taking travel portraits

Packing for travel is a never-ending thing for me until the last minute that I get on the car and drive to the airport. Make that almost an impossible task this time when I have to discuss and argue and cajole with my husband who will share one luggage with me because we plan to travel light. We are bound for the Batanes Islands tomorrow.

We planned to make this vacation just to shoot the place. So add to the packing nightmare the equally scary 11th hour lessons on how to use the Canon 40D, since we just decided that I must outgrow the Canon 1000D for this trip.

I have tucked my camera bag in the dusty part of our room for more than four months already. And I was amazed how the mind forgets. I couldn't set the proper ISO. I even forgot how to view and move from one image to the other!

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Getting off from my online games, I brought to the table all the magazines and photography books from the shelves for a quick scan.

At the end, I decided on settle on a few notes from Manny Librodo on taking travel portraits:

1. interact with the subject

2. get close with the subject

3. set the stage, then be spontaneous

4. look for a face with character

5. watch out for light and shadow

6. train your eyes to see colors

7. tell a story

I haven't even started on how to shoot landscapes!

Yes, the single luggage will be crammed. The photography tips are in a jumble in my head. But the heart beats with anticipation. Vacation and photography with the best man in the world - I am a lucky woman!

photo: it's about the hat

the botanical garden

the floral bracket
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=floralbracket

the white trellis
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=steelbeam

the irrigation pipe
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=irrigationpipe

the glass sheet
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=glasssheet

the green beam
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=greenpillar

logistics study completed

To support local exporters and establish an updated document on the state of competitiveness of transporting key commodities of Northern Mindanao, the Confederation of Philippine Exporters Foundation Region 10 Chapter, Inc. (PhilExport-10A) recently completed its study entitled “Shipping Cost and Competitiveness in Northern Mindanao – A Closer View on Northern Mindanao’s State of Competitiveness”.

The focus of the study is the Cagayan de Oro base port and the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT), being Mindanao’s strategically-located gateways. Aside from referencing with government offices, the study team of Mr. Noel Tan and Mr. Mike Ignacio conducted a survey among shippers, truckers, shipping lines, cargo handlers and importers within Northern Mindanao.

With the data gathered, the study tried to identify present and pressing transport-related issues detrimental to Northern Mindanao’s competitiveness of selected export and import commodities. The study also showcased the best practices done on the different segments on the logistics chain, aimed at reducing costs and maximizing efficiency. Finally, the study attempted to provide recommendations which would lead to policy changes in the ports, shipping and infrastructure at all levels of government.

Among the study results, it was discovered that exporters are raising the issue of double charges when shipping their goods. An examination of the costs of shipping would illustrate that an exporter has to pay terminal handling charges (THC) to the shipping line aside from paying the port charges to the port operator for the same activities on the ground. Aside from that, another pressing issue is the difficulty in procedures as a result from policy disconnects. Initiatives from the central offices of the national government agencies do not easily translate to areas like Cagayan de Oro. Laws which were passed in order to simplify procedures for exporters are also not strictly implemented.

Nevertheless it was also learned that both ports have accommodated the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for free in their respective areas, which resulted to the BOC’s non-charging of inspection site fees and to comparably low charges for importers. The bureau also ensures that all new exporters undergo a full inspection before given the clearance to send their products overseas. Perhaps one best practice that shows the initiative of the local stakeholders is the setting up of a vessel tracking system for the whole Macajalar Bay. The system utilizes the tower and radar system of the MCT, enabling the Coast Guard to monitor all incoming and outgoing vessels within the stretch of the bay.

While it can be summed up in the study that Northern Mindanao is a competitive place due to the presence of fair roads and infrastructure facilities as well as comparably low trucking and handling rates, results also show that exporters and other stakeholders are endorsing for the full compliance of EO 554, which orders the appropriate agencies to improve the competitiveness of the country’s export sector by simplifying exporting procedures and documentation or cutting down the fees of such requirements. It was noted that while other regional offices of national government agencies complied with the directive, other offices have not.

If the EO 554 shall be fully implemented, PhilExport 10-A, through the study, sees that the establishment of One-Stop-Shop facilities within the ports can be made possible. An improved system that can issue exporters their commodity clearance at a shorter period and enable the transport of their goods on time is expected to further enhance the competitiveness of Northern Mindanao.

