Guys, im sure we all had a good time at the Palacio de Manila... It was a new and exciting approach to photo contests and I would like thank Canon as well as the organizers for the event...

We all went home satisfied that somehow we were able to capture the beauty that is Manila.... However, as you go around from one corner of Manila to another, you also became aware of its other side... the dark side... the side we don't want to point our lenses to... As much as we want to turn a blind eye, it's there for us to see... the poverty, the hardships, the filth, the despair and the total sense of hopelessness along its streets, river and esteros..

The said, I want to start this thread as venue for the photos we took which the organizers didn't want to see.... Im not being negative or anything... but the more we ignore it, the more it will worsen...

Let our photos lead the way on saving Manila

hi mike!

a very powerful thread that you started here. how much we see poverty, child exploitation, abuse,we may witness everyday.. it is still a sensitive issue to tackle.. especially when someone can't seem to solve it.

not to spoil your thread or anything.. but i love photographing street kids.. because they are more accommodating than other people.. don't you think so? they smile.. forgetting for a minute that they are "poor", but with their smile.. we bring awareness..

here's my share..

do the parol~ :)
http://img333.imageshack.us/img333/5310/parolmakingdn8.jpg

It seems I'm over my limit... sorry...

Pls check out my contributions at this link:

http://mykeambas.multiply.com/photos/album/28


Thanks...

I completely understand you.... It's always a delight, when you see their faces light up when you show them their photos on your camera's LCD.... You're right, it makes them forget even if it's only for a moment...

Thanks for contributing...

The True Faces of Manila??? Maybe... it's actually a microcosm of the Philippines....

:) you're most welcome. capturing not only art but the reality in that art is my dream.. there are too many "poverty photographs" that just seats around..

if this would be the case.. then poverty would just always be there.. seating with its photograph.

nice pictures you have there! :)

oh yeah.. i also uploaded pictures in my multiply account.. please feel free to browse :)

http://www.fotothing.com/photos/909/909a226818f55a4bbeae8a0b8ec4b54a.jpg


Knowing my chances for winning anything was nil because I was using a Nikon dSLR, I joined the event simply to have fun with a bunch of fellow photography enthusiasts, which I did ... and many thanks to Canon. I also went home having made new friends.

Anyway, during the second half of the day, instead of heading to Quiapo or Intramuros, my shooting buddy and I opted to venture into Malate's inner neighborhoods such as the San Andres area. Walking towards Quirino Avenue from Roxas Boulevard, I chanced upon what seemed to be some sort of party hosted by the Remedios Parish (Malate Church) for the benefit of the area's indigent children. I only took this single shot, although one of the adults supervising the event smiled at me as if to suggest it was all right for me to walk in and join them and take some more photographs of the other children.

However, something about the eyes of these kids by the gate made me feel as if I were intruding. I instead decided to respect their privacy and moved on my way. Yet, as soon as I got home, when reviewing on my laptop all the pics I took that day, I seemed glued to this particular photgraph.

Thank you, Mike, for opening this thread; hence, allowing me to share this.

Eric

Thanks for starting this thread Mike. I was really hoping to post my photos that were not included in the contest.

Here is a family that lives in front of the venue in a cariton or box car. I wasn't able to get their names but I've interacted with them throughout the day.

http://static.flickr.com/141/324874978_d106980b07.jpg

There is just so much mixed emotions that flow out of this photo. The man smiling on the left is the one who took good care of my car. Beside him is his wife who is flashing a peace sign and his daughter who is probably unaware of my actions. The man, who looks uniterested, on the right is either a friend or a neighbor. See the clutter to the right of the photo? That belongs to this man and his family. Here is another photo of this same man with his mother (I think I heard him say "nay") but he now sports a smile.

http://static.flickr.com/135/324828070_87af0f346a.jpg

They were the ones who asked me to take a photo of them and I gladly obliged. I gave each of them 4R copies through Canon's free printing service during the event. I'm pretty sure there are others in this forum who have photos of them since they reside in front of Palacio de Maynila.

I was really moved by their situation and how they are still coping. I bought them a bilao of pancit at Max's resto a few meters away for dinner and also as a Christmas gift ("pamasko" as they call it). I told them to share and I hope they did. I don't think they had much to eat if any at all because when I asked them if they had dinner already, they said no and that was around 8:30pm.

I am usually indifferent to less fortunate people but my experience with them on that day felt like a call from God to break this bad attitude. I'm not trying to brag or anything but that bilao of pancit cost me around 600 pesos. Compared to my whole year's allowance, that is almost nothing. Compared to what my parents provide me, that is definitely nothing. I felt at peace after doing that for them. Most importantly, God tells us to give and to give willingly and wholeheartedly. I know that somewhere deep in me I did just that. But believe me, I do feel that I could have done much more. :Grin:

I hope you guys find ways to share with others (not just less fortunate people) instead of the usual consumerist approach to Christmas. It will really warm you heart.

Sorry for the long post but I just had to share. Good night.

this was shot at the underpass near isetann recto.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7113/img0117lb3.jpg

great shot bj! nararamdaman ko na nandun ako! you meet so many characters in that area! well i'll be back in that area by next week. need to buy some hamon for my parents :)

heres my share...hard labor.

http://www.photo.net.ph/albums/userpics/11892/normal_IMG_4598.jpg

Guys, you're welcome... Thanks a million for contributing to the thread... Hope others will do as well...

Keep it up...

this was shot at the underpass near isetann recto.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7113/img0117lb3.jpg

Him, more than a year ago...

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9590/leaderoftheband2uo.jpg

hi,

i`m a newbie here. also participated in the canon shoot and run event.
is it ok if i joined this thread?

rodel

hi there rodel..
of course you can :)
welcome to DPP :)

great shot bj! nararamdaman ko na nandun ako! you meet so many characters in that area! well i'll be back in that area by next week. need to buy some hamon for my parents :)

that shot was very hard. sobrang daming dumadaan... buti na lang nagstop yun isa siguro kasi seeing me having a hard time to shoot that guy.

hamon? waw.. divi! hehe:Grin:

Him, more than a year ago...

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/9590/leaderoftheband2uo.jpg

difference? hmmm he got more wrinkles on my shot? ehhee:Grin: :D

Here's my take on this one...


http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k271/ethankyle_2006/SandR_6.jpg

@ces: thank you :D

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/hashed/Photo21_16.jpg

this was shot at the underpass near isetann recto.

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/7113/img0117lb3.jpg

This is awesome bj! thanks for sharing!

here`s my shot of a boy pondering...

http://static.flickr.com/136/327217678_1f5ceb1d83_o.jpg

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5306/mg3498copyfe7.jpg
on our way to quipo church...

Saw this kid swimming in the Pasig river

http://static.flickr.com/137/323883590_9004fd8dda.jpg