Nikon D5200 Shots

Nikon D5200 shots of myself while enjoying the view of the ocean at South Road Properties Cebu City.

Photographer: Melvin Lao

The Church With 100 Walls

In Cebu, Philippines stands the Chapel of San Pedro Calungsod, nicknamed "The Church of 100 Walls". A masterpiece design of Filipino-American architect Carlos Arnaiz.

Check out my featured article and more pictures at The Philippine Traveler.

Photography by Melvin Lao. Pictures should not be copied or used on other blogger websites or business websites without authorization of the owner.

The History of Valentines Day

By: Ma. Cristina P. Lao

It all started in the third century, when the Roman Emperor Claudius ordered his empire to worship only twelve God's and not to associate with Christians. People who disobeyed him would have to face death.  Valentinus on the other hand was a devoted priest and physician who kept on practicing his Christian beliefs. Because of this, he was arrested and imprisoned.

While in prison, a jailer saw that Valentinus was a man of knowledge. He asked Valentinus if he was willing to offer lessons to his blind daughter Julia.  Though she was blind she was beautiful and has a quick mind. Valentinus taught her history, described what the world looks like in his eyes and most importantly told her about God.

On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a farewell note to Julia with a crocus yellow flower inside and said in his letter... "Stay close to God" and signed it,  Your Valentine. He was beheaded and died on February 14, 270 A.D on Via Flaminia in the north of Rome.

When the jailer went home, he hands her the letter and the moment she opened it, she saw brilliant colors for the first time. Now she can see! She was blind and now she can see! A miracle!

This part of history would only mean that Valentines is about self sacrifice and to care and love one another in the name of God.

What does it mean to you?

Chinese Astrology - Animal Sign: Tiger

1902       08 Feb 1902 - 28 Jan 1903 (Water)

1914       08 Feb 1902 - 28 Jan 1903 (Wood)

1926       13 Feb 1926 - 01 Feb 1927 (Fire)

1938       31 Jan 1938 - 18 Feb 1939 (Earth)

1950       17 Feb 1950 - 05 Feb 1951 (Metal)

1962       05 Feb 1962 - 24 Jan 1963 (Water)

1974       23 Jan 1974 - 10 Feb 1975 (Wood)

1986       09 Feb 1986 - 28 Jan 1987 (Fire)

1998       28 Jan 1998 - 15 Feb 1999 (Earth)

2010       14 Feb 2010 - 02 Feb 2011 (Metal)

In Chinese astrology, I was born in the year of the Tiger, bearing the element of wood.

In Chinese astrology, the element Wood is believed to grant human warmth and generosity to a sign. Individuals bearing this element are better able to forge co-operative bonds instead of depending on solitary initiatives – something that appears to contradict the basic nature of a sign like Tiger. However the end result is often soothing and appealing personality and quite successful both in social and worldly sense.

One of the most significant influences of the Wood element is to make the Tiger much more capable of reaching out to others on a one-to-one basis. Though the essential Tiger nature is quite popular amidst friends and followers, this is more the effect of personal magnetism and a certain mystique. Instead the Wood Tiger is able to forge far more personal connections with people around, based on genuine warmth and generosity. Not only are they fiercely loyal and willing to defend their friends, but they also work tirelessly to help out a friend in need. This makes the Wood Tiger a highly popular individual so that they seem to be more of a success in the social sense. At the same time however in an effort to be useful to their loved ones, Wood Tigers may be prone to spreading themselves too thin, and should remember to take time to calm down and recharge. -- Futurescopes.com --

Philippines Superstorm Yolanda: Before and Aftermath

By: Ma. Cristina P. Lao

On November 6, 2013, two days before the super storm Yolanda hit our country, we were warned by the government via TV news telecasts that this super storm was dangerous and we should take necessary precautions. Yolanda was anticipated as more harmful than hurricane Sandy, one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in the United States. We've seen the satellite pictures and videos of the vastness of clouds that has engulfed almost the entire nation.

Unfortunately, I think nobody knew what a storm surge was or how dangerous it was. We had been warned that sea water levels may reach up to five meters during the storm surge, but I think nobody knew that the effects of a storm surge would reach the nearby land areas like that of a Tsunami. Unfortunately some places that were believed to be safe like schools were also destroyed and may have killed thousands of lives as the count is still ongoing as of this moment.

November 6, 2013, 9PM: Panic buying was evident in most supermarkets and stores in Southern part of Cebu City, where I live. All the noodles, canned goods, batteries, flashlights, garbage plastic bags were swept off the shelves.  I was a bit calmer and decided to have my shopping the next day, as I don't want to shop with lots of people pushing each other.

November 7, 2013: I woke up early and observed the sky. It's so cloudy but there was still no rain. My focus was to update myself about the storm and checked out the news on TV, the news highlight was about Napoles' Senate Hearing, the alleged mastermind of scandal involving billions of pesos in pork barrel funds. I was not so interested about the senate inquiry, so I changed to another local channel. Well, all channels were about Napoles, so I changed the channel to CNN, there the newscaster discussed about storm surge that it can go to the land areas. It never occurred in my mind that the effect of a storm surge was somewhat like of a strong flood or a Tsunami that would pose a threat to people on land. 

November 7, 3PM: I went shopping for some food and was looking for black bags or garbage bags to cover our appliances like TV and computers. To my surprise there's not one garbage bag, or any kind of bag available. No more plastic cup noodles. It was like the grocery store has been robbed with the most common commodity like rice and canned goods. Even though there was not enough goods for me to buy, we were able to prepare beforehand rice, canned goods, water, emergency kit, and bags with some clothes, in case our house was destroyed. If in case there was flooding we were ready to run to a 5-floor pension house, which was twenty steps away from our apartment. We were ready for the storm.

November 8, 2013: I woke up around 5:45 a.m. Electricity was still on. The TV and radio coverage was all about the storm hitting Tacloban first. At around 8 am, I saw an ABS-CBN newscaster in Tacloban who was getting a video of the pier and the storm as the wind was becoming so strong. I said to myself, "What is this? He must be very brave or out of his mind." I had no idea that it was ABS-CBN news reporter Atom Araullo at that time.  Their video was able to show water starting to flow up the houses and almost reached the roofs. Then suddenly their video coverage was out. OMG what happened to the ABS-CBN news crew?

November 8, 2013, 9AM: Electricity was out. OMG, this is it! My two boys age 8 and 11 were just very quiet and observant. My younger child asked me if our house would be destroyed any moment that day. I told him, "No, it will not be destroyed." And keeps on asking me, "What if it will be destroyed, what will happen to us?" I told him, "It's okay as long as we are alive, we will be fine." I expected broken windows or at least the water to come in our house, but that did not happen. The wind was like concentrated on the top. The radio was still on, so we were able to hear most of the storm's development, until the radio stations cannot contact any of their co-reporters in the fields.  Everyone started to worry. What happened to all our neighboring cities in Cebu like Bogo, Daan Bantayan or other islands like Leyte? We thought the effect in other areas were the same as in the Southern part of Cebu City. Maybe because their cell phones are low bat or telephone lines cut off, so they were not able to contact anyone outside their cities.

November 8, 2013 11PM: Electricity came back. Wow! This is great, we can sleep well tonight. Tomorrow is another day. I prayed and hoped that everyone were safe, unaware of the aftermath.... 

"To be continued with pictures..."

Experiencing a 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake

By Ma. Cristina Lao

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu and Bohol provinces on October 15, 2013, Tuesday at 8:13 a.m. I was suddenly awoken by a loud shaking tremor and woke up my children and run down the stairs to the outside of our house. When this kind of calamity strikes you cannot bring or prepare anything. The only thing that comes to your mind is your kids and family and just go to a safer area. When we were outside I saw my neighbors all scared and shocked as all of us were standing in front of our shaking apartment. We cannot run anywhere, we were trapped. The building beside our apartment, a few meters away, was shaking horizontally and we cannot run outside because that building is our exit. My mother was on her knees praying loudly asking for God's forgiveness. I felt I had to remain calm because my mom is really in shock. I have to hug her and my children. It lasted for about 30-40 seconds, but everything seems like slow motion, it seems like it was forever. I just want the shaking to stop.

As it stopped, I realized that my husband is at work and his office is on the 9th floor of a building. Oh my God! Please keep him safe. I suddenly run inside the house and looked for my cell phone and called him but he can't be reached. I was shaking and very cold. Then my children and mom went outside to the road. All my neighbors were there for safety. In case the big building collapses. I need to get inside the house and bring some important documents, cell phone, money. Then I saw my two kids getting back into the house and they were also packing their own things. My older son, 11 years old, prepared clothes, canned goods, water, flashlight, cell phone and charger. My younger son 8 years old brought with him his school bag, water and a necklace that I just bought a few weeks ago. An hour later my husband called and he is safe.

It was a national holiday at that time, so there's no school. If it was school time, it could be very dangerous and very traumatizing for all the parents and kids.

This earthquake is not the first that I have encountered but this is the strongest I have ever experienced. As of this moment October 17 at 1:05am, more than 24 hours later, another aftershock is felt (lasting about 10-15 seconds). Oh Lord, please keep us all safe.

All pictures were taken after the earthquake. No time to take pictures during the quake. Other areas were not so lucky. A market, church and several buildings had collapsed within a few kilometers away.

 

I was standing exactly at this spot looking  at this shaking building.

All the occupants of these apartments were trapped in this narrow area.

We were surrounded by a wall of hollow blocks so there's no way out, but through that shaking building.

Aftermath of the quake. The building entrance.

cracked hollowblock walls

Our entrance and exit is through this path, under the building.

rubbles of cement

After the earthquake multiple aftershocks are still felt. Had to prepare gallons of water around our table for safety.

Foam under the table, my kids slept here for the last 2 days, as strong aftershocks are still felt.

Other areas in Cebu and Bohol. The earthquake aftermath.

Boyscouts of the Philippines packing relief goods.

One of the schools in Cebu. Imagine if the quake happened on a non holiday.

Chocolate Hills, Bohol

Cebu Municipal Hall

Packing relief goods, lots of water.

Inside a public school classroom

The roof of the school

Cebu Church

Impassable road in Loon, Bohol.

Sinkhall in Bohol after the quake

The patients were taken out of the hospitals and transferred on the streets and inside this basketball court.

Landslide in Bohol

Landslide

Collapsed bridge in Bohol.

Instead of the bridge people banca's are used to transfer people to the other side.

People of Bohol needs food and water.

Camping outside because of aftershocks.

President Aquino in Loon, Bohol, giving away relief goods.

Cebuano's preparing rice, water and relief goods for transport to Bohol. A ship transports these goods 2-3 times a day to Tagbilaran City, which is Bohol's main city. Some secluded areas are impassable, without electricity and has run out of water and food.

Devina DeDiva Racist Comments Against Miss Philippines World

This girl Devina DeDiva has been trending in the social media for the last 24 hours and had been broadcasted on Philippines National Television, TV Patrol. Calling all Filipino girls smelly and toilet cleaners. She commented on FB that "Those of u who wrote negatively to my comment I got 1 question - who r u to stop my words when the world is democratic in freedom of speech!!!"

Let me start by saying Miss Devina, whoever you are. Not all Filipinos are maids and toilet cleaners. We don't look down to poor people like you do. It seems like you are very uneducated and angry with the world. Anyway, you have just been crowned "Miss Racist of 2013" in the Philippines. Congratulations you are famous!!