The study highlights and draft report was presented last April 23 to representatives of the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) program and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which facilitated and funded the study.

Mindanao's distance to the traditional markets and exports is a major competitiveness issue since logistics costs are deemed higher in terms of freight and associated costs. Mr. Wilson C. Amad, PhilExport-10A President, looks forward to using its recently concluded logistics study to push for the economic growth and development of its members and other players in the export business.

the nursery barn

Ecco i link per farvi inviare i materiali!!!

Biberon (Bottle)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=bottle&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Coperta (Blanket)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=blanket&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Chiodo (Nail)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=nail&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Mattone (Brick)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=brick&view=farmville&ref=tab&

Tavola (Wooden Board)
http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=woodenboard&view=farmville&ref=tab&

reforming a bpl system

Department heads of the Cagayan de Oro City government office, together with representatives from the business community, translated lessons from their March 4-5 2010 benchmarking activity in the cities of Lapu-lapu and Cebu into strategies for the improvement of the existing business processing and licensing system (BPLS) in the city.

As part of the streamlining project of Cagayan de Oro, the post-benchmarking workshop was held at the Conference Room of the Mayor’s Office last March 8 2010 where participants evaluated the two areas for improvement in the BPLS – the process and technology of the system, and the inspection component.

Among the major strategies identified were the institutionalization of the streamlined BPLS process, the establishment of a year-long Business One-Stop-Shop, the development of the Citizen’s Charter of the city, the creation of its MIS department, the amendment of present ordinances on validity periods of permits, and the establishment of a monitoring scheme through a Joint Inspection Team composed of the regulatory agencies like the city building, fire and health offices.

These strategies were ascertained after the team, under the leadership of the project Management Committee Chair and Promote CdO Foundation President Ruben Vegafria, evaluated the existing BPLS practices of Cagayan de Oro against those observed in the cities of Lapu-lapu and Cebu during the benchmarking activity. Also using the BPLS National Standard as point of reference, the group identified gaps, the areas for reforms and the proposed strategies for these reforms.

The strategy identification is marked as one of the milestones in the BPLS project that the local government unit (LGU) is undertaking and it will soon be followed by the setting up of an action plan that will ultimately recognize and implement the official streamlined BPLS process in the city.

The BPLS enhancement project is executed by a three-party group composed of the LGU of Cagayan de Oro, Department of Trade and Industry Misamis Oriental Office, and the Promote CDO Foundation. This project, which officially started last February 5 2010, is aimed to simplify business licensing and encourage the entry of business in the city. As Technical Assistance Package (TAP) 1.2 of the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) Project, it is implemented with the support of USAID.

building a stable

To all Farm Ville players who want a home for their horses! Below are the links to each of the stable requirements. Lots of help for specific gifting to friends.

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=nail

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=horseshoe

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=woodenboard

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=harness

http://apps.facebook.com/onthefarm/gifts_send.php?gift=brick

planning for agribiz and mining

Mindanao business practitioners named projects and programs that can help improve the island’s opportunities in two priority sectors – agribusiness and mining – in a forum conducted at Davao City last January 26.

Action agenda seen to address identified concerns and improve the sectors’ performance were submitted to the Mindanao Business Council (MinBC), the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) and the Local Implementation of National Competitiveness for Economic Growth (LINC-EG) during their jointly-organized business forum.

Dubbed “The Global Financial Crisis, A Year After: Addressing Challenges and Increasing Competitiveness in Mindanao”, the forum presented three studies made by the Center for Research and Communications (CRC). Visiting CRC consultants discussed how Mindanao can address the negative impacts of the international financial crisis and increase the island region’s competitiveness as it emerges from the said crisis.

Coming from five administrative regions of Mindanao, business representatives gathered in the one-day forum which the MEDCo Chairman Virgilio L. Leyretana considered as an opportune activity for the area. In his message, Usec Leyretana conveyed that Mindanao has to address competitiveness and governance issues that have challenged business, investment and trade in the island. He added that the MEDCo, which is now in the process of preparing the Mindanao 2020 Plan, shall consider the results of the forum as an input to the development and peace framework plan for Mindanao.

Lending support to the activity is the USAID, which was represented by Mr. John Avila, who emphasized that he looks forward to seeing Mindanao catch up with mainstream national development and at the same time, to the whole nation waking up and getting competitive along with its Asian neighbors.

Among the specific agenda identified, the participants highlighted the need for the creation of a responsive minerals protocol, a certification system for small-scale mining standards compliance, refocusing of Mindanao priority agricultural product from rice to other high-value crops through market development and funding support, as well as easier access to short-term financing for seaweeds farmers and long-term financing for coconut farmers.

Showing optimism in the forum was Atty. Daniel Fitzpatrick, Chief of Party of the LINC-EG, who indicated that the policy-reform program is willing to work with the business leaders and business support organizations in their projects that will push for Mindanao’s development.

no! november

I love mornings like this - the kind that promises a cold day. And cold days are the best days to drive to work. When the temperature outside is exactly the same as the air conditioning inside.

Wrapped in the black and white coat that was a big splurge at the time I bought it in Japan, I eased into traffic and listened closely to my enclosed cozy world. And I wonder who I am in all these. Am I the little fall of rain that tries to wet the windshield? Am I the wiper that persists to clean them off? Am I the little tin ball that keeps on hitting the cup holder? Or am I Bach's Minuet that plays so softly, highlighting the flute once in a while?

I think I am all these. And most of all, I want to be that - the enveloping gray that as it hits the concrete in the morning light it's almost white. I embrace November.

a morning

One of these days, if I have the luxury for it, I shall go and photograph people going about their life on a regular day. I wonder, if there's a giant invisible camera out there, what point in my morning would it capture:

Hear the incorrectly-set alarm go off. Kick the sheets because the alarm went off. Attempt going back to sleep. Sleep walk to the family room. Cross to the girls' bedroom and caress their hair and faces. Check my accounts in Flickr, Twitter, Blogspot, Geni and Facebook. Prepare a photo for posting in Flickr. Check my Inbox in Yahoo and Hotmail. Peek at Gmail. Play the GAMES! Try to move the red little weights. Disregard the dumbbells. Go back to bed. Stand up since can't sleep. Go to the garden. Say hi to Coal, the black Lab. Visit the vegetable patch. Convince the vegetables to grow well. Supervise the breakfast menu. Think of new little house projects to give to the carpenter. Turn on the control for hot water. Check the wardrobe. Realize there is nothing to wear! Drive away the girls from the television room. Ready the hamper of soiled clothes. Convince Nika and Gela to go to the table. Call Mike three times. Eat breakfast. Mix my Ovaltine drink. Try to forget taking my vitamins. Take my vitamins. Prepare for office. Drive to work. Start the day of a regular girl.

And I remember. Nobody ever wanted to be called regular.

the first sentences

Out of the hundreds of books available in a bookstore, I admit I get attracted first to the one with the most intriguing title. And then the cover design helps. Then add the testimonies on the first and last flaps of the book.

But if I should salute the authors that I had read, I believe I shall do it on the account of their first sentences. I know that the first sentence is a delicate dish that each writer takes the most care in cooking, spicing up, garnishing and serving out. The first sentence must be interesting, significant, witty, and touching enough to let the reader decide that this must be a good read.

I'd like to go back to some of the books I have in the family room shelves and pick a few first sentences that caught my attention. At the end of this collection I shall poke some of my buddies and ask them to collect their own favorite intros as well.

"It may be that I am growing old in this world and have used up more than my share of allotted words and eager audiences."
- The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

"In the last days of Narnia, far up to the west beyond Lantern Waste and close beside the great waterfall, there lived an Ape."
- The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

"Manhattan, island of glittering dreams, slept in the predawn darkness."
- The First Wives Club by Olivia Goldsmith

"It was inevitable: the scent of bitter almonds always reminded him of the fate of unrequited love."
- Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

"Money talks, but you may think that the conversation of a little old ten-dollar bill in New York would be nothing more than a whisper."
- The Tale of a Tainted Tenner by O. Henry

"The jury was ready."
- The Appeal by John Grisham

"By human standards it could not possibly have been artificial: It was the size of a world."
- Contact by Carl Sagan

"I became what I am today at the age of twelve, on a frigid overcast day in the winter of 1975."
- The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini