En Route Pope's mass

Millions flocked to Rizal Park for Pope Francis' mass that will culminate his 4-day apostolic journey here in the Philippines. Members of different people's organizations gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio before parading to Rizal Park to join the millions of faithful. With them are calls for the Pope to join them in their struggle for justice and peace and stand in unity with the poor and oppressed.

Vendors displaced in the name of the Pope

Since January 11, vendors in Luneta (Rizal Park) was forcibly because of the clearing operations in time for the Pope's arrival. The Pope talks about justice, peace and placing the poor in the center of the Church and society while this government is pushing the poor deeper into poverty.

For more, here's an article for Manila Today we wrote about the Luneta vendors.

Minda Compay has been vending in Luneta since 1975.

Bulan Helena

 

Mag-ama (Father and Son)

Datu Lando Anlagan, a Mamanwa leader from Agusan del Sur, spends time with his son and their pets while they were in an evacuation center in Butuan City when they were forced to evacuate from their home due to military operations last March 2012.

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Summer Sunset

Manila Bay Sunset

This is just a snapshot of the video I took of the Manila Bay Sunset earlier. We weren't able to capture in time so this is all I've got. I hope I can capture a timelapse of this beautiful sunset in the near feature.

Baclaran Church

Baclaran Church, officially known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help National Shrine, is a place not only a convergence for its thousands of passionate devotees but also a majestic place of structural beauty. 

These photos were taken last April 20, 2013.

Kilometer Post

Paper Chains

By the Beach

Trying out silhouettes.

Taken at Brgy. Quizumbing, Calaca, Batangas last January 2013.

Shadows

Taken at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 last February 20, 2013.

LARAB (Larawan ng Bayan 2012) online copy

So here's the 2012 year-end photojournal of people's issues and struggles we published this year. We printed limited copies due to budget constraint so if you haven't received a copy, you can now read and download it online. Just click the download link below. Enjoy!

LARAB 2012 by Tudla Productions

Larawan ng Bayan 2012

Rare times that my photos will get printed. Alas! One of them made it to the front page of this photojournal. Yey!

Kite Flying

On a fine day in a far flung Manobo-Matigsalog community in Compostela Valley, children there find solace in flying improvised kites made up of plastic bags tied in sticks. 

This children's homes, school and family's livelihood were wiped out when Typhoon Pablo hit Mindanao last December 4, 2012.

Photo taken last December 29, 2012 in Compostela, Compostela Valley.

Albino

A pure Manobo albino child from the countryside of Surigao del Sur.

Labor of Love

Datu Lando and Ging-ging Anlagan, a couple, both Mamanwa leaders, making bracelets while they were at the evacuation center in Brgy. Bangayan, Kitcharao, Agusan del Norte.

They evacuated from their home in Zapanta Valley in Kitcharao last November 5, 2012 because of military operations in their community. Days after they evacuated, they went home only to be greeted by military personnel in their community.

Ginging is here in Manila as part of Mindanao's Manilakbayan, to demand respect for indigenous people's rights and immediate halt of large-scale mining operations in Mindanao.

Photo is a frame capture from a video I took last November 21, 2012.

Morning in Banaue

Early morning in Banaue, Ifugao. View from the People's Restaurant and Inn. This photo was taken last October 2012.

Kalesa Maker

Francisco Barbac, Jr, 77 years old, has been making kalesa (chariot) since he was 14 years old when his father taught him. He is the last kalesa maker in Brgy. Duljo, Cebu City. He can make a kalesa in one and a half month and sells them for P32,000 and P40,000 if the materials used is bronze. The volume of kalesa he makes in a year would depend on the orders he get. In more than 60 years of making kalesa, Tatay Francisco continues to live modestly.

In Brgy. Duljo, a kalesa ride costs P3 per person while in Carbon to Taboan, markets in Cebu, the ride costs P10 per head.

Tatay Francisco's children are all professionals, some are engineers, and no one will inherit his livelihood.

Tatay Francisco shows a kalesa wheel he repaired

He demonstrates how he makes a kalesa wheel

Sherwin Calong: Salute to a Hero

I met Sherwin last year when we frequented Corazon de Jesus in San Juan City while we were making the film Barikada and documenting their struggle against demolition. I wasn't able to get to know him well but whenever we go to Corazon de Jesus, he always greeted us with a smile, asked if we already ate, offer a cup of coffee and ask for a cigarette stick. 

After the demolition in Corazon de Jesus last January 25, 2011, I always saw him in front of the barricades whenever there's a demolition threat in their community.

Barely six months ago, he decided to join the New People's Army (NPA) because he believed that whatever defense he does in front of the barricades in their community, whether they win or lose in their struggle, the root causes of demolitions in different communities will still persist unless the system will be changed through armed revolution. He left his comfort zone and chose to live a life full of sacrifices as a revolutionary serving the broad masses in the countrysides.

Sherwin, a true hero of the people! His life will never be put to waste. We will live to see the fulfillment of the struggle for a better society, and if we work harder, that would be in a few years.

The photos below are during the tribute for Sherwin and funeral last July 15, 2012.