua.

Cindy was born and raised in Austria of a Filipina mother and an Austrian father who encouraged her Filipino heritage to bloom in her. With only a few years in her home country, she has learned the local language quite well, but of course still with a little German accent. This attribute, however, helped her career to blossom into the local TV programs, being in one of the more popular TV sitcoms in the country.

Alluring, composed, and beautiful in a svelte figure, she exhibits confidence in her. Glowing in every angle, she is a photogenic model who is very talented and professional. Many of the club members who took her photos attested that she is a natural cameramen's model.

Cindy was introduced to the membership that night by our flambouyant MC - Mr. Mon Abad, who made the night as lively as it could get, where members were roaring with laughter at the jokes he was cracking that night.

Ara Mina portrait shot

P1060324, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

Real nice smile from a professional model, actress and TV host.

I got the chance to meet in person the famous Film and TV actress, model and host, Miss Hazel Reyes, a.k.a. Ara Mina in the film industry. Her nice smile made everyone in the room felt comfortable with her as she is as composed and ever friendly to all that she meets in our club.

Ara attended our Camera Club of the Philippines' monthly meeting where she was invited as a guest model for the month of April. She showed her professionalism not only in the way she had posed for the photographers, but in the way she handled herself in front of all members, who are of different professions and status levels. She was in command that night, capturing the crowd in awe, who pointed their lenses at this graceful, lovely composed lady.

Being a good conversationalist, Ara answered all trivial questions about her professional life, and took the cautious humor trusted at her. She is quick and witty and a real pro at it, while maintaining her composure.

The club members rewarded her with great respect, and even invited her to join the club if and when she really takes photography as a serious hobby. Bien Bautista even states "it won't be difficult to join and particpate, as now now the club has started accepting female members.

Fire in Addition Hills

P1040133, originally uploaded by Eric Gozar.

"This nightmarish scene is something you dread to see if fire breaks out near your neighborhood. With trembling hands you seek for your car keys trying to plan out which things should go to the car after you have evacuated the family. But first things first and your "fight or flight" instinct tells you that the house should also be secure, so you drive your family to a safe distance and go back to your house, hopefully guarded by a relative or a friend as looting is as worse as a house being burned."

The smell of something burning led me to the bathroom, and on peeking out from the bathroom window, the red glow on the sky (traditionally an ominous sign) tells me there is a fire in the neighborhood. I sounded a calm alarm to my family, gave them instructions and proceeded to get my emergency kit, the car keys and the flashlight, and my ever trusted cellfone to call the fire department.

The barangay "tanod" (guard) was at the barangay hall, trying to make calls, to no avail. Tis the time, when connections with the media came to use. My call to the local TV station reporter friend, roused him from his sleep. "There's a house burning very near to our residence- please inform the fire department and the police. In minutes, the TV crew was hurtling towards the fire scene.

Neighbors rushed to the scene to rouse the residents still asleep as the fire near their place rages supported by the wind that night. The power of fire, swallowing a whole structure is a nightmarish scene to remember. Residents fled their homes in their nightgowns, carrying whatever belongings they could muster to carry in that short notice. There were weeping people, too scared to talk about the possible spread of the fire towards their residences. It was a dreary night.

The first fire trucks started arriving and volunteer firement started to fight the fire, which is like a huge demon, angry at everyone, devouring the wood and masonry structure as it it was paper. But alas the volunteer fire personnel, and the local Fire Department was fighting for space to get to the fire scene.

With narrow streets, and uncoordinated entry and exit to the fire scene, just created chaos and water is not being delivered to it's target. When the water supply is gone from one fire truck, the next fire truck could not do anything as the access is completely blocked by the dozens of fire fighting appliances on the fire scene.

Where is coordination? Where is the fire marshall. Metro-Manila still has a lot to learn about fire fighting in cities and suburbs.