and the netherlands is now number 2!

The Netherlands, one of the best performing teams in the recently concluded world cup, has pulled off another surprise.
Virtually just under everyone's radar (most especially mine) they have seized second spot overall from the United States as viewers of this blog just yesterday!
This comes as a huge surprise for The Paul Yan Experience team, since we only know of one couple from the Netherlands, Andre & Lorena La Pierre.  Perhaps they have been responsible for the surge in viewership in that part of europe... so, to everyone from the Netherlands, thank you for dropping by.
Oh, incidentally, you guys are just a breath away from also overtaking the Philippines, which is currently in first place.  If you do so, I think I might just write up a special piece on your country...

Raising a cup of hot chocolate to all of you...
and a cuban cigar to you, andre...

Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Experience

Who's Your Hero?

Who's Your Hero?

For me, it took a giant to open my eyes to the beauty of found objects, and I have not looked back since.

He was a giant in the world of photography. He was a giant to everyone in the industry, in a time when they were too few and far between, but whose conquests reached far far outside the realm of our world. He who was the only Filipino exponent of color posterization where in the rest of the world, there were probably less than a hundred (professionally, less than twenty). Color posterization was the photographic technique I wanted to learn (and eventually master) but could not find any technical literature save for two pages from an obscure issue of a photographic magazine. It took an introduction by Senor Leonidas Maloles for me to meet the giant who would one day be responsible for my decision to pursue photography in the degree that I have pursued it today.

I still remember the day (over two decades ago) when I finally completed learning everything about color posterization, which was a long-drawn process taking between 8-12 hours per photograph. He congratulated me for the months of hard work I put into learning the process. After which he said in the vernacular, “syanga pala, kalalabas lang ng Photoshop. Isang software yun na kaya nang gawin yung tinuro ko sa iyo ng 5 minutes lang....” Oh well. At least for the record I was the second Filipino to learn the technique...

Over the next few years, I would occasionally drop by his studio in between stints of corporate work. In those visits, I would unknowingly meet several other giants, and they would jokingly refer to me as Mister Posterized! It was then that I realized that giants look like giants only when in the company of us mere mortals. But among themselves, the giants are pretty much just like us too. Soon after, I started imbibing their visualizations. This process I call “OSMOSIS” for obvious reasons (from a region of greater concentration to a region of lesser concentration...).

Eventually, as I dropped out of the corporate world in favor of going into business with my family, I spent more and more time at his studio. It was at this time that I learned most of what I know from him and four of his fellow masters. It is from this interaction where I gained my technical knowledge; each one teaching me his field of expertise. I, the sum of 5 masters, from a brew by 5 masters.

He is an architect by education. Perhaps this is the reason why his photographs seem so cleanly assembled as if they were lain out with a design already in mind. All this he accomplished in the camera, way way before the advent of imaging.

Since his youth, he has been into music. Perhaps this is the reason why there is dynamism in his photographs.

He loves the warmth of the sun. Perhaps this is the reason why his early works have often been compared to a painter named Amorsolo. (incidentally, his studio sits on a street also named Amorsolo)

He is simplicity personified. Often we tend to dabble in the complicated, hoping it will show our mastery over a lot of elements; It takes a master to just make everything look so simple and clean.

And he has done more international book projects during the time where the only people invited to do book projects were people of international stature.

Although he towers over most of us, he has never been loud about it, preferring to stay out of the limelight if he can avoid it. But in January 31 2011, he has graciously accepted an invitation by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation, Inc. to do a slideshow and give a talk on some of his iconic images during Photoworld Asia 2011.

This giant is Emil V. Davocol, and I will be his assistant.

I am Jesus Paul C. Yan.

My Boracay

A place for solitude in the middle of somewhere.

Thirty years ago, it was the aviary in Greenbelt.  (yes victoria, there used to be a huge aviary where the entire Greenbelt park now sits)  A place of quiet in the middle of somewhere.  I used to walk along it's wooden elevated platforms every chance i'd get, and just look at the giant ferns and the birds I would again only see when I visited Jurong.  I was at least a year away from receiving my first SLR from my dad, and looking was my best way of preserving the memories then.

Jurong was the place I went to on my first ever trip outside the country.  The photograph of flamingos through grass reeds (circa 1987) was one of my first exhibit prints (exhibited at National Photography Week 1989), and it's visual appeal is still enduring.  Jurong, a place of quiet in the middle of somewhere.
  http://thepaulyanchronicles.multiply.com/photos/album/1/unseen_details_of_the_Philippines#photo=7

Fifteen years ago, it was Kowloon Park within the Golden Mile.  (victoria, if you do not know where the golden mile is, then you are not a certified pinoy shopper)  Another quiet place in the middle of somewhere.  I only had the chance to visit once, but I remembered shooting some very stunning photos of roses, one of two kinds of flowers my mom loved, and koi, which was my dad's passion.

Twelve years ago, it was the lagoons of Safari World (victoria, if you will join the paul yan experience on March 25-29, you will see Safari World firsthand) and their huge arapaimas that was my quiet place.  I had never seen as many large arapaimas converge in a single place until then, and I was mesmerized.

Since 2006, I have associated Boracay with the same concepts as those.  My quiet place.  My point of solitude.  This time around however, I brought my camera and captured some private images which I will now share with you.  This is my kind of photography; private, introspective, and with the ability to capture the moment the way I interpret it.

Please appreciate it in the context I have lain.

Posts, of course, are always welcome.

Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Chronicles 
ps.  requests for exhibit prints will be arranged through my online team.

...so I ask...uhmmm...have you ever been...

A couple of days ago, I was asked about why I used the word "experience" after my name for the photographic workshops I conduct here and there.  I initially thought about just giving a very straitforward and nonchalant answer but decided to go for something in the direction of the pretentiously profound, so I answered, "have you ever heard of Jimi Hendrix?"

As the person inquiring was not a day over thirty and had not really been into rock music, Hendrix was not even on the periphery of her consciousness. I just asked her to type Jimi Hendrix on the google search bar the next time she goes online, and just add the word "experience" after it.  She hasn't gotten round to it yet.

As for me, once upon a time about 15 years ago, there was a band doing the manila gig scene that i'd read about or occasionally run into called "The Aga Muhlach Experience".  Although I never had the chance to share a performance with them, they were made a little bit more famous by their choice of name.  Unfortunately, Aga Muhlach, who has the same name and was probably the inspiration for theirs, was not a part of their band, and eventually asked them to stop using his name for the band... and that was the end of that.

Now, going back to Jimi Hendrix, in an excerpt from an interview about "the experience", he says "...it's not really about you and your experience..." "what i'd like to ask is... uhmmm..have you ever been experienced..?"

