Just found myself out in La Union the other day to attend a birthday party of friend’s kid. I won’t be sharing photos of the party, but I’ll be sharing photos of the trip!

Surprisingly, I drove through it. It took about 8 hours one way. Such a long drive it is, though I think it can be lowered down to about 5 hours if you drive fast enough. I was driving between 60-100kph then due to unfamiliarity.

Getting to La Union is fairly simple.

1. Drive through NLEX
2. Take Dau Exit
3. Enter SCTEX
4. Take Luisita Exit
5. At the end of Luisita, turn right at McArthur Highway
6. Keep on going straight until you reach La Union

Driving Through SCTEX

SCTEX Luisita Toll Fare as of Apr 2012

That easy. What’s a pain in the ass is the drive. Literally. As mentioned, it will take a while and it can really tire up your body, though I’d have to say it is pretty doable. But boring and tiring.

We mainly visited Bauang and San Juan in La Union. We thought of going up to Baguio City but it would entail another 1.5hrs of driving from there and rest was needed.

It's kind of a sad photo...

What’s in La Union? I’m not particularly sure. But being in Bauang, La Union, a friend mentioned there should be an endless supply of garlic and no source of onions……

But seriously? I heard there are good waves here. Unfortunately, as seen in the photos, our visit was untimely and we did not get to see any waves. We stayed at the San Juan Beach Resort. We did get to see a couple of dogs riding boards as their owners paddle through the water.

So yeah, if you ever plan on taking the driver seat towards La Union, be prepared, it will take a while. But of course, such time can be ignored if you got company and a good set of stopovers

Driving back, we stopped by the Basilica of our Lady of Charity in Agoo. We also encountered a couple of vendors on the side of the road primarily selling good quality sundried fish like Bangus, Salmon, Espada, Squid, Dilis, as well as special home-made bagoong (shrimp paste) and suka (vinegar). There’s also a nice source of  flavored cornick along the way. And yeah, once you’re in Pampanga, a stop by Isdaan is a good way to feast through fatigue of driving and rest for a couple more kilometers left til you hit Manila.

FYI, there are buses who only cater to around 16-20 passengers. It has a built in restroom and seats are more spacious. No stop-overs as well. So do consider that if driving isn’t your type.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is my very first prime lens. Reading this article, you might be thinking the same. So let me list down simple reasons as to why I chose this prime lens as my first. Hopefully, they’ll help.

1. Entry level

Shooting with a prime lens is a totally different experience as you can not zoom and it’s always idea to try something along the entry level scale rather than jump into more complicated stuff beyond it.

If you’re thinking of buying your first prime lens, and your SLR’s a Canon, then this is a great choice. Do this first. Then once you’ve got the feel of it, upgrade.

It’s like choosing your camera, you don’t jump in on the 5DMIII just yet mainly because it’s top of the line, when you don’t even know how to handle the basics of it via a lower version.

2. Low lighting

We all love to see in the dark. And while we can easily adjust the shutter, ISO, and aperture, lenses with a high base f/Stop will probably compromise by giving you more chances of having your photos blurred up.

Good quality of focus in the night

That’s the great thing about this, you have a small base of f/1.8 which means your base composition at this low aperture is already well lit up and you can apply a higher shutter to reduce your blur chances and make that great shot.

3. Video

DSLRs nowadays have video-capability, which encourages a lot to make videos and shorts. A troublesome feat is when your scene gets dark enough that almost nothing gets recognized.

Low Light Video Visibility in the Club

This lens will do the job in making elements in your scene more visible. Need a shot of your friend to be mugged in an alley? No problem!

4. Bokeh

Bokeh, the term for that creamy blur, is what’s applied to things that are outside the depth of field against the subject being focused on, thus more concentration on the subject.

Bokehlicious with the aperture wide open

This is such an aesthetically pleasing feature of photos which totally create variety and a much more ‘pro’ feel on those images and scenes.

5. Cheap

Above everything else to consider, the price of this lens is the main thing to take note.

The price is around PHP3,000-PHP4,000 retail, which is a lot easier on the pockets than other prime lenses at hand. I got mine at PHP3,000, already with a hood and a UV filter.

For what it can serve up, this is really a bang for a buck, giving individuals with a lower budget a great prime to toggle with.

It should be noted though that the low price is probably due to having a plastic body and mount and that’s perfectly fine, as long as you know how to take care of it.

Really nice focus on a certain focal length

Another thing is that this lens has only 5 aperture blades. That only means that blur shapes might be a bit rough, more pentagonal than round, at a certain aperture, though people who wouldn’t know much about it won’t really notice or find any difference.

This lens stood by me for about a year until it broke because my friend grabbed my DSLR and dropped it, lens first. Yeah it sucks but hey, it’s a cheap lens so I’m not quite surprised.

If you do have a higher budget, it’s upgrade – the Canon 50mm 1.4, is about 5x the price. But an even higher budget, I suggest you take the Sigma 50mm 1.4, which is around PHP20,000 as I have.

