what defines a man

A friend told me, this morning, that I am a strong person.

Upon hearing those words, I simply burst unto laughter and then asked why she said so? She offered no explanation but tried to explain her conclusion based on what she "perceived" was true. Being a good friend, I bluntly told her that I am not what she thinks I am. Honestly, I said, I am just but a child wearing an armour who is waging battles in a war called life.

She was not convinced, of course, so I shared her my story about my high school days.

It was in my last year in High School when I run to a big predicament of finding a partner for our Seniors Prom night. I already approached one lady (whom I adored as my Aphrodite) but was rejected on the simply grounds that I was not "cute" enough to merit as her consort. That rejection was hard for me. I took it seriously and cried with a wounded heart. When I reached home, I saw my mother in the kitchen and with conviction, I stood besides her then uttered "Mama, why did you choose Papa? Hindi ka na naawa sa akin? I look like him!".

I was already late when I realize that I made a terrible bubo of myself. As my senses returned, I was gripping with shame and fear was all over me... thinking my father would surely punish me for insulting my mother and degrading my family name. But my fear was unfounded, though. When my father arrived, he held me in his arms and explained: "My son, the measure of a real man is defined not by his riches nor his achievements and certainly not his looks". "A real man is that person who has a large heart to understand what is right and what is wrong, and stand for it".

That was not actually helpful that time because my problem was to find a Seniors Prom partner - which he eventually found a solution. However, those words was etched in my mind and heart that until now, I still adhere to it.

I am as strong person? Nah... maybe, you can think that way, but I am not. All I have is an armor and my Creator who never fails to give energy to this shield that I am wearing.

suv or sedan?

After obtaining a driver's license, a "virus" infected me. That virus transformed this once sedate egg-headed monkey into a Google searching monster. And for these past few days, all I have been doing was browse in the Net and search for cars!

When was the last time I thought of cars? I could not remember. Well, except perhaps with Formula One racing cars which was my subject for photography, cars or its derivatives never appeal on me. It was never my habit to understand about cars, until now.

Gee... I entered unto this unfamiliar territory. I could not decide if I would buy it in cash or installment, or should I take a brand new car or a used one? And then lately, I was seduced by the thoughts of buying SUV instead of a sedan. A Hyundai Tucson looks very pretty and I could imagine myself oozing with pogi points behind the steering wheel. But a Toyota Corolla XLi would just be as nice at half the price, thus sparing me of emptying my pockets. I could save that extra cash for the rainy days! Right?

Ahhhhyaaa.... what to do, lah? (with Singaporean accent)

ksa driver's license

I got my first driver's license more than 10 years ago in the Philippines. That license landed on my hand because I traded a Ninoy Aquino (500 peso bill) in exchange for the plastic card. I was never proud having that license because I didn't earned it. I didn't have the required skill to drive a car and it took me years to master the skill of defensive driving in Manila.

This morning, I went to Dallah Driving School to apply for a driver's license. Armed with a "endorsement" letter from my boss, I look for certain guy named Hamed and asked him to facilitate my papers. The guy simply look on the signature on the paper, the started compiling forms. After asking me 5 sets of photos, he instructed me to proceed to the nearby clinic for my blood test. Thirty minutes later, I went back to him. He accompanied me to the driving instructor to verify my driving proficiency level.

The test was just a simply starting & stopping of the engine, and a simple back driving (backing). Of course, I easily pass the test.

An hour later, Hamed came back and brought me to the another Hall. There, I listened to the lecture regarding Traffic Rule & Regulation in the Kingdom. We were all asked to take the computerized exam afterwards - which I easily pass.

At 11:00am, I was already waiting for the Police Officer who will conduct my final driving test. I have in my hands a folder containing all my papers and exam result.

I expected a though final drive test. Last week, I prepared for uphill car start & the dreaded test parallel parking with only 18-inch clearance, but to my dismay all of this never come up in the final test. The police officer only listened to the engine during start up, and check my positions when I performed a backing. After that, he signed my papers and told me I passed.

I got my driver's license in a plastic card after three and half hour!