And so, not really intending to cast an air of mystery to the name anymore, our workshops are called "The Paul Yan Experience" mainly because each batch goes through some memorable "experience" during the course of their workshop.  It is the anticipation of that particular experience which causes the workshops to be quite popular and endearing to all the participants.  Come to think of it, it is the "experience" part which sets the workshop apart from everything else.  I will leave it at that, and just let the photographs speak for itself. 

postscript:  eagerly awaiting contributions from three writers;  Shanon and her take on Real Coffee's Calamansi Muffin; and Potpot & Tess/Peter's collaborative piece on their Boracay experience.

postscript 2:  I have already prepared my own images of the boracay experience.  expect it to be posted soon.  and i assure you, it will be worth the wait.

postcript 3:  the boracay experience will be having a recap party and it is being organized by potpot.  if you do not know how to get in touch with him yet, he has a link on this page.  you may also reach him through his facebook.

postscript 4:  I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the following for making this event truly memorable:

* D24-K Foto for providing tremendous trade support for all my activities, throughout the year

* Shuji Kida Salon our ultra high-end beauty services partner 

* Professional Image Works (prolab) my official printing partner

* The Olympus Showroom, Annex North Edsa, our trade sponsor

* Kamille & Grace, of The Tides Boracay, our hotel partner, for taking care of some of our vip's

* Boracay Regency, Astoria, La Carmela, & Shenna's for taking care of our other vip's

* Jay & the other staff of Le Soleil's beach buffet dinner for giving my team our BEST MEAL EVER

* Carla of Discovery Shores, for making the experience of being bumped off an airline a shared adventure,
* Shanon & Aurice of Nueva Ecija, for being the only other persons who nearly lost their luggage

* the SEAIR staff, for doing everything humanly possible to get me to Boracay ahead of everyone else, even if in the end I ended up arriving after everyone else, 30 minutes before the sunset, and causing me to lose out on our first shoot sked...

* Peach of Wave 89.1, & Shierdan of CameraGeekTV, our media partners

* Uly, for arranging all airline & hotel accomodations; Sini, for consistently being my most professional model; Manilyn & Lourdes, for being so dependable.

and of course to all the participants, for sharing the last days of November with me.

and to everyone who has browsed this site in the past 40 days.  site traffic has doubled and is about to reach 2,000 hits.  to everyone on the three continents (asia, the americas, and europe) who has paid us a visit recently, thank you for your support.  I hope to reach the 2,000 hit milestone before christmas.

Jesus Paul C. Yan

for The Paul Yan Chronicles

Its Time to Post Your Links

To everyone who joined us in the Boracay leg of the Paul Yan Experience, please post a link to some of your photographs, under the comments section.

Despite all the airport and baggage hassles, we all had a great time!  We should either have a recap/reunion activity, or an online gallery of our photos...

Paul Yan

No Calls please, we're all flying to Boracay!!!

It is actually about to unfold.  The first Paul Yan Experience activity in Boracay is less than twenty four hours away!

As of the moment, 5 participants are already there.  Lourdes, serving as our advance party, informs us to expect the following charges:
1) domestic airport terminal fee  P200
2)  caticlan terminal fee  P50
3)  boracay environmental fee  P75
4)  caticlan ferry to boracay  P30
5)  boracay tricycle/multicab 100-250
numbers 1-3 will apply to all, while 4 and 5 will only apply to those who did not book the roundtrip transfers.

Lourdes suggests a couple of good eat options, with a range of budgets from "cheerful with a coke", to "swanky with a club soda".  so do look her up as soon as you get there.

D 24'K Photo Store has also sent a couple of white balance lens caps, some flash snoots, and several flash softboxes.  i will try to bring whatever fits into my very small hard case suitcase.

The weather is quite good, Lourdes points out.  The bars and bargains are also quite plentiful she says, suggesting that should you wish to drink like a fish, then choose the ones that are crawling distance from your crib.

As I have been bumped off my 1pm flight for an earlier one (10:30am, also via Seair) I will expect you guys at the roofdeck poolside of the Tides Hotel at 4pm.  And since the Tides has been gracious enough not to charge us for the use of their deck, we are all being encouraged to just simply avail of their happy hour and order a cocktail or two while we do our first shoot.  Beer is 80 bucks.  For your first cocktail, I strongly recommend the LONG ISLAND ICED TEA (which is alcoholic) to complement my short lecture.  that way, the questions will come fast and the answers even faster.

oh, if you want the whole world to know that you were with us in bora, then go easy on the sunblock.  burn baby, and show it off when you get home.

one other thing.  Camera Geek TV has informed us that they MIGHT be able to fly in on november 28.  If they do fly in, it will be to do a companion piece on The Paul Yan Experience, which everyone knows is "The Philippines Best Known Photography Secret"... so, do let me know in advance if you are camera-shy, or do not wish to be the next Philippine Idol, so I can keep everything very discreet.

See ya all there!

Jesus Paul C. Yan
for The Paul Yan Chronicles

The Boracay Primer

update as of November 15

list of participants:
Tess & Peter;
Lhor & Maricel;
Mae
John
Jordan
Sandy
Potpot
Joey & wife, from Canada (c/o John) 

paul, uly, rosini, manilyn, & lourdes 

what to bring: 
* a long lens.   (preferably a telephoto zoom, in the range of 70mm towards 200mm)

* a wide-angle lens.   (the kit lens should be fine, although something wider will be better)

* optical filters.   Suggested filters are: 1) starburst 2) circular polarizers 3) graduated sunset or tobacco filter   When buying filters, keep in mind that screw-in filters come in different diameters, and they    

  should correspond to the diameter of the lens you will use it on. (58mm, 62mm, 68mm, 72mm,

  77mm) Filters also come in a range of prices and brands. If you intend to use those filters for a

  long time, then you might want to buy something more expensive. But if you just want to try

  them out, then go for the cheap ones. Cheap china-made filters can be found everywhere; but if

  you find yourself in Hidalgo street, drop by 'D24K Foto store and check out their LIDA brand

  filters. Prices range from P400-1,000 depending on size and type.

*  external flash unit.
   If you have one, now will be a good time to learn how to use it in fill mode.  this is going to be part of the headshots shoot, where you get to control frontal light and background light.  If you do not have one, then the one that's built-in on your camera will work just fine, no need to buy one anymore.

* tripod.   As we are travelling by air, just bring a light tripod so it isn't too much of a hassle to lug around.

* zip-loc bags.   When crossing bodies of water, I recommend that you place your cameras & lenses in individual zip-loc bags just in case the inevitable happens. And they do happen. 

Shoot skeds: (three group shoots)
* first sked is November 27, 30mins before sunset, at the pool area of The Tides Hotel.   
Shoot options: first headshots with Rosini, or Boracay sunset if the weather cooperates.

* second sked is November 28, 8:30-10am, beach area in front of La Carmela Hotel.   
Second headshots, with hats and accessories.

* third and final sked is on November 28, 4:30-7:30pm, beach area in front of Willy's Rock.   
Landmarks, Scenics, Sunsets, Afterglow, candle-lighted Sand Castles. 

Trip tips:
* travel lite.   
  If you can avoid bringing all your 7 lenses and 4 camera bodies, you should be just fine. Dont    worry about
  missed shooting opportunities because you didn't bring your 1200mm tele.  Remember that you will have to
  lug around everything yourself. So, just shoot with what you have, and enjoy the moment with your new-
  found shooting buddies. 

* remember to bring your battery charger.   
  You may also want to invest in a second battery now. China made batteries go for P500-800.  And if you
   aren't too confident about china manufactured batteries but find original batteries too expensive, just keep in
   mind that a second fully charged battery that's made in china will always out-trump a single original drained
   battery in boracay.   

* meds.   
  If you take medicines regularly, make sure you bring the essentials along. Boracay isn't known

  for its drugstores. 

* swimwear/eyewear   
  Boracay is the land of the skimpy, so bring your sexiest outfits. Oh, in boracay, no one cares whether your
  body matches the swimwear. You just know because nobody photographs you...   As for eyewear, a good
  pair of sunglasses will help take care of your eyes.

* cocktails   
  As this is the lean season, expect to get most of your drinks at 50% off. Help the Boracay economy by
 ordering double what you intend to consume. Hahaha   Expect Rum Cokes to be cheaper than a can of
 Coke. Look for BomBom Bar if you feel like listening to Reggae music.   The poolside bar at the Tides is
 also very well known for their spa, bar and happy hour. Do check them out.   If you want the expat crowd,
 head over to Nigi Nigi Noo Noos somewhere in station 2.  La Reserve and Cafe Del Mar (also around the area) are also favorite hang outs of caucasian expats. La Reserve is the only place that serves Haagen Dazs ice cream on the island, and also has a nice list of Cuban cigars on the menu.   If you are a massive fan of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, then look for Hobbit House at D Mall,     which was inspired by the trilogy. 

* massages   
  virtually all hotels offer spa treatments, but if you want some ultimate pampering, Boracay is home to several
  world famous spas. Go search the net for suggestions. It will surely be an experience. 

* seafood   
  As Boracay is an island (I dunno if that detail escaped you..) so seafood should be plentiful, cheap, and very
  fresh. Explore before choosing a place to eat. The marketplace offers a range of economical options, while
  hotels and restaurants around the area will probably offer buffet dinners.     Lobster is available at Manila
  prices, so unless you have an addiction to it, you may want to hold back. Shellfish is plentiful. Check first to
  confirm if the red tide alert only covers luzon... 

* meat   
  steaks, chops, stews and sausages are also very plentiful in the area. If you still do not have a    favorite
  place, then just let your nose guide you.   Andok's is already in Boracay, so if you also miss the taste of
  manila, then head over to the backside.

* telephone / internet facilities.   
  Your hotel probably has a wifi connection already. Your smartphone is also wifi ready.  But if you still want
   to discreetly check your email, Boracay also has several internet cafes spread all over the 3 stations. 

* coffee shops   
   Lonely Planet (which incidentally has a small shop in boracay) lists several exquisite coffee

  joints scattered throughout the island. The best one sits close to station 1, in a smallish nipa hut, and closes
  around 6pm. I don't quite remember the name, but I think they also serve french toast.   

* watersports   
   If you still don't know Boracay's middle name (it is watersports) then you probably haven't been there. 
  Options include Jetskis, speedboats, diving trips, wind sailing, aqua gliding, and the ubiquitous banana
  boat. Check out your hotel concierge for more information. 

* optional trips   
  I've never figured out why people fly to an island, and then book an optional island hopping tour as soon as
  they get there. Hahaha. Well, the Tides actually also has an outrigger for rent. Usually the island hopping tour
  comes with packed lunch. As the island hopping is costed per boat/trip, it will  be more economical for you
  to book this by group. Oh, do bring your zip locs...

and finally... for those who booked and got internet e-tickets... remember to print those. Hahaha 

I will be available for private consultation related to the boracay trip. I will be at the waltermart studio in makati on saturday, november 20, from 1-4pm. You know how to reach me. 


Jesus Paul C. Yan 
for The Paul Yan Chronicles 
oh, please put down some comments on this page, so ill know you've dropped by and checked it out..

It's Boracay, or Bust!!!

As some of you may have heard by now, I will be bringing the Paul Yan Experience workshop to Boracay on November 27-29. Here is a blow-by-blow so everyone can understand the context of the project... This activity was triggered by the Astoria Plaza graduates who were requesting for a “beach-based” workshop cum vacation soon. So Uly, my partner in the Astoria Plaza workshop series, quickly set off to look at potential dates and venues and found a holiday weekend at the end of November. I mention to him that I’ve heard of this swanky hotel with a nice infinity pool at it’s roofdeck looking out towards the sunset side of Boracay. “I think that’s a perfect spot to do a workshop on headshots, at sunset, using balanced flash outputs from the camera’s built-in flash”. I said to him, adding, “I actually have a headshots model in mind, very classy looking, who registers very well on the viewfinder!”. I proceed to call Rossini to ask if she was available on that long weekend. As she had never been to Boracay, she was elated at the prospect, but asked for a weekend to see if she could clear her sked first before confirming for the gig. I knew how busy she was since the middle of 2010, most especially after she did a short cameo in Endless Love, so I hoped she would be available. She confirmed. J Then Uly got in touch with The Tides Boracay, to see if they were available, at the pricepoint we wanted (which was PhP 7,000/pax for airfare and accomodations). Their promo (which was very close to our pricepoint) was only until October 15, and would be adjusted upwards by nearly double (12,000/pax, for Seair, and twinshare 3d/2n at Tides) for our workshop date. I mentioned that without the infinity pool, the workshop wouldn’t be as memorable for the participants, and thus I felt that it was very important for it to be included. I met with the Manila office of The Tides, and they were very excited at the prospect of being the first Boracay venue of The Paul Yan Experience workshops. They show me some more photos of the hotel, and I am blown away at how beautiful everything looks. As it turns out, The Tides Boracay was recently chosen as one of the top 60 destinations in Asia… However, beauty will always come at a price. For this project to materialize, I have to book 6 rooms (12pax, based on twinshare, each pax coughing up 12k) para hindi naman nakakahiya because we won’t be charged extra for the infinity pool thingy. Oh, on the topic of the infinity pool, it is on their roofdeck (4th floor), and they have a slew of spa services and cocktails we can avail of while waiting for sunset to come. That alone is already the perfect justification for a boracay holiday, right? So, here is the bottom line. 1) the workshop fee is only 6k/per pax.

2) to do the gig at The Tides Boracay, 12 participants will have to book packages worth 12k each, which is on top of the 6k workshop fee. My team can handle the bookings, in your names, but payments for the packages will have to be handled by the participants, within the timetables set down by The Tides.

3) I’ve asked The Tides to put us down for a penciled reservation of 6 rooms, until October 31. If we do not reach the magic number of 12pax, we will not push through with it.

4) If we do hit 12pax for The Tides, and then the (improbable) surge of participants start calling for more slots, the team will provide booking assistance to two other hotels close by (most probably Boracay Regency & La Carmela). Hahahahaha, at this point, it is certainly wishful thinking. But the team will be ready for it.

5) So far, here are the first names of those who have expressed interest. a) Lhor, and company (otherwise, solo room. Hehehe) b) Tess & Peter (all indicators point to “go”) c) Mae & daughter (still checking international skeds) d) TJ, and company (if he finds company, sure to “go”) e) the batch of Emil, Val, & Janneth (subject of course to val & janneth’s approval; Dhole too!) and, f) the Sta Maria siblings, who are flying in just to join the fun. So, to wrap up, if you are looking forward to another one-of-a-kind photographic experience with me, this is really the best we will come up with, to end the year with a bang. Do help us out and call some of your friends to join you. If they can hack the costs of The Tides package, then it will certainly help us push through with this activity. Please let my team know on or before October 31. For 2011, look out for a food and wine appreciation class paired with food and wine photography! We will be bringing in one of the most renowned Filipina food concept thinkers from New York to do a private gourmet and photography workshop with the alumni of The Paul Yan Experience classes. You know where to reach me. Warm regards to everyone. Paul Yan October 23, 2010

My 2007 Cigar Brand That I Wasn't Able to Launch

I have been a cigar smoker since 1986, puffing my first stogie inside a radio station i was interning in. Having been given 5 or 6 cigars bearing the Presidential Seal of Ferdinand Marcos by my boss, hotshot DJ Louie Dizon, and having been part of the anti-Marcos struggle, I proceeded to treat the cigars as my personal trophies of the struggle against a dictator. Without the benefit of a cigar cutter or even a puncher, Louie taught me how to "punch" holes using a match stick.  So, we lit up, and puffed, and puffed, while "on board" at primetime.  What I could not forget from that first cigar was that the

 one I lit up was producing a film of oil on my lips, much like what you would have if you ate a plateful of homestyle pinoy spaghetti.    Now, after 24 years of smoking a range of cigar brands including some of the famous ones from Cuba, I have NOT YET COME ACROSS ANOTHER CIGAR THAT PRODUCED A FILM OF OIL.  Never.   Now here is the sad part.  of that clutch of cigars, I remember smoking 3, giving another 1 or 2 away, and just keeping 1 for souvenir in a drawer that is now in my parent's house in Bulacan.  I do not think it is still there anymore. Those cigars are priceless now for two reasons:  quality, and historical value.

Ever since 2005, I have been thinking about launching my own brand, but with the leaves imported and rolled for me by a third party.  The brand whose taste I wanted to emulate was the original "Double Happiness", which was, for all intents and purposes, a Philippine brand manufactured for an American company.   Naturally, I wanted the manufacturer to make a batch for me, but the situation was more of "chicken and egg", or "is this supposed to come before that"?  I had trouble designing the bands, (the one which goes around the cigar) but the bigger trouble was finding a printer who could just do "one-offs" for me.  The printer of Manila Cigars (cigars in their own test tubes)  could print it for me, but their minimum run is 100,000 cigar bands.  I only needed 1,000.  To simplify the inventory, I had wanted to issue just one size, which was the ROBUSTO.  at that time, my favorite size was the robusto, as I had not yet been exposed to the torpedo and pyramid.  All three sizes, robusto, torpedo & pyramid, are "fat" cigars, but the robusto is strait, versus the other two which had a tapered head.  Tapered heads give you the choice of adjusting the resistance or "drag" of the cigar.  

In hindsight, I would have opted for a FAT ROBUSTO, which was exactly like a robusto, only fatter and an inch shorter.  Fat robustos are not rolled in the Philippines, and it is difficult to find an imported one.  Fat Robustos burn faster (about 20 minutes, since they are shorter) than regular robustos which burn for about 30 minutes.  Hence, my subname "Media Hora".  Fat robustos would be my choice today because of 2 reasons:  1) the shorter burning time is more for the "trial" cigar smokers, so they do not become impatient waiting for the cigar experience to end.  2) the "fat & squat" look of the cigars resembles the "gangster" look, and maybe what people remember cigars to look like.

The photo is the first print of my ill-fated brand, Camara Estates.  The profile is of Don Pedro Camara, patriarch of the clan.  The cigar band was supposed to be printed with gold stamp.

This is the second cigar band design which was a much simpler option without the gold foil and the photographic printing.  The choice of green was to set it apart from the traditional brands, as the popular band color was principally red or some variant thereof.  The cigars are all "HECHO A MANO", meaning all hand made.  Premium cigars have to be hand rolled, with little or no mechanical intervention so as to keep its positioning in the top-end chain.

So, what happened to it all?  There were 3 factors which prevented the launching of my cigar brand.  First was the venture capital I was intending to raise.  Second was the legislation and implementation of the advertising ban on tobacco products, which would have hit me hard.  Third, were my endorsers.  If you remember, 2007 was an election year.  I supported 7 candidates who were "sure win" by anyone's analysis.  At least 4 of those 7 had already agreed to endorse my brand, and the appropriate advertising shoot was already completed.  None of those big names won, and the project went down.

Two months ago, while cleaning out my drawers, I chanced upon those two photographs.  I remembered this ill-fated venture that only a handful of people knew.  I think its about time that everyone else should get to hear about my cigar brand.  The one I failed to launch.

Jesus Paul C. Yan

for The Paul Yan Chronicles

August 30, 2010

The Chows I've Come Across

Hello everyone.

this is the first time im posting an announcement on an article currently in progress.  these are short snippets of encounters i have had with chows, or their owners, through the years.  some will be funny (because of the eccentricities of the owners themselves) and some may move you to tears (due to how emotional and single-minded the chows can be when they get upset).   these stories i have long-wanted to write and share (actually since 2001) but originally intended it to be released as a short companion book.  that possibility seems so distant now.

should you like to contribute (assuming you didnt know ive heard about your chow... hehehe) please feel free to tell us a little about your story through the comments portion below this blog.  

Ill be sitting down later tonight and probably the whole of tomorrow to work on this.  I just have to do a series of lectures today starting at 8:30am, until 7pm tonight.

regards,

Paul Yan

The Will Of The Wind

THE WILL OF THE WIND

I spent half my life, trying to change the way things were;

and half my life, trying to make them stay the same again..

about five years ago, a fellow consultant at First Data Corp. asked me if I had to give up anything when I met my wife. We were having our usual after-lunch round table discussions with a third consultant who was also a Diliman alumnus. I thought about it for a few minutes before I gave my answer. I said, “my window seat”. Both of them stared at me in amazement and I gave a short explanation.

I said, “ever since the first time I travelled to singapore in 1987, I have always had a window seat. I loved gazing out through the window, and just staring far far away, at the view.  And when I met my wife, I wanted her to enjoy it like I did, even though I knew that in the process I would never have that pleasure for myself again. I knew I was willing to give up my seat by the window for her, for the rest of my life”. For me it was a very simple answer. My two fellow consultants were probably waiting to hear something more dramatic or romantic like giving up heaven or earth, or smoking & drinking, or a huge inheritance or turning my back on my family. But since I basically had none of those, and since early on I knew that I was willing to give up everything for her, the most tangible thing I gave up is my spot in the sun, by the window.

And boy did we travel. Each chance we'd get, we'd fly off to somewhere. Where exactly wasn't as important as that we were travelling and doing the things we wanted to do together. So it was hong kong, singapore, bangkok, shanghai, beijing, cebu, boracay, busuanga, petaling jaya, and wherever else our tickets took us. Each trip had its own share of joys, pains, fights, and food trips. And with each one, I willingly sat on seat B instead of seat A.

Now, I have a chance to sit beside the window again. But after contentedly giving it up for 17 years, I don't think I want it anymore. I never wanted it back anyway.

Jesus Paul C. Yan

for The Paul Yan Chronicles

June 30, 5:12 am

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as you very well already know, our condo is up for sale.  The United States of America, which has been the source of most of our bread and butter, has been in recession for nearly two years.  The wellspring has dried up. The Condo has to go, and as soon as possible.  We will need your help.

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about the song.  When I first heard it, this was in the early part of 1994 or thereabouts, I actually got teary eyed.  the first parts of the lyrics summed up the personal crisis I was going through at that time.  My family had just practically lost nearly everything, and the only bright spot on the horizon was that three of us had restarted into promising new careers.  In a year, we were able to pull off a 180degree turnaround.  There was actually another song from the era, titled "You Were There", which also elicited the same teary-eyed reaction each time i'd hear it.  I associated that song with my wife, who I had met fairly recently then, because she was my inspiration through those trying times.  When I wrote this piece 5 weeks ago, I had also just gone through deja vu.  the main difference was that there was absolutely no bright spot on the horizon at all.  No clear options, and no wellspring of resources to pursue anything at all, even self-made options.  It took 5 weeks for me to decide to put this post up, it being so personal and probably not too easy for the context to be picked up.  now it is up.  and the horizon is still as dark as a never-ending storm.

YES, it is for sale

OUR CONDO UNIT IS NOW FOR SALE It is a 77sqm unit located in a very comfortable area in San Juan, with easy access to everything. The unit has two bedrooms, each one with its own private bath and toilet. There is centralized heating for all water outlets (showers, wash basins, kitchen). The convenience of a hot shower on a cold stormy night is best appreciated by those who routinely have to make do without one while living in a country which hosts around 20 storms per year. Washing greasy dishes is also a cinch as hot water easily reduces the effort substantially. The master's bedroom has a large picture window which actually occupies nearly 2/3 of the exterior wall. The master's bedroom faces the sunrise side so that you always wake up to a nice sunny mood. The building itself is oriented so that the sunrise and sunset cycle hits the units diagonally and not strait on. Our unit faces north east. Direct sunlight at the sala is until 10am, while the fully open balcony has direct sunlight until about 12 noon. So, during mid-afternoons, the unit is already in the “cool side” of the sun.  The guest bedroom has a small window which opens to an airwell. Both the room and the bath are nearly as large as the master's bedroom, with the only trade-off being the large picture window should you choose to make it your main room. Both baths are also equipped with exhaust units. The sala and dining area is located between both rooms, and has its own window and airwell. It is naturally well illuminated because of the white 16inch tiles, white ceilings, and off-grey walls. Breakfasts at 7am will ensure that your carefully plated tocino, sinangag, sunny side up egg, and diced tomatoes are accented by the dramatic rays of the morning sun. The visual effect should be similar to what a late afternoon margarita will look like if you were sipping it at a resort in Ibiza. However, should you wish to tame the light, the four panel glass window and doors of the balcony (occupying 90 percent of the wall area) can be outfitted with thule curtains or even heavier drapery. The dining area already has provisions for a window type aircon unit, as with the two other rooms. The building is located on a street that bears one of Greenhills swankiest addresses, but comfortably away from the commercial center which has been too congested to traffic for over a decade. So, you get the advantage of a prestigious address minus the headaches of traffic. The location is also a mix of several ideal factors. It sits on top of a hill and is therefore virtually flood-proof; it lies at the start of the half-kilometer restaurant belt; and is accessible thru San Juan, Mandaluyong, and Manila. More specifically, the building sits on Wilson street, 20 meters off the intersection with P Guevarra. The building is 800 meters away from Cardinal Santos hospital, and 1,200 meters away from Greenhills Commercial Center. I usually prefer the 15minute brisk walk instead of taking the car and driving over there. There is also an 8-jeep shuttle from Macdonald's to the commercial center in case your pulse races too high from the exercise. The shuttle operates from 6am until 9pm. If you decide to take a stroll, you will be passing by some of the best restaurants in town. As this is predominantly a chinese enclave, you have Gloria Maris, Emperor's Villa, Red Prawn, Mann Hann, Wonton, North Park, House of Crabs, Weng Fei Wee, and Hong Tai Yang Seafood, as well as DECs, Little Store, and 5 other convenience stores selling mostly chinese gourmet stuff such as the rare live shanghai hairy crab (PhP600 a piece) and supersized double yolk eggs. There are also Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Continental, Spanish and a Thai restaurant, as well as an Andok's dine-in, a Mini-Stop, Mercury Drug and Southstar drugstore. There are two steakhouses, one dirt-cheap and the other spankingly expensive. There are internet cafes and coffee shops, one inasal station, a lasagna joint, a pizza joint, a burrito joint, and a handpulled noodle joint. The two branded pugon pan de sal stores are also in the area, as well as at least 5 each of nailspas, body spas, and hair salons. The price range of the salons are also fairly broad, as Vanidoza recently opened a branch next to the upscale Piandre.. There is a David's salon and a Bench Fix. All these within 5 minutes from the lobby. Incidentally, one of the most expensive salons is also 15 minutes away by foot; Shuji Kida Salon, the brand of the protege of Vidal Sassoon, charges up to PhP 6,000 for a haircut, and up to PhP 30,000 for specialized hair services. If you need premium fresh meat, Monterey is 20 steps away; if you are serving up foie gras or angus or wagyu or maybe bacalau or gindara along with your 1996 Chateau Latour, Santi's italian deli is 30 steps away; and for your daily meat and vegetable fix, Gonzales meat mart is 150 steps away. There are certainly huge benefits to the low-commercial zoning formula versus the full-blown serendra thingy.. The building doesn't simply have the benefit of a good location. It is also one of the better-managed condominiums around. Generator sets kick in around 90 seconds from a power outage, and in addition to fully powering all common areas (including the 4 level basement parking, 3 elevators, intercom units) it also powers the refrigerator in the kitchen, the two main lights in the living/dining area, and two electrical outlets where you usually plug the tv and your industrial fan. The building has its swimming pool on half of the roofdeck, while an indoor and outdoor function room occupies the other half. It also has its own helipad just in case you decide to call for a chartered chopper to fetch you. The condo is very upscale, but very low profile. Never loud, never garish. In fact, unless you look for it, you will probably not even realise that the condo is there at all. Our 77 sqm condo is one of only 8 units per floor, which is one of the lowest condo densities in Metro Manila. The condo is also just a moderate rise, consisting of 19 floors. The unit comes with its own basement parking slot. Association dues are in the range of 35pesos per sqm/month and covers virtually everything.  The condo is perfect for the young couple just establishing their mark on the world, or for more established couples who appreciate a more enjoyable and laid back lifestyle. The condo is comfortable. The area is very secure. You've read the lifestyle we've lived here. Now, it's your turn to live it. We are selling the condo unit for PhP 5,000,000.  

Chubby, In Memoriam

Chubby, In Memoriam (June 07, 2010)

Chubby, a tender cinnamon chow chow, passed away, at the animal clinic yesterday.

My gift to my wife the year I intended us to get married, chubby spent her first two years with Lilet and bonded with her like nobody ever did. As our marriage was set back by two years, when we finally did, chubby was mad as hell that she had to share her mother with a stranger. At best, I was tolerated. At worst, I was the object of directed aggression most especially when my wife wasn't looking. But for my wife and I, Chubby was the child we never had. And although we never really talked about it, not having a child was somehow made a little more bearable because we had chubby around.

I do not recall if we ever really decided on having a chow chow first, versus some other breed of dog. I was not a dog lover up until then, but my wife was. It was she who taught me that dogs are not just man's best friend, but that they were perhaps the only creatures that could love man back unconditionally. Even man will not be capable of such unconditionality. Chubby showed me how she loved my wife unconditionally, and in her last nine months, she also showed me how she could love me unconditionally as well.

My business partner in the 90's, Danny Wong, had a daughter who brought home her chow chows from the States after finishing her studies there. Eventually her chow chows had a litter and I mentioned it to Lilet. And mainly because of my personality (where I would suggest something but not do anything to fulfill it), the first litter came and went and we did not even do anything to start the process of acquiring a puppy. Sometime after, Danny again mentioned that puppies were still available, but from the new litter. I mentioned it again to Lilet and again did nothing. Eventually though, we paid a visit to Danny's daughter and saw the chow chow puppies. It was love at first sight for Lilet and Chubby! And then again, I did nothing. A few days later Lilet asked me if I had already bought the puppy, and I was devastated at my inaction so I went right away to Danny's daughter and left a check. In a couple of weeks we could already take Chubby home. As she looked like a delicate baby, we opted to buy a collapsible clothes cradle to carry her home. The cradle was probably 10-12 inches tall, which we figured was tall enough for chubby not to jump out from. So we put Chubby in the clothes cradle and she promptly jumped out. That should have set the tone for the relationship, but it took a while before we figured out that it was impossible to make Chubby do anything she didn't like.

On her first night at home as a puppy, I think she couldn't wait for Lilet to wake up so that they could have some playtime on the bed. Chubby was also immediately liked by Lilet's late dad. A few months after when he passed away, the normally boisterous puppy just sat quietly in her place like she knew that there was a death in the family. My mother passed away a year before. It was at this time that I already wanted to settle down, but again owing to my personality, I did nothing about it. Not even to talk it over with Lilet. I just had my plans, but kept it to myself. Actually while my mom was still alive, I already told her that I was getting married, but mothers usually only still see the child in their offspring and reacted that I was too young to get married. My dad, who was two feet away lambasted my mom telling her that I was long grown up. But regardless, I knew t'hat I had found the person I was going to share the rest of my life with. I already wanted to settle down with Lilet. I just didn't know how to tell her. Business was down. All our projects crashed after the financial crisis of 1997. My mom had a massive and debilitating stroke that she didn't seem to want to recover from. Lilet's dad was also weakened by a stroke. 

On hindsight, when money matters start going south, do not defer your plans. Push through as you intended, and then struggle together through the muck. I chose to do it alone, and it came to a point where I almost drowned in the muck, alone. Although we were already married, I was, for the most part, an absentee husband. Chubby, our daughter, filled the void and kept my wife happy.

As I loved photography, Chubby was always one of the subjects I regularly attempted to photograph. During her first few weeks, I took what would be one of my most iconic images; Chubby being carried and cradled by the loving hands of my wife. This image now adorns my professional calling card, and is the only photograph displayed at home. Over the next couple of years, each time I would come over to Chubby with a camera, she would turn around and let her butt face me. Each and every time. Eventually though Chubby would allow me to photograph her face.

Chubby was a gentle dog. She never knocked over anything, preferring to just gently slide beside you, or walk around things that stood in her way. She also loved to smell flowers, and occasionally, chew on leaves whenever she had indigestion. She loved the walks Lilet and I would take her whenever we could spirit her out of the condo to the academic oval of UP. Although those walks were too few and too far between, she would look forward to them. Chubby looked forward to them so much that she would actually sit in front of the door for weeks on end, just waiting for us to bring her out. And it pained me so much to see her like that. Although it was meant to be a treat, treats can still feel cruel when you see the effects it has when it is witheld. I could not stand seeing how she waited, and waited. Eventually it was UP who made the decision for us. They decided to ban dogs being taken for a walk.

My wife loved to cook for me. And whenever she had the time to do so, Chubby would sit in the kitchen for hours just keeping her company. Occasionally when Chubby would be left in the room with me while she cooked, she would stand patiently by the door, until it opened. If it took longer than 30 minutes, she would sit down, still in front of the door, and wait for my wife to open it for her. It really was unconditional love.

Eventually when we moved to the condo, Chubby immediately took to the balcony where she could view her kingdom from the elevated vantage point that royalty deserved. The balcony provided the perfect place for her to spend the day, in the shade, while waiting for her parents to come home. During one of my wife's trips to the States, I planted a herb garden for both of them by the balcony and it had basil, tarragon, and rosemary. Chubby found it the following morning, and beat my wife to it. She ate most of the leaves in the course of a week and all the plants died. I never had a green thumb but I kept planting (transplanting actually, as I would buy the plants all prepped up) and planting just so Chubby will have something to chew on when the urge arises. And the urge was usually connected to indigestion more than anything else.

As my wife's trips were getting more and more frequent, I became Chubby's de facto parent more and more of the time. Picking up poo was never my strong point, but it was something I had to do starting in late 2006. I never liked doing it but during the first time I had to do it in 2006 my wife said, “eh sino ang dadampot niyan?” Afterwards, each and every day I would pick up after Chubby and vomit during the process. But taking a passage from Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, Calvin's dad would usually say that “it helps build character”. So, each time I had to pick it up, I knew that I could change a baby's diaper when our baby would finally come. Chubby's poo helped build my character. Of course I never told my wife that. She would just hear me vomit some more and probably think that I hated doing what I had to do.

Chubby also taught me to cook. My wife will probably not have any idea about my culinary repertoire but having to prepare Chubby's meat treat every 4 days also forced me to cook for myself. During Chubby's last 10 days, I boiled beef short ribs, boiled a chicken leg, boiled a chicken thigh, sauteed beef strips, and panfried wagyu steak with olive oil, a little salt, and pepper. She loved the wagyu, and most everything else I cooked for her. The ref is still full of those because she progressively ate less and less. Each time she would eat less, I would cook up something that was better than the previous meal, but her condition was getting worse. There is still a quarter kilo of ground beef I bought sunday morning that I haven't cooked for her yet.. Chubby's unconditional love for my wife taught me to give Chubby my unconditional love as well.

During the past 9 months, I have been Chubby's only parent for 6 of those 9 months. Each day I had to come home regardless if my project was in Lucena Quezon, or Pampanga. I had to come home to make sure that she had very cold drinking water (purified, of course), and fresh warm food. Everyday. When there was a time that I was contemplating something that should not be contemplated, the only thing that stopped me was the knowledge that nobody would be there to take care of my baby, my child, my Chubby. For the last 9 months, Chubby became my reason for being, my reason for living. And I again became a much stronger person because of her.

During her last 9 days, I would actually cry out for my wife to suddenly come home back to Manila, because Chubby was not eating anymore. I knew, I hoped that my wife would be the only person in the world capable of force-feeding Chubby. I knew Chubby would only trust my wife to do something she does not like to do, but has to be done. I cried for my wife to suddenly come home because I could not anymore handle taking care of Chubby, and I knew that eventually it may be a matter of life or death. If Chubby will not want to do something, only my wife will have her trust to get her to change her mind. But my wife will not be able to come home just like that, so I took to 2-hour hand-feeding sessions with Chubby. When she got worse, I tried force-feeding her. By now, Chubby was trusting me to touch her around and below the mouth. 2 hours of hand-feeding and she would not even take a bite. Oh she did, thursday evening, eating portions of Andok's fried chicken, meat part, no skin, no spices. But she did it grudgingly. It was the last thing she ate. And she threw everything up at the balcony later. Friday morning, she was again looking for leaves to chew and I helped her to the sili plant leaves. I had tried three times in the past 10 days to raise monggo shoots for her, but the seeds were always eaten by the birds before they could grow.

2 days into her LBM, desperate at not finding her doctor's contact number, I went to Animal House in Wilson, to ask them to send a vet to check up on Chubby. They refused, as a matter of policy. It came to a point where I was already speaking in a threatening tone, but to no avail. I went home to Chubby, and found a fresh stool sample which I promptly brought to them for laboratory analysis. It was positive only for the ordinary bacteria, but negative for anything else. So they prescribed an electrolyte formula for rehydration, and an antibiotic. The rehydration was very helpful and she showed near-immediate recovery. However, the banana-flavored antibiotic was a little more tricky, as the taste of her food was more savory than sweet. She eventually became weaker, manifesting in the lack of strength in her rear knees, which slowly took away her ability to stand up, on her own. She was strong enough to walk around, provided she could stand. One time early on her sickness, as she was lying down I mopped the area around her when she decided to stand up. Her rear legs gave way as she couldn't get any traction from the newly mopped wet floor, and she gave out a weak cry of pain. I cried, thinking that my Chubby had hip dysplasia... this was a medical condition that usually affected big dogs which Lilet and I had been very scared of. So, I decided to put floor mats underneath her just so she would have increased traction, but it didn't work. She would also slip on the floor mats as the tiles didn't provide adequate friction at all.

The following day, I came home at 7pm to a very quiet house. I looked for Chubby in the sala, then in the balcony, then in the guest room, then in the kitchen. I could not find her. I looked in the last place I thought of, her bathroom. And there she was, trapped in the shower area, unable to stand because of the slippery floor after she did her business. I cried as I was cleaning her with paper towels. She was a very proud dog, and she would never let me handle her feet, her rear end, unless she knew she had no choice. I was crying as I was cleaning her because I knew that her non-refusal meant she knew she had no other choice. I cleaned her up as best I could and then we settled down to sleep. I knew that while she was sick, her sickness would be made more bearable if her surroundings were more comfortable. And while smack in the middle of the hottest summer in our lifetime, I turned on the airconditioner in the sala for her. She loved it.

That evening, she really felt very uncomfortable and spent the night trying to move around our room. Each time she wanted to move around, I would wake up, help lift her rear legs from a belt I used as a loose rear harness, and she would change positions. A few minutes after, she would bark again, and the process was repeated throughout the night.

The following morning, I spent 4 hours grooming and brushing her. 4 hours. She never lets me brush her longer than a few minutes, but that day, she just sat there while I brushed her. I even was able to brush her below her chin. And that was a near-impossible thing to do with chubby. She loved the attention. So I tried snipping off a few strands from her rear paws, to increase her traction. She let me take one snip, then let me know that that was the last snip. I also wiped away the stye on her eye that she routinely got, but it stuck to her eyelids, so I had to wait till she brushed it off before I could wipe it away. So I went back to rubbing her head and giving her a little massage. I figured out that if I could give her increased rear leg traction, then she would be halfway to recovery. The following day she did her business a few feet away from her bathroom, not even strong enough to avoid slipping on her pee. And she let me clean her again with paper towels. So, I resolved that maybe if I could find a way so that her pee doesn't cause her to slip, then her condition will not be aggravated anymore. So I decided to find dog diapers. I ended up with adult diapers which I bought sunday but never had a chance to use. I bought them after buying a second bottle of rehydration formula. I also bought her the most expensive can of dog food which was purposely designed to induce appetite for sick or recovering dogs. I opened it, left it in front of Chubby, then attempted to hand-feed it after 10 minutes. She still refused. It was around that point that I was informed where to look for her medical records. I immediately called up her vet and consulted on hospitalization, which I intended for the following day. I made a second call within one minute to ask if they had a doctor available to examine chubby and they sent one right away. The doctor advised immediate confinement, and the dreaded dog cage was brought up. While chubby was being put in the cage, the toenail in her right paw snagged and I attempted to free her paw. She hated anyone touching her paws, even if it was Lilet, so she let me know it. But I persisted, and she went for my right hand. She actually lunged at my pulse, as that would have stopped me from handling her paw. She hit me strait, but got my watch and just nicked my pulse. No skin break. I would not have taken it against her even if she bit me 10 times that day. Once she was inside the cage, I spent a minute comforting her, telling her that she needed to go to the hospital in order to get better. She was carried off by the vet and his handler. I slept uneasily that night but looked forward to paying her a visit monday afternoon at the hospital. I was expecting that she would have responded to the medication by then. But before I could leave the house, I was informed that “Chubby already expired..”.

I went to the hospital, with the heaviest of hearts. The doctor talked to me and explained what had happened. I sat in a daze for over an hour, then slowly made my way back home, to an empty home. I took off the watch I was wearing and noticed that it was much looser than usual. I took a closer look and found the clasp damaged by chubby's last bite. I was pained that Chubby's last memory of me was that she had to bite me to stop me from getting her paws into the cage. I hope she remembers the minute I spent telling her that the trip to the hospital was necessary. She will probably have wanted to have passed away quietly in our arms. But I stubbornly refused to believe that day will eventually come.

Death in the family is something that is difficult to comprehend. And no amount of practice will ever get you fully prepared for the moment. Chubby's death is made even more painful as the parents will be mourning from separate places in the world. I, in our home, and lilet, in the States. The acceptance of her passing will have been made easier had we been together when it happened.

To my dear beloved Chubby, and my dear beloved wife, I apologize for not fully showing my unconditional love, everyday of my life. I can only promise to show it more, in my remaining days. And to both of you, my only family in the world, I dedicate the song “Loving You” by Holly Cole.

And to the rest of the world, if this memoriam to Chubby has touched you in any way, please leave a message. It will help us in our hour of grief.

Unconditionally loving,

Paul Yan

ps. I have decided to go on a fast since I received news of Chubby's passing. I will only take water, like what she did in her last 48 hours with me. It will only be broken after she has been lain to rest.

Death By Heatstroke

I sat beside a woman of Eastern European origins. Her features were strong, minus the brownish gold hair color common in that region. She doesn't offer an explanation, knowing that it simply would have prolonged the conversation in a direction she did not care to pursue. Instead she pulls out a camera from a rucksack on her left. I point to the window behind her. A man with a fishing pole had just started to walk back along the breakwater towards the shore; seemingly unaffected by the 40-degree heat of the summer sun. His right hand clutching the end of an empty fish basket. And that seemed to affect him more. Death by hunger was always more tangible than death by heatstroke. She glances in the direction of the window and sees the man. Perhaps she did not see the photograph of the silhouetted figure that was taking shape as framed by the window. Either that or she already knew that the image would be lost within the five seconds it would take her to set the camera to the appropriate settings, so she doesn't bother to react. Eventually she stands up and makes her way towards the window. It is her window now. I see her bathed in orange sunlight and she replaces the silhouetted fisherman in my mind. Her nationality is of no concern now. She is right after all.

A man picks up where we left off. From the table, he sees me glancing at the window to his right. He has his camera clutched and ready, anticipating the moment when my eyes would sparkle as I recognize another photograph unfolding. I see a tern, flying in the direction of the sun, and just above the horizon. He is a step ahead of me, racing toward the other window. I hear a single shutter release. He glances at me and I see the sparkle in his eyes. He pulls out a cigarette. I reach for my lighter in anticipation.

The lady in front of me has just finished assembling her camera. Although she seems to have seen the two photographs unfold, she nonchalantly takes her time. Eventually she works her way to the starboard side and I follow. She waits till the sun has dipped halfway below the hill far far away from where we were before she takes her solitary shot. My eyes do not sparkle, not quite sure of what she had just seen. She says she had just documented the death throes of the sun, at least for today. Poetic justice is what I read from her face. She had watched the moment that the sunlight died that day. Barely three days after the sun had taken a friend of hers, away.

Death by heatstroke.

Jesus Paul C. Yan

for The Paul Yan Chronicles, 2010

acknowledgements: Dol & Janneth Tenorio, Ed Casilao, Ana Murillo.

Sunset photo by Ana Murillo, April 10, 2010.

Cruising with Prestige

El Nino has its advantages.

Coming from a storm-wracked season of simply massive proportions last semester, it was the first time I successfully got the Paul Yan Experience class to do a sun-kissed sunset tour in the past six months.  It was also the first time I actually took photos of Manila's world famous sunset in this decade.  What a difference the lens makes, indeed. Instead of the usual ultra wide angle I preferred to carry, I opted for a long tele this time, and it paid off.  Lucky me.  I've actually already used one of the sunset photos as a background in a glamour ad I recently did..  The participants, all 16 of them, also had their own memorable photos.  

El Nino will also probably have been a significant part of the decision-making process for the "Class of 2010" of my favorite ladies school, St. Paul's College in Quezon City, when they also decided to "go take a cruise" that day.  And because I had 16 photographers with me (all raring to photograph anything that moves), they'll all end up with some mighty nice souvenir shots as well.

Another thing that I also attribute to the El Nino was that for the first time in the history of doing this cruise, Abba's "Dancing Queen", korean version, wasn't sung live this time.  Oh life's simple pleasures...

  

credits:  Thank you to the captain and crew of Prestige Cruises for always being very accomodating with regard to the special needs (and wants) of my phototour participants, most especially with the blocking of vantage points exclusively for us.  

Chasing The Light (Fantastic)

Chasing The Light (fantastic) On the constant prodding of Emil G., regarding neutral density filters and their photographic applications to which I replied that “there were hardly any use for it, except to reduce the amount of light in a given scene”, he called my attention to a series of landscape photographs that have been fascinating him due to their apparent complexity over the past half a year or so. These water landscape photographs were mostly done with the assistance of what I surmise to be ND8 strength filters, which will enable the photographer to use shutter speeds three stops slower at the minimum ISO and lens aperture settings, thus resulting in beautiful motion trails for moving bodies of water. As jaded as I have become of photographic styles such as these (you might as well include glamour portraiture, motion-trail night shots, water drops captured on the rebound, sunsets & mystical moons, and the ubiquitous panning shots) there apparently are quite a lot of enthusiasts who are just “discovering” a fascination for images that are never seen in real life. Never, because of the way our brain and eyes perceive the images, such as water coming out of a faucet. Now everyone knows that when photographed at a fast-enough speed, faucet water never really is a continuous “stream”, but rather is just a series of drops. The opposite effect is attained when using a slow-enough speed, at night, on a busy road full of passing cars. Motion trails of yellow (headlights) and red (tail lights) will eventually adorn the scene, such as what was inadvertently photographed by Grace P., along the stretch of the North Expressway. Water trails have their own specific concerns, although the photographic technique still remains the same. Here is what I would do.   1)look at the water movement; assess how fast (or how slow) it takes for the water to get from point A to point B. 2)decide how many “movements” or “cycles” you want to capture. As the movement of ripples and waves are usually repetitive, the effect has a tendency to “build up” or “overwrite” the clarity created by a single cycle. This “building up” results in the “smoke” effect. 3)Number 2 will already dictate what shutter speed you will have to use. Meter on shutter priority using that preselected speed to get the corresponding aperture. Keep in mind that the aperture given should be treated as a “recommendation”, and may be changed by the photographer to suit their “brighter or darker” preferences. 4)Having a failed reading in step 3, first choose the appropriate ISO setting (usually the lowest), or having failed that, then finally use your ND filter to further reduce the luminance. 5)now, already knowing the choice of exposure, take a closer look at the scene, and then choose your vantage point. Motion trails work best when “there is a visual anchor that is still, over which the water gets to flow around”. 6)Level your camera. Whenever possible, use a spirit-level (the one with the bubble and the circle where you align it to) indicator to assist you in leveling. A leveled camera ensures that you do not humanly “add to the distortion” of the scene, and will correctly maximize the plane of focus. 7)Press the shutter button, in the softest manner you can. There are 2 ways I would do it. Number 1, I would trigger the shutter using the self-timer button or through a wired remote or infrared trigger. This is to avoid the physical weight of your finger actually pressing the shutter at the moment of exposure. Number 2, I would, on certain very critical occasions, first lock-up the mirror, and then trigger the shutter in the same manner such as number 1. Mirror-up shots was the norm during the medium format days especially for those who had the Mamiya RBs which had a tremendously strong mirror action. Those of us who were fortunate to use the Hasselblads had the benefit of a very good mirror damping system already which was why we could actually shoot the 'Blads, handheld, in the field. Most (I actually am tempted to say “all”) digital SLRs have very soft mirror mechanisms already owing to the redesigned mirror mechanisms that only move halfway, so I don't think there will really be a need for mirror lock-ups with DSLRs, unless you are doing microphotography, but that is a totally different discussion altogether. Oh, yes, there will always be purists who will “notice” a tiny tiny movement in their photographs whenever they don't lock-up their mirrors. But those guys really need to justify their $9,000 cameras and their $3,000 lenses, even though their biggest print has only been a badly cropped 8x10... One final word. As I have already promised Emil and his PYE batchmates Janneth, Val, & Adrian, that I will help them “chase the light” (even when the technique requires that you actually let the “light go away”) please then consider this as an announcement and an invitation for everyone in the Paul Yan Experience alumni directory to join us sometime immediately following this holy week, as we explore the technical side of photography, in a trek to wherever. Suggestions to destinations are welcome. Just make sure the trek isn't longer than 15 minutes though. :) special mention to Lhor S., for rekindling an interest in all sorts of filters, Cokin and otherwise, that might have nearly found their way into oblivion. Through Lhor, everyone else has had an opportunity to try them out including Gemma, Emon, Ines, Geoffrey, Ayan, and Louie.