Yup! I upgraded. I know what I need this lens for, thanks to the Canon 1.8, and it’s practically a good investment. Til then, consider this lens as it has done me great. If you’re just starting, no doubt this is what you need.

This coming May 12, 2012, DJ Neil Armstrong will be spinning the beats at the Sky Lounge in Bonifacio Global City from 4pm onwards.

Who’s DJ Neil Armstrong? Well, where do we start:

• Jay Z’s tour DJ (2008 and 2009)
• adidas Global Brand Ambassador (2010)
• Founding father of the DJ Collective the “5th Platoon”
• Spinned alongside artists De La Soul, The Roots, Kanye West, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Wyclef Jean and more
• Member of critically acclaimed two-time Grammy-Nominate jazz band Russell Gunn and Ethnomusicology
• Made an indelible mark in the sub-genre of Hip-Hop known as “Mixtape Culture”
• NBA’s DJ of choice for the Rookie Shootout since 2006
• Rocked 100,000 fans at the Glastonbury Festival
• Anchored perfomance in the Letterman show
• Spun for adidas at the Olympic Games in Beijing
• Shared the stage with Rihanna, Beyonce, Kanye West, Swiss Beats, Puff Daddy, Timbaland, Memphis Bleek, EPMD, Method Man and more
• Played alongside Slayer, Interpol, The Cool Kids, Neil Young, Mark Ronson, Coldplay, Linkin Pak and NER

So yeah, find your way to Bonifacio Global City (BGC) this Saturday! Party’s gonna be exclusive and tickets will be available via Adidas stores listed in the poster above.

Nope. The photo’s not shopped. This little guy’s one of the four (4) newly-discovered crab species right in the island of Palawan.

The purple coloration, according to Hendrik Freitag of the Senckenberg Museum of Zoology (Dresden, Germany), might have no purpose at all aside from color distinction of crabs among its own kind. That’s given the fact that crabs can pretty much identify colors, so it’s the only reason which can be concluded as of now.

Now named as Insulamon Palawanense, these crabs are measured at just about 1 to 2.5 inches in width and are mainly fresh water crustaceans, burrying muddy holes by day, feeding by night.

More about this and other newly found crab species in Palawan via NatGeo

And while we’re at it. No 2 Mining in Palawan.

NatGeo held a NATGEO EARTH DAY RUN and one participant, Francis Xavier Pasion (via Facebook), managed to join in for his premiere run. Admittedly, he did it primarily for fun, health, and the shirt. What seemed to be a run for Earth, though brought much of a not-so-earth-friendly sight.

Francis also called out on the race’s method of placing plastic and paper cups in various stops of the race, which only promoted more trash to be placed else where, not to mention the consumption of every resource made to produce such commodities.

I may have ran for the wrong reasons, but I certainly did not throw away that paper cup on the street. Happy Earth Day Everyone, whatever that means to you.

Read Francis’ whole entry.

Photo credit: Francis Xavier Pasion

Bird's Eye View of Bonifacio High Street, Taguig

So yes, this is a post for December 16!

Landing at the Hong Kong International Airport was fairly exciting mainly because I see all the squiggly lines I can’t understand. After a couple minutes of making through the halls, I found myself through the main hall and outside where the winds are just surprising!

Landing at the Hong Kong International Airport

GMAPS: Hong Kong International Airport

Weather is a concern when traveling and upon research, I found out before hand that HK weather during this season is quite chilly, but fairly anything for people from lands that snow. Imagine this: You just came out of the shower and you enter your air-conditioned room with an electric fan on you – that’s basically the kind of temperature to expect. A nice jacket’s good enough, though most locals seem to react to the weather with many layers of warm clothing.

For people wondering what to wear during this season, well you’ll get an idea with the way people dress in the photos.

Squiggly lines!

HK International Airport

Heading out of the Airport

Before going out of the airport, be sure to purchase the Octopus Card – a universal card system in HK, which is used to pay for bus rides, MRT rides, and anything else that accepts it. AFAIK, 80% of HK accepts this so it’s less of a hassle and you just need to reload every once in a while.

We took the S1 bus Tung Chung for the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, which was like a 5-10 minute ride from the airport. Cable cars can also be found in mainland HK but I think Ngong Ping’s quite a treat considering how you travel 30 minutes one way and 30 minutes back on this 5.7km cable ride.

GMAPS: Tung Chung

TIP: You can avoid the long line by purchasing tickets online, who are privileged to bypass and head on through the line for the ride itself, instead of lining up for the tickets and then the line.

Ngong Ping was visually spectacular as you ride over mountains and travel to a ‘hidden village’ and greet another attraction – the Giant Buddha. Here are the sights to expect.

Further from the Cable Car Station at the right

Even further away crossing Tung Chung Bay

Into the Mountains

A set path in the mountains

If you don’t like a cable car ride but still want to see the Giant Buddha, you can walk 5.7km up and down a set path across the mountains like these guys. Monks do it all the time.

Catching Sight of the Giant Buddha.

Munch time with these small egg bread things

In the little town hosting the Giant Buddha

Bianca and I

GMAPS: Ngong Ping and Giant Buddha

Novotel Citygate is a hotel exactly across this Ngong Ping, as well as beside the MRT, not to mention attached to a mall. But I reckon this is quite far considering it’s still just by the island of the airport.

We headed on and took the MRT to Tsim Sha Tsui station but landed on Kowloon instead out of confusion. We took the cab to Gateway Blvd and went in a mall to purchase tickets to Macau via Cotai Jet.

TIP: As much as possible, take the MRT with the bus as an alternative. You’ll save more by doing so.

There are two (2) main ports for the ferry travel to and from Macau, first is by Tsim Sha Tsui station and Hong Kong station. Coming from the airport, TST is the nearer option.

GMAPS: TST Port Area

Riding the Cotai Jet Ferry to Macau

I believe ferries leave every 15mins. So there should be no worry about the need to book or reserve tickets, as you can simply walk in and purchase them hassle-free.

Do realize that Macau and HK are two different places so you’d have to fill in those little immigration info sheets and prepare your passport.

Taking the Macau Ferry from TST, we arrive 30 minutes later in Macau at the Maritomo Provisorio Da Taipa Terminal.

GMAPS: MPDT Terminal, Macau

The method? Noynoying. It’s kind of like a version of planking, where instead of laying flat and motionless, you depict the image of a lazy-bone.

Administration says they are shrugging it off and are complacent with the statistics to disprove the noynoying scheme, but comes up with its own means to show people that Aquino is indeed doing something days after. How? By posting photos of him ‘at work’.

"Hihihi look at me carry stuff"

Reading glasses put aside while reading

So much paper work with a remote comfortably in range.

Ok so he seems like a busy man, yes? We can actually see him carrying all of the documents instead of his staff who just stare at him as if amused. Even working on documents, reading and signing, with his reading glasses on the side just by the TV remote.

But of course, he has arms and hands to carry documents on his own free will, and he might be on contact lenses, or may be nearsighted, and that may not even be a TV remote, or even if it is, people aren’t deprived to watch TV, even the busiest man who needs a lot of paperwork done.

I would rather see something actually get done, than see him simply doing something, if you know what I mean.

This reminds me of high school. You join group work, and your primary aim is to have the teacher see you carry a couple of stuff, maybe run for errands, or maybe have yourself be glimpsed in 5 secs of the video. Just so you can say you did something. Good times.

Photos: Yahoo!PH President Aquino ‘at work’

The guy’s been in the nation, particularly in Cebu, for about 3.5 years as of posting, and managed to come up with a video that tore opinions over Filipinos. Others claim it’s true, others simply take offense of a foreigner, who seems to be badmouthing against the Philippines.

Thinking about it, if it was a dork like me or another Filipino who did the same thing, would people really ever have bothered to consider the exact things Jimmy mentioned? The fact that he is a foreigner, calling attention of unlikeable things that is acceptably and noticeably true in our society, added weight to the argument.

Jimmy’s frank opinions called the attention of many, particularly of the government to go on ahead and deny, and hopefully come up with something to counter the problems as an end result… and I like that.

The video may not be 100% accurate and may relatively be disproved by many. But you’d have to admit that in most cases, he was merely being real, stating the obvious, calling the attention on things normally overlooked. It’s not something people should be overly protective of when there is in fact something to fix.

Recently, he did come up with an apology video stating how he doesn’t necessarily hate the country, and is in fact grateful. Probably due to the stress of being back lashed even by politicians wanting to file persona non grata on the fella.

As of posting, the video on Youtube has been removed and the official video of 20 Reasons Why I Dislike the Philippines is now in ChannelFix.com (as embedded above).

On another note, in how many ways can you dislike your own nation? I bet you can name more than 20. Now what?

Fans of America’s Next Best Dance Crew should be familiar with the sensation that’s coming to the Philippines!

Season 6 Champs, I aM Me Crew, will be brain banging Manila as they arive this April 14-16, 2012 wherein they will be holding ‘Brainstorm Workshops‘ – Dance workshops within that 3-day span.

According to this poster, it would seem that it’d either be 6 sessions for P6k or 12 for… well… P12k.

Schedule will be as follows:

Day 1 / Batch 1
1:00pm – 2:30pm – 747
3:00pm – 4:30pm – Moon
5:00pm – 6:30pm – Pacman
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Chachi

Day 2 / Batch 2
1:00pm – 2:30pm – Jaja
3:00pm – 4:30pm – Moon
5:00pm – 6:30pm – 747
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Emilio

Day 3 / Batch 3
1:00pm – 2:30pm – Jaja
3:00pm – 4:30pm – Emilio
5:00pm – 6:30pm – Pacman
7:00pm – 8:30pm – Chachi

So yeah, earn the chance not only to meet and greet the guys of I aM Me , but also to join their dancing workshop.

The event’s c/o Pacific East Events Productions and will be held at Madison Square Pioneer, #4 Pioneer St., Cor Sheridan St., Mandaluyong City, PH

Finally, here’s a video of I aM Me for their Philippine workshop with Jaja and Chachi even speaking Tagalog