That was fast, everyone says, but I know I pulled if off because of the "endorsement" letter from my boss - who happens to be a top guy in the Interior. Hehehe... it's nice to know the right connection. Right?

ksa driver's license

I got my first driver's license more than 10 years ago in the Philippines. That license landed on my hand because I traded a Ninoy Aquino (500 peso bill) in exchange for the plastic card. I was never proud having that license because I didn't earned it. I didn't have the required skill to drive a cark and it took me years to master the skill of defensive driving in Manila.

This morning, I went to Dallah Driving School to apply for a driver's license. Armed with a "endorsement" letter from my boss, I look for certain guy named Hamed and asked him to facilitate my papers. The guy simply look on the signature on the paper, the started compiling forms. After asking me 5 sets of photos, he instructed me to proceed to the nearby clinic for my blood test. Thirty minutes later, I went back to him. He accompanied me to the driving instructor to verify my driving proficiency level.

The test was just a simply starting & stopping of the engine, and a simple back driving (backing). Of course, I easily pass the test.

An hour later, Hamed came back and brought me to the another Hall. There, I listened to the lecture regarding Traffic Rule & Regulation in the Kingdom. We were all asked to take the computerized exam afterwards - which I easily pass.

At 11:00am, I was already waiting for the Police Officer who will conduct my final driving test. I have in my hands a folder containing all my papers and exam result.

I expected a though final drive test. Last week, I prepared for uphill car start & the dreaded 18-inch clearance parallel parking but to my dismay, all of this never come up in the final test. The police officer only listened to the engine during start up, and check my positions when I performed a backing. After that, he signed my papers and told me I passed.
I got my driver's license in a plastic card after three and half hour!

That was fast, everyone says, but I know I pulled if off because of the "endorsement" letter from my boss - who happens to be a top guy in the Interior. Hehehe... it's nice to know the right connection. Right?

genesis

Just like all things, everyone has to start somewhere and I am not exception of that.

Officially, I am shifting to Blogger and will veer away from Friendster starting this day. This is first blog entry here in blogger.com and definitely not the last. All other entries written before today were exported/copied entries from Friendster.

I'm a blogger and I've been blogging for the past two years. And if you would like to know, I say that I've been writing a diary and a journal since 1983. Quite a long time, eh? hehehe... well, I just like to write about myself and my adventures in life.

So fasten your seatbelt and enjoy the ride of my adventure.

p.s.

All post written before today were compilation of previous post from my old blog

induction of officers

It looks like I am getting serious with the Toastmaster's Club.

This afternoon, I attended the Induction of Officers for the PICPA Riyadh Toastmasters Club at the Red Onion Restaurant in Olaya St. Since it was a formal party, I have no choice but to take out my one and only wearable tuxedo. I was doubtful at first that the tux would fit because I gained 35 lbs in the last 3 months, and my waist line have pole vaulted from size 34 to 38. (Argg!!!! What did I eat?) Moreover, after a little adjustment on the trousers, it finally fits.

The meeting was very cozy and "formal". The guys looks great and the few ladies that we have were just simply amazing. We have wonderful speakers

and the discussions were lively and exciting. Well, I volunteered to answer one of the table topics question and received a good response from the audience for a well-delivered message. But, I got slammed during the critique time for not answering the question. Hehehe.. I guess, I still need more training and practice in public speaking. That didn't bother me anyway. What was important was for me to develop confidence while standing in front of an audience on a formal setting.

And guess what? The addict in me never failed - I brought my camera with me and I shoot during the entire event. Can you imagine this egg headed monkey in tuxedo with a large camera on his hand? Hah! That's jorgy boy in action.

Unlike the previous meeting where I was quite aloft, this time I made sure that I got acquainted with all the members and visitors. I exchange pleasantries with the great speakers like Ron Jacobe and Ditas, and made tsika tsika with the visitors.

One person caught my attention - I learned that she used to work in Singapore. She was Vicky, the girlfriend of a Toastmaster colleague, who works in Apex Nursing home in Pasir Ris. You see, I know that nursing home very much because I often visit that place when I was in Singapore. That is why when I told her that I know the place, we got some common grounds to talk about. Huh! It reminds me of my "happy" days in Sg.

I went home driving a rented car... and without a license. hehehe... That was very brave of me.

silent mode

Today, a dear friend of mine, Anna from Singapore, send me a private message and asked why I kept a silent mode with my blogs for the past days. Her email was warm and sincere, and full of inspiring words that would surely lift any sunken spirit. I know why she send me that mail. Having known her for quite sometime, I was sure that she was thinking that I was in trouble or some kind of crossroad.

But no, I am not having any quandary of any kind. In fact, I am in my best shape (gee.. I gained 25 lbs for the last 3 months) and in the best of spirits (I am meeting people here.. ehem!). And more importantly, I can shoot in Riyadh. Halleluiah!!!! I have wedding shoots, fashion shoots, and my favorite portraiture.

Yep, I could be in trouble, I could consider that. But not because of people or work or family... but because of my photography. Hehehe. Didn't you know that I shoot that Fighter Planes last week? And tried to publish it in my blog, only to hide the entry later after a comment from a friend in UK? Tsk tsk tsk.. adik kase!

My friend maybe right, I just didn't know it yet. But who does? I don't know.

And just few minutes ago, I gave my friend a ring. I assured her that I am very much okay, alive and kicking. I thank her for the concern and for the thoughtfulness.

full throttle

I was making my rounds for practice driving in the vicinity of RKH Hospital when I noticed 7 red single engine planes flying on a V-formation. It catches my attention because these planes usually fly on single flights, but today they were flying in groups and they were performing some acrobatics. Hmm... this is a nice subject to shoot, I thought. Slowly, I turned back my car and headed towards home.

On the way, I was half-hearted to take photographs of the plane. I was divided whether to continue my practice driving or should I go home and take pictures? My reservation was grounded on the risk that taking photographs of any military installation or machines is strictly prohibited in the Kingdom. And when I was about to decide to continue my rounds, I heard a loud noise of jets passing over my head.

Whoaaah!!!! I saw two squadrons of F-15s in the sky flying in V-formation. A minute later, another two squadrons of F-18s made a low altitude pass in full throttle. Gee, the noise was so loud it triggers the alarms of all parked cars in the streets.

That's it.

I pumped the gas pedal and hurried towards home. I was no longer thinking of the risk, and everything in my head was my camera. In 5 minutes, I reached home.. hurriedly grab my Canon 20D then fitted a Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L IS and a circular polarizer, and run in the stairway toward the rooftop.

Standing at the rooftop, I could see the Air Control Tower of the nearby Air Base, and the planes were far in the horizon making a round-about for the second pass. The adrenaline was pumping in my body like crazy. The excitement of capturing a good pictures of the planes and the fear of being spotted by military authorities was making me nervous like a porcupine. Crazy thoughts were already filling my head. "What if they could see me through a satellite just like in the movies? Would they send me to jail?" Huwaaahhh!!! crazy, crazy and more crazy thoughts.

After thirty minutes of waiting, I saw the first squadron approaching the Air Base. I hid among the boxes making sure that I was out of sight from the Air Control Tower, and then lifted my camera and started shooting. I made a hundred shots in just a minute. I reviewed it and but not happy with the result because majority were either blur or with bad-composition.

Five minutes later, the second squadron made another pass and performed an awesome herbst maneuver (J-turn) just few hundred meters above the ground. I was dumbfounded. Though I've seen those maneuvers in the Discovery Channel, boy, this was real... and I saw it. Hehehehehe.

I took over 500 shots with 90% garbage rate. Many were blurred, under-exposed or over-exposed, and a few dozens that were quite acceptable. It might not be of publishing quality, but I just console myself of the fact that taking pictures of fighter planes in the Kingdom is already an achievement.

Oh.. did I endanger my self for writing this blog? I guess so. Hah! Addict kase sa photography eh.

Bahala na si Batman...

sub zero

Arrrr!!!! It's freezing cold out here today. Fog is everywhere with visibility of less than 2 miles, humidity is 36%, temperature is officially at 0 degree Celcius and feels like -3 deg when wind is factored in, and the wind chill temperature is -11deg, sun is out, and mid-day luminance is like sundown.

There was no snow, just a numbing cold breeze and nose bleed inducing dust. But it's too much to bear for this egg-headed monkey who grows up in a tropical jungle in Mindanao. And this is just the 2nd day. According to weather forecast, this trend would continue in the next 5 days.

Huhuhu... why I am here in Saudi? Remind me again, please!!!!

Toastmasters

It was in the year 1990 when I first heard about the Toastmasters Club, when I was taking my OJT at the Iligan Cement Corporation. I did not actually care of knowing what the club is all about because I was too preoccupied with an ordeal of completing my studies.

However, I do remember my former OJT manager uses me as target audience every Friday afternoon. He would ask me to count how many "err", "ahh", "umm" and any inappropriate interjection he made. It was no easy job - believe me. He was a boring speaker and he got this nasty accent and a foul diction that I have to hold my breath just to avoid a burst of laughter every time he made a bubo of himself. At the end of every practice session, I would gladly give him inaccurate but pleasing results just to make him feel good. In return, he would give me a lift on my way home. I guess, I really made him feel great that he gave me an excellent OJT evaluation. Self-serving, eh? hehehehe

The second time I heard of Toastmaster was last year when I met Ditas the principal of Riyadh International School. She invited me to join the club - of which I was excited really - but she failed to tag me along in their meetings. It was not until I met Ben Lee last December in the Philippine Embassy when I got a formal invitation to join the club. That was 13 December.

Then last week, I got a call from a guy named Archie who introduced himself as a Toastmasters member. He confirmed the invitation extended by Ben last year, and informed me of the date for the first meeting for the year - which is today.

Ben was the first people who meet me at the club. I also saw Ditas who was very happy to see me. She was very proud to present me in the club as a professional photographer. (Err.. that was actually "too good" to be true). I also meet the famous Ron Jacobe whom I just learned hails from Cagayan de Oro.

I have to be honest, I felt like I was on the tip of my toes during the whole proceedings. I was worried that I would run out of my English vocabulary or worse get black out when asked by the moderators. Oh, they have the Ah counter - which explains that task from OJT days - and a grammarian who checks the grammar and logic of your speech. Scary, is it not?

Well, to sum it up. My first meeting was very exciting. I volunteered during the table topics discussion and made a little impression among the members. I think I going to like this cub. I am sure that they help me improve my speaking skills and my listening attitude too.

muslim wedding

... continued..

12:30 pm

Finally, everyone was ready for the Muslim Rites. The couple together with their entourage gathered in a large tent beside the main reception hall. I was surprise, wondering why we are not inside the wedding hall. Then Ate Noreen asked me to take photos of the group, the sponsors, and the children. When I asked where the officiating Imam is, she answered - "nobody is officiating". They only want to get pictures and nothing more. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is not a Muslim wedding but a photo session. Well, I just follow orders. Anyway, that's what I was paid for.

2:30 pm

I just learned that the formal wedding ceremony would start at 3:30pm, and not with their traditional Tausog clothes but with a formal Party Dress. The entourage changed their wardrobe with red-wine colored clothes, while the groom and bride in pure white tuxedo and wedding gown, respectively. And the size of the entourage had tripled, there were more principal sponsors, and the visitors swelled. [Chucks, I even saw Kuya Ferdie, Rey and Neil among the visitors].

While waiting for the ceremony to start, I busied myself taking pictures of everyone - group, portrait, pairs, family, and more.
And I also brush elbows with the visitors especially among the nurses from King Khalid Hospital. Hehehe... Jorgy boy, again! Contrary to what you are expecting, I was quite tamed that time. Yeah, I mingled with the ladies but never stick more than 5 minutes because I was busy taking pictures.

Click.. click.. click.. and more clicks. Finally, it was over after 7:30pm.

I reached home at 8:45, just changed clothes then drop dead in my bed. I was so exhausted.

-----

hey... you might like to help me improve my wedding photography skills. surely, I am lacking with this one. i would appreciate if you can visit my site and drop some comments.

http://www.pbase.com/nathan_amores/ali_ray

the tausog girl

Last year, I met Noreen, the mother of Fatima - one of the contestant in Bb Pilipinas-KSA, and she asked for my service to cover the wedding of her niece. The wedding is actually today - Friday.

Just like what I do in Singapore, every time I have a wedding photography coverage, I make sure that I wake up early to give me ample time to prepare my gears and to make sure that I arrive on the site ahead of everyone. Today was no exception. I arrived on the venue at around 8:30am and ... waited for 2 and half hours before the couple arrived. Gee.. I would almost walked out because they informed me that the wedding would start at 9am. Tsk.. tsk.. tsk... I missed the punctuality of the Singaporeans.

11:30 am

Again, I was inside the reception hall waiting for the first part to start - the Muslim Rites. But no one was there. All I could see was errand boys fixing the place for the reception, and none from the couple or family. In my frustration, I went out and headed towards the ladies dressing room. I know they would kill me for this because I breach the protocol of entering the ladies area but.. I need to know exactly when the wedding starts and how it will be performed. No one answered my queries and upon realizing this wedding is ill prepared, I draw my attention away from the couple and starts shooting with the guest and the entourage.

Call it a blessing in disguise. I actually enjoyed shooting with the bridesmaids and sponsors with their wonderful traditional Tausog clothes. And of all the ladies that I shoot, I was particularly interested with this beautiful Tausog girl named Shameem. For the first time, I saw an unadulterated beauty of a pure Muslim Filipina. Of course, I asked her to pose for me but she politely refused saying it is forbidden in their religion. I didn't take that no for an answer. So I took Ate Noreen to "coerce" the girl to pose for me which she managed to convince but on the condition that I can only take 1 picture.

Hah! 1 picture? She's crazy!!! But I agreed, somehow. Now how can you pretend that you only are only taking 1 picture? hehehe.. simple.. turn off the flash.

I took Shameem on a bronze door and asked her to strike some pose. I have literally showed her how to do it, and then told her that we may need to test several pose to make sure we get the best one. I explained that I have to view her from behind the camera to check if it is alright. For her to know that I
have taken the shot, she would see a flash, then she could go away. Hehehe.. Is she naive to believe me? Hehehe... well, that's how convincing I am.

I didn't tell her that I have taken several shots during the test pose. I only set the flash gun trigger after I got what I wanted. The result? Hehehe.... a dozen beautiful pictures! Here's one of her pix.

You may not agree with me, but I like her beauty - natural and pure Pinay.

red sands

I barely have three hours sleep this morning when I woke up. I still want to wallow in my bed but I have to get ready because we are going to the Red Sand today. Well, I am not alone in my predicament. All my friends - Dowin, Kuya Danny, Ate Beth, Ate Janet and their respective family also got less than 4 hours sleep because we went home late last night from a party at Kuya Ritcho.

Anyway, we left the our place at around 9am and reached the Red Sands at around 11am. The climate was good: wind chill is around 10 deg, temperature at 12 deg and we have overcast sky. And the good thing, sand temperature is less than 10 degrees which makes it appear reddish - orange actually.

We had a good time there. The kids were running and rolling over the sand dunes and hills while the couples stayed on a sand hill making chika-chika.

And me? Hehehe... a typical photographer indeed. I surveyed the place and scout for some nice subjects and objects to shoot. Well, I got lucky I found a sand falls on a 10-foot cliff, and also discover several 3 to 6 inches sand gorge formations on that same cliff. At first, I didn't find the subject interesting.

I took several wide angle shot and didn't like it. But when I start taking close up shots, I begin to like the output. I climb on the cliff and halfway, I took a photo of the sand falls. Then at the top portion, I took hundreds of macro shots of that 6-inch sand formations. Taking those photos was difficult. I have to lie down flat on the sand (I could breath some of the sand) just to get the right perspective view of the gorges. When I finish, my pants, shirts, socks and shoes were filled with red sands. But it's all worth it.

Now tell me if you can tell that the sand falls is just 3 feet deep? And the sand cliffs is just 6 inches tall? The car that you saw in the Sand Cliffs was superimposed and not at scale.

The magic of photoshop, eh!

dry winter

Ever since I was a boy I always associate winter with snow, snowfall, snowman, and people wearing thick clothes complete with gloves and head gears. Then my mother would tell us stories of Santa Claus in a winter setting with elves and children playing on a white snowy field. As a kid, I often ask my father why is it there was no snow fall in the Philippines. He uniquely explain using child terminologies that it is simply not possible. He would guide us to our old Fridge and explain that unless the temperature drops below zero, snow would not be possible.

That simple explanation stuck into my coconut shell for a long period of time. Even when I traveled to places and experience snowy winter, I always thought that snow falls when the temperature drops below zero. Not for long though. After I traveled in the land of the our Arab brethren, I experience a different kind of winter. A dry winter, where temperature drops below zero with bone chilling winds but no snowfalls. Instead of snowfalls, you'll experience nosebleed inducing sandstorm and nauseