Philippine Travel Notes

I was passing by some barangay in Kananga Leyte, when I saw ducks wading on a brook. They looked interestingly noisy, so I went near for a closer look at what they were all quacking about. Just curious! In no time, the owner of them ducks came to check what I was in his farm for. He probably suspected I was about to snatch and run away with one or two or more of his birds heheh! I said "pa-picture ha"? Well, it turned out, not only me was curious about something.., all of them quackers were also curious about me, if I might be some heaven-sent food angel descending upon them with lots of poultry feast. It started with a few ducks checking me out.., all of a sudden, there was a commotion, a stampede, a stream of ducks of all ages, quacking scuffling to get to me, only to find out there was nothing to eat! [I will insert a video clip here, soon] The manong told me this was a small-scale duck farm. But, for me, their numbers was overwhelming! Nakakatuwa nakakaaliw to se

If the previous scene I saw in Leyte-Leyte was for me "worrisome" and "makapungot", this one I saw while on the way to Kananga plays somewhere on the 'touching' and 'poignant', but makes me smile. I don't know... when I saw them walking like that, it made me grab my phone and take a shot... When I take a look at this photo (I have many times done so)... it warms my heart and even makes me take a deep breath, a sigh. I mean the children on the roadside, not that delivery guy. Wag kang ano..! Here's another shot, when the car was about to pass by them... I don't have any thing more to say... other than, this scene makes me happy.., I also don't know why. Maybe some things do not need too many descriptions to make us feel anything...

I was returning to Tacloban from Palompon after a visit of Kalanggaman Island, and here are some interesting views that invited the curiosity of my camera along the way... First up, while wading our way out of Palompon... Red arrow points to an uncommon (rare actually) pedicab with a driver's backrest! I have seen many pedicabs since yesterday, but, only this one sports that 'luxurious' backrest. Why and when needed? I can't imagine! Driver needs to rest while on a "long drive"?! Blue arrow points to a motorbike loaded with a big fish container. Well, at least this one is a common sight in this country, but just the same, it amazes me that such a wobbly unstable mode of transport can carry that heavy a load. What if it topples? Fish spread! Here's another one. Ah, blue arrow is the same dude as above... But red arrow points to another rider carrying a lighter load (I guess). However, those are TWO styropore boxes, one on top of the other, AND not at

Kids in these pictures are begging for whatever coin drivers or passengers might toss to them. This is at the mountainous barrios of Capoocan, just after Kanga. I agree they need help. BUT not necessarily because of Yolanda. They have been doing this for years. I have pics and vids from previous travels about this very same ‘act’. Their story goes something like this… That stretch of the highway (rather long) have been seeing re-construction of its pavement. And as usual for government entities, said construction does not come in one pass, they do it segment by segment – so there is perennial construction activity in this area. When a portion is upgraded, only one lane can be used by motorists in these steeply inclined, mostly sharp-winding roads – where people are needed to guide motorists when to proceed or wait. In the past, they would even use colored flags (green and red) to do this. I started shooting every time I pass when there were times mothers did the “guiding”. Then came th