dodong flores Turns Digital

From Tuguegarao to Duenas: The Duenas Visit 2007 (Day 4)

Oct 27, '07 4:12 AM
for everyone

(fifth of six parts)

Two Beautiful Houses Well Worth Remembered

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/125 sec / F-stop: f/7.1 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 24mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Of course, there should be three, and Kuya Bebot's house is number one. But other than that, two more houses tickled my interest. And I'm saying those two houses in the photos above are worth to be remembered because I was able to explore their interior via a guided tour with no less than other than the owner itself to guide me. The house in the first photo above is own by Manang Nelda (if I remember her name right). The house in the next photo is own by Ninpha Carumba-de la Cruz, the lady that I had mentioned in the second part of this story as the balikbayan who was recognized the Star of the Night during the Balikbayan Night. While I could have photographed their house design, I refrained myself of doing so as a respect to their privacy. The least I could do is to photographed their house' view from afar. It's also the right thing to do, nevertheless.

The Duenas Tour

In the morning of October 1, my fourth day of staying in Duenas, Kuya Bebot and I visited Duenas General Comprehensive High School, the venue of the photography lecture to be held the following day where I was commissioned as the resource speaker. The event was originally scheduled at this day but due to the coronation program the previous night that exhausted those participants of the photography lecture, the lecture was moved to October 2.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/6 sec / F-stop: f/5.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 40mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

We stayed a little longer at the school where Kuya Bebot had a good chat with his friend who happens one of the teacher of the school. From there, we proceed to the municipal plaza. While there, I saw an oncoming tricycle that I had snapped a photographed. If you might notice, every region of the country Philippines had their own and unique design for tricycles and even jeepneys. So, you wouldn't wonder why a plain and simple tricycle was being photographed.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 55mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

And old marker also aroused my interest, especially that the family name of of the Municipal President engraved in the stone is Pama - the same family name as of Kuya Bebot. Based on that, I concluded Kuya Bebot's clan must be one of the most powerful in Duenas. And that realization alone should stop me from wondering why Kuya Bebot is a celebrity around town.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 28mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Next destination that we had is the Duenas cemetery. Kuya Bebot intends to visit his parents' and relatives' graves.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/60 sec / F-stop: f/5.6 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 28mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Two beautiful mausoleum caught my attention. Even in this least visited place, beautiful houses still competing with each other's grandeur.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/50 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 100 / focal length: 18mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

My Phone Was Alive Again!

The whole time I was in Duenas, my cellular phone was dead. My carrier Sun Cellular has no service cell site yet in the area. That was the only setback that I had. I couldn't possibly receive incoming communication.

In the afternoon, we had agreed to go to Jollibee in Passi City to place a bulk order for the breakfast of the participants of the photography seminar. The seminar would be in the next morning. Onboard the Honda CRV bound for Passi City, I hopped in with Kuya Bebot, Tito and Doll, the parents of Denden and Abby. When we arrived at Jollibee, I got a strong signal with my phone so my girlfriend was able to contact me. We talked a lot about our individual experiences - her vacation and my vacation.

After I spoke with my girlfriend over the phone, I decided to take photos in the sorrounding areas. But then, it was already getting dark. Since I didn't bring with me my tripod, I had difficulty taking photos at this low-light condition. I tried to take a few shots but was not satisfied with the result. The least I could possibly get is that photo of the Passi church below. I was not totally disappointed because I had visited this place before and had taken a photograph of the church in film. In fact, I learned from my earlier visit here that the history of the church could be traced back in the early 1600’s although the present structure was started in 1821-1837. The architectural style is perhaps undistinguished but might be referred to as another baroque architecture.

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 800 / focal length: 25mm /flash: off / mount: handheld

And this was just another snap of Passi before leaving the scene behind...

Canon 300D / Shutter Speed: 1/40 sec / F-stop: f/4.0 / ISO Setting: 3200 / focal length: 24mm /flash: off / mount: handheld