Access Card

For the past two weeks, I reported to work using a temporary access pas which I secure at the reception area on a daily basis. Getting a temporary pass is tedious and challenging task. You need to bear the grunt and cold treatment of the burly MPs (military police) and have to be patient with their English language deficiency. Twice, the guards let me wait for 30 minutes for the simple reason of.. they were waiting for their colleague who can speak English.

Hehehe... waiting is alright. What I can't bear is the way they ask questions, as if, I am inside a high security interrogation room for a heinous crime. I don't blame these soldiers. They were only trying to protect a high security facility from the terrorist. I learned that two years ago, they were hit by two car bombs. That is what they wanted to preclude to happen.

Back to my access card.

My boss actually applied for a permanent access card for me. But knowing how this people works, I expect that it would take them three weeks what the Singaporeans can do in less than a day. I didn't mind, though. A permanent card can log my movements inside the compound. My boss would be able to check my location and verify how long have I worked. But with my temporary access card, my boss cannot track me down. Neither can he checked whether I completed the official 44 hours work week. Hehehe... I have an excuse then, to go home early.

And indeed, I went home early today. 2pm.

si judy.. ang nurse, bow!

In this part of the world, weekend doesn't come on Saturday. Instead, it begins on a Thursday and ends on a Friday evening. Needless to say, our weekday starts on a Saturday.

And today, a Friday, my friend Dowin pass by at my place and invited me to attend a party. The celebration will be held on a private compound (also called as Estaraha) in Sulai District. I was hesitant at first thinking because it was still 7am and I was still sleepy. Besides, there's nothing to see in the place but when he told me that there will be some nurses and lady visitors, I immediately jump up and prepare my things. Hah! Now, I can use my camera again.

We arrived at the place quite early and were among the first visitors. My friends help in the preparation of the food, while I settled on one of the function rooms and continue my morning nap.

I woke up at around 11am, just in time when the bulk of the visitors arrived. I look around and saw a pretty lady who was walking on my direction. In a split of a second, I immediately grab my camera and took a picture of her. She was surprised and immediately turned away, but I was fast and I was able to capture her smile before she started to move away.

And the Jorgy boy... as usual, followed her in the on the other function room. I explained that I didn't meant harm and asked her if she could pose for me. And surprise, surprise... she agreed.

Slowly, I taught her how to pose such as how to arch her body and move her head relative to the source of light. I also asked her to be particular with the movement of her hair. Judy - she told me her name - may not be very
pretty compared to my previous models, but she was relatively easy to control. She follows direction to the letter and surprisingly has an inherent skills on how to project herself. In fact, it didn't take me an hour to get the shots that I wanted to see. Few minutes of finding the appropriate source of light, and few shots is what I needed to get a good portrait.

Later at the party, I had another talk with Judy. She told me that she has contemplated on my offer (a long photo session) and she has decided to go for it. She was particularly interested to have good portrait for large print, and some pictures with her sister. I smiled and agreed. I told her that I may need a large room and some good wall background.

Before parting, she gave me her number. She requested to send an email for the details of the photo shoot.

Hehhee.... who said there is no photo shoot in Saudi Arabia! Nyehehehe... I was wrong!

More pics at my site

http://www.photonski.com/sons_of_jorge/Judy

RIS

Dowin pass by at around 8pm. He informed me that there is an ongoing pageant at the Riyadh International School. The search is for the Mr & Ms RIS. "Can I shoot", I immediately asked. He was not sure but I didn't care. I took out my camera bag and proceed to RIS.

The pageant is already half way through, when I arrived. I immediately went to the far side of the stage and analyze the situation. No mutawah, no police, and no other foreign nationals were present. Good! I can shoot.

I went to the middle of the crowd and blend with the parents. Having covered so many pageants before, I know exactly where to stand and when to take pictures. Without hesitation, I stood up and starts taking pictures, not minding if I was blocking the view of the other parents.
When nobody objected, I continued with what I was doing. Then some parents ask favors to take more pictures on their sons or daughters. Some are even willing to pay if I can give them the pictures. Hehehe... I can earn money here!

After the show, the parents approached me and ask how they can get the pictures. I told them that they can collect it with Mimi - the wife of Dowin, with some token or fee.

Frankly, it was never an interesting pageant. The contestant were just teeners, and my golly, the program was too dull. Pinky, I am sure, can do better. But... I still stayed and covered the event. I guess, with no activities or events to shoot, I have to settle to whatever is there. This is the only chance that I could use my camera so I grab it. Anyway, I would be earning some money. So.. not bad at all.

Cleaning the house

Work oftentimes ends early on Wednesday. My manager left his office at around 2pm, our general manager 1:30, and the director at 1pm. It looks like, everyone was just waiting for his boss to leave, then everyone would follow.

Well, I was not exempted of the trend. I left the office at 2:30, together with my fellow consultants. I just went of the building but didn't go home yet. I was hungry so I proceed to the nearby restaurant at the gate and ordered some food. Then at around 2:45, I saw my systems engineers and programmers leaving the gate. Hehehe... I smiled, thinking that they were just waiting for me to go home.

I pass by at Thakassusi to buy additional paint for my room and locks for my door. I am quite confident that I could finish the painting job by Friday and hopes to buy some furniture to make my flat looks like a real house. Pinky and Jasmine will be arriving hopefully on January; and I want my place to be perfect for them, least I got criticism. These girls are picky, you know.

Riyadh at Night

I went out for dinner. While waiting for my meal, I made some calls to my friends in Singapore General Hospital. They were generally surprise to hear that I was already in Saudi, and they even teased me about camels and sheeps. Hehehe... these nurses are really funny!

At around 11pm, everything seems quite all around. I looked at my window and found the hotel security guard silently sitting on his bunker. While on the opposite side of the road, the National Guard checkpoint is already closed, and I don't see any military entity walking in the vicinity. Hmm... this is good! Once again I took my camera out and wrap it with a large towel, then proceed to the roofdeck of the hotel.

It was dark. The roof light were already turned off and I have to use my cell phone to guide me where to walk. I went far to the opposite of the National Guard checkpoint - just to be safe - and position my camera near a pole of a satellite disk. In the absense of a tripod, I tied the lens onto a post using a rubber band and angled it towards the two famed towers of Riyadh. After taking several pictures of long exposure, I slowly crawled back to my room.

What was the feeling? GREAT! It's not the picture.. but the excitement that I felt when I took the shot. Hehehehehe... I will never do it again (kaya?)

Sunset in Riyadh

It's been several weeks since I last arrive in Riyadh. I already got a flat at Sulaimaniah
and had moved in last week. I choose the place because the area is familiar - I used to live nearby during my 1st stay here - and it is near a Filipino School. The Military Hospital is also just few blocks away which of course meant that there is a large concentration of Pinay nurses around. Hehehe.. self serving, isn't?

But for now, I will not be writing about my house, not the school nor the nurses who live nearby. What I want to share with you is my experience that happened several weeks ago.

During the last two weeks of Ramadan, I was stuck in my hotel at the Riyadh Palace Hotel. I could not move out and transfer to my new flat because the realty house was close during the whole Eid holidays. So I have not choice but to stay and wallow with my boredom in the hotel. I tried to spend the week watching TV and DVDs but it only take a day or two, when boredom started to creep it. I got restless and thought of using camera. But I immediately hold the idea because I know it is forbidden to take photograph in the city.

"What about the rooftop?", the devil spoke to me! hehehehe... And indeed, I went to the rooftop of the hotel. Surprise surprise! The access doors were carelessly left unlocked and THERE WERE NO SECURITY CAMERAS in the hallway and in the rooftop. Aha! and opportunity.

Without a second thought, I went back to my room and grab a big towel and wrap my camera then hurriedly climb the roof deck. I used my tora-tora lens and with some filter I started shooting. It was a hot afternoon with a very hot dry air blowing my face which makes my nose bleeds. But that didn't matter. I enjoyed the view so much and had stayed more than three hours on the roof.

I waited for the sunset to capture my first sunset photography in Riyadh. It was perfect - the sun was red-orange in a clear yellow-red sky. I have taken several dozens and struggled because I didn't have a tripod with me that time. And, I have to use those aircon exhaust vents as my alternative. Nevertheless, I capture one picture that was worth all my wait.

My heart was pumping fast after taking the Sunset shot - maybe due to excitement and perhaps because of the adrenaline rush brought by the fear of getting caught by the nearby National Guards. I didn't waste any moment. I hurried down to my room and download the images. And howaaah!!! The pictures were simple great.

I wanted to upload my pictures and show it to my friends in Singapore but having no Internet connection in my hotel room, I opted to store it and planned to post process all the pictures. Anyway, I have all the chance that I wanted once I transfer to my new place.

Sa mundo ng desyertong buhangin

Sa mundo ng desyertong buhangin!!! (In the world of dessert sands)

It's been quite some time since the last I made a visit with my blog. I didn't open my Friendster and I even reduce my online time to less than an hour a day. If not of my regular emails - mostly bills - I may have totally cut off my self from the net.

My friends called and asked if I am sick or in trouble because I was not writing anymore. Believe me, such gesture was heart filling because I just realize, I have real friends who cares for me.. and not just readers of my escapades. And the best answer that I could give? "I was preparing for something big"

Little did my friends know, I was leaving for Saudi Arabia. For sure, they would not understand my decision because I was initially very vocal - and even made an oath - that I would never go back to the Middle East again. For a handful whom I called when I reached Saudi Arabia, I explained to them that it's all about my retirement insurance! In just 5 years, heaven permit, I could sit down and look forward for a comfortable retirement years ahead.

Well... now I'm here...

Goodbye CA

Time flies so fast, it was like just yesterday when I first came to this office and was given a warm welcome by a group of strangers of different color and faces. Little that I know, three years has pass, and the strangers that once look at me in the eye with evaluative and speculative looks, became my good friends and colleagues at work

It's hard to say goodbye to the people whom you work passionately. We may not have good atmosphere and we do fight all the time, but I am proud that every end of the day... all of us knew that we only wanted to achieve excellence. We push our limit thus we became who we are today. For that, I told them upfront "I couldn't be much better without you my bastard enemies", and they all laugh and hug me for they know that the benefit was reciprocal.

When I left my office door this afternoon, I carried with me all the good things that I learned from this company. Rest be assured that all the bad things I had were packed in a box and I left it inside my office room so so I will not remember it when I go out.

Bye my friends, goodbye CA Singapore

go or not go?

It looks like I'm gonna be seeing the dunes of Arabian Peninsula sooner than I expected.

I received a call from Mr. Hani Sabawi this afternoon. He confirmed with me the appointment for the job and tried to haggle a bargain with the package offer. He explained that the cost of living the Middle East haven't change since I left the place four years ago. Given the gross salary that will be given to me and the perks of accommodations of the villa where I will be staying, Hani calculated that I will still be able to save a sizable amount. He mentioned about the non monetary benefits that I could enjoy and the relaxed environment that I will be experiencing the work place. He explained that he wanted to keep the cost of the project within the budget and don't want to create the large disparity of salary between me and the other workers.

Bottom line, he was asking a reduction of 30% from the original offer.

independence day celebration

A long day ahead.

I know I will have a long day ahead, but I woke up excited and full of anticipation. Who wouldn't be? In the morning, we will be opening our 1st Pinoygraphers@Sg Photo Exhibit at the SMU basement. And the rest of the day, we will be covering as the official photographers of the 109th Philippine Independence Day celebration in Singapore. We were advised that we will also cover for the photo session with the Filipino celebrities who will grace the celebration.

When I reached the place at around 8:30 AM. the activities had already started and the place was already crowded with so many Pinoys. So many - you would think, it's Manila. And the mere sight of Filipinos of different walks of life gathered in one place and celebrating a common festive mood, exults happiness on one's heart. Ambassador Anota and Consul General Belen, along with dozens of government dignitaries litters the place. They shed all their formalities and simply joined the crowd as normal Pinoy and enjoy the festivities. Of course, majority of those who attended were our fellow Pinay DH... and they were there primarily because of the John Lloyd.

How about our exhibit, you would ask. Yes, we opened our work of art during the celebration. Not only that our group had a booth in the fair, but we were actually given the whole end of the trade fair area to exhibit our pictures. We had so many viewers that we had to manage the audience just avoid crowding the place too much. I could say, we "wowed" them and even excited their enthusiasm on photography. And when they asked us what is the prerequisite to be a member, we all answered "just have a camera and a burning passion with photography".

This is the first gathering of the Pinoygraphers@Sg and I was surprised with the attendance of the members. I saw more than a dozen new faces wearing our uniform and they were all holding camera on their hand. They very active and never in one second hesitated helping in the preparation of the exhibit, help during the photo coverage of the activities, and mingle with the crowd as the official photographers. Watching them from a distance, I just smiled and remember myself a year back. I was also an eager beaver just like them.

Me...? I enjoyed the activity too. I met a lot of girls among the crowd. Those girls that I met may not sport the good looks compared to the nurses that I dated, but gee... when you talk to girls, you will realize that they are far better person than their appearance says. They knew life to the fullest and understand the subtlety of good friendship and family. I admire their honesty and purity of heart.

greener pasture

What would you do if someone offers you a job twice your existing salary plus 30% for accommodation? The answer is .... GRAB IT, STUPID!

How I wish it would be that simple. But... huhuhu.. it's not.

Two months ago, I got a letter from a recruitment agency in Canada asking me if I would like to "explore" the idea of working back in the Middle East. Since the recruitment agency comes from my home place and I know the headhunter personally, I "carelessly" agreed. I send my resume, and my actual remuneration package here in Singapore. Little did I know that my headhunter submitted my papers to Saudi Arabia and I got singled out as the candidate for job offering.

Then last week, I got a call from Maureen informing me that the employer would be calling me on Saturday for an interview. They did call last Saturday (oh.. I was in a date with Amanda that time) and they put me on a speaker phone then throw a bunch of questions about CA products. I didn't take the interview seriously (who would?) because I was busy with my date. But I managed to answer their questions promptly and direct to the point. The funny thing, I personally know one of the interviewers (he was my colleague in Saudi) and I was just answering the questions as if I was talking to a friend.

Honestly, I didn't remember the interview at all. All I recall about Saturday was my fantastic date.

Come Monday, I received an email from Maureen. The title was simple: Negotiation Time. And the body of the letter says: please advice the best time to call you about package negotiation.

Whoaah! Surprise suprise...! I couldn't believe this is truly happening.

This afternoon. I got a call from Canada - from John my headhunter - informing me of the package offer. How much? Twice of what I am receiving in Singapore plus 30% of my salary for housing and transpo allowance. Hah. Now I am worried. Should I bite the offer? Think ... think... think...

Pro: good money
Cons: no camera, no girls, no booze, no movies, NO LIFE!

WAAAAAHHHHH................

bikini shoot

I wake up early this morning. I was a bit excited because we have a scheduled bikini photo shoot at Sentosa with my colleague in Photobongbong. Last Monday, I planned a bikini photoshoot and asked Glenn to provide the models. At first we were not sure if we can pull off the plan but with some little luck, we were able to confirmed the schedule with ladies on Saturday.

Actually, I also have another outdoor photoshoot schedule. This one was a street photography with my original group the Photonski. Tonski invited me to join them and even send an text message of confirmation. That was careless of me because I didn't check my schedule and totally forgot that I organized a bikini shoot at the same day. I know this would make Tonski and Tolitz feel bad, but I have no choice. I canceled street photography in favor of the bikini photoshoot.

The guys were already there when I arrived in Vivo City at the Harbour Front. I was glad to see that there were only 7 shooters and 2 models. Though only Vivien (who prefers to be called Susie) showed up at Vivo City, Didith called and promised to follow at Sentosa.

We started at Tanjung Beach under the shades of coconut trees.
Susie who stands 5 feet 10 inches was simply stunning as she pose among the tree trunks. Honestly, I was so mesmerized with her beauty that I didn't shoot during the first half hour. I simply stayed from a distance and watch her move with the photographers. I borrowed the Sports Illustrated calendar from Blenda and choose the poses that would best fit for Vivien. Then joined with the group and started shooting.

My colleagues knows that when I am holding a camera and shooting a model, I could be demanding and particular with details. I was always conscious on how and where the hair falls, and how the model position their arms, fingers and jaw line. I guess they agree with what I was doing because they allowed me to direct the tempo and they would wait for the right moment before starting to fire their camera.

Didith joined with us at around 1pm. We had lunch first at Kuofu food court and after an hour later, we transfered to a location along the breakwater of Palawan Beach. We spend hours at the rocks exploring some pose that would blend with their bikini and body color tone. We were interrupted for an hour because of rain but managed to get back to the beach line before 6pm. It was just the right timing to get the ladies into the water and shoot for wet look. The sun was 10 degrees on the horizon and the color cast of the sky was light orange.

I explored the use of ND gradient filter to separate the strong contrast between the sky and water, and coupled it with polarizer to diffuse the effect of water reflection. Then I asked Didith to lay down on the sand and waited for the waves to hit her body before firing my camera. It was not easy as you think. I have to lay down at the sand too to get a parallel perspective with the model. Needless to say, I got wet and and so as my gears. Good thing I have a weather sealed lens and camera body. hehehhe...

It was almost 8pm when we called it a day. I enjoyed the photo shoot and had taken almost 6GB of pictures. With an extra 1GB more, I could have taken more photos but it was already too dark and the resulting picture is no longer acceptable.

We had dinner at Food Republic. We were happily reviewing our day's activity when Susie notice that I was no longer wearing my watch. Arrgh! I left my Seiko Kinetic Titanium 4 at the Shower room. It pains me because that's my remembrance from Saudi Arabia and my first $1k treasure. Huhuhu... ang sakit.

si noel

I never had a buddy who could keep up with me except for one who used to be my "partner-in-crime". His name is Noel Macaya. We were friends way back on our high school years and were both products of a Marist Brothers ruled Notre Dame School. And during my work years at Philcom, Noel became my buddy at work: he manages the customer interfacing operations while I managed the back-end-operations. We had a seamless work relationship that we were so effective, our superiors could not cope up with our output. Several times, we were given citation as the best employees and best team in the company.

Little did the company know that we were better partners not in the office, but in our gimmicks and escapades. Almost every night, we would "hunt" inside the bars and clubs in Cagayan de Oro picking up girls, ladies and pretty women of different "variety". We alternate as wing-man and predator and we were so effective that we have a success rate of almost 100%. Once we set an eye on a "prey", it would just be a matter of minutes - we could get the target. We were known in all watering holes in the city. We earned such a reputation that other "hunters" would felt threatened of our presence, and they would make a way for us thus making our hunt much easier.

What make us tick together was our mutual respect with each other's ability and skills. Noel has good looks, charisma and intelligence, and I used this to my advantage. I am audacious, fast, and smart and could sweet talk anyone with ease, and Noel uses my skills too.. to his advantage. This positive reinforcement toward each other and a healthy competition push ourselves to a higher plane that we could not have reach individually. I don't recall we ever disagree about women. Our unspoken code: whoever first set eyes on a prey, it his!

And when we parted ways because we had to move to different companies, I felt I lost a leg. Gone was an important part of me that made me deadly on a hunt. I lost a partner. For several times I tried doing it by myself, but my success rate drop significantly that eventually I decided to stopped my hunting ways. Occasionally, we still hang out together but during the latter days, we started to lost contact when I went abroad.

That was almost 6 years ago. This evening, I was surprised to see an email from my long lost friend Noel. I learned that he is currently in Davao and is working with Splash corporation. He used to be with Smart Telecoms but found the company too boring, thus made a decision to transfer to Splash. But knowing Noel as an untamed and free spirited intelligent person, it didn't surprise me when he told me that he is planning to moved out of the country soon.

I was glad to hear from my friend. We talked about many things: work, career, classmates, and of course women. It was so relishing to reminisce our good 'ole days and we have plans to doing it once more here in Sg.

Hehehe... I can't wait.

Lower Pierce

My next schedule was a photoshoot with the PinoyITdotSg guys who will be playing Tag Paint Ball at Orchid Country Club in Yishun. I didn't actually signed up for the activity during the roll-call at the yahoogroup, but I planned to go there because this something that I don't have in my portfolio. I wanted to surprise the group crash in their activity. I am confident that they would let me in because I know most of the members.

I was already late so I took a taxi on my way to Yishun. Then out of nowhere, thunderstorm starts to pour. Tsk tsk tsk... this is bad, very very bad. I don't want to expose my gears under the rain hence I decided to cancel my trip to Yishun. Instead, I went to Admiralty and visit Rey Tuazon in his place. I stayed there for several minutes before proceeding to Chua Chu Kang MRT to meet the Photobongbong guys.

Glenn was already there when we arrived. Melvin, Jowena, Ruby and Jared where there too. We then proceed to the Lower Pierce Lake
for the sunset photo session. Melvin and Glenn gave us some tips on the basics of how to take landscape photography. Rey also provided tips and necessary information about the place and the best location where to shoot.

The photo session was fun. We didn't just limit taking pictures of the landscape but also did some portrait. And our model? Hehehe.. the ever willing and pretty Jowena.

'Twas past seven thirty when we left the place. I didn't go home immediately. Instead, I proceed to Tampines to attend the Filipino mass at the Holy Trinity Church.

I reach home at around 10pm. I didn't have time to edit my pictures, I immediately fall asleep.

http://www.photonski.com/sons_of_jorge/LowerPierce

lalie

Bong called up this morning to confirm our photo studio session tonight. He asked me to look for a stylist to take care of the make up and accessories, and they will take care of the studio location. I immediately called Ms G to check if she's available but say to say, she begged off to skip this one due to prior appointment. I immediately called Rey to help me scout for a make up stylist.

Later that day, Tolitz called. Tomorrow's 2nd session of pre-nups shoot with Doreen was cancelled. We may need to reschedule it after the wedding due to tight schedule this May.

Evening, I went to i-studio at Geylang for the photo shoot. Bong and the rest of the team were already there. Melvin gave us some useful tips on how to do glamour photography and then he showed us the basic positioning and setup of lights. Me too shared something during the shoot. I told them that it is very critical to get the attention and confidence of the model before taking any shoot. During my shooting turn, I spent almost half of my shooting time making the model relax and be comfortable with me. And though I only shot a couple of pictures, all my photos were good.

Aside for the basic studio lighting technique, I tried to experiment on low key and orange tone photography. I used a super sharp Canon 50mm f1/8 while taking pictures under a 3-stop light measurement. In layman's term, it's like reading under a 15W red incandescent bulb. And after several failed attempts, I finally got the right combination. The result was orgasmic! tsk.. tsk.. tsk..

Visit my site for more pictures

http://www.photonski.com/sons_of_jorge/Lalie