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

sidebar 1

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.

sidebar 2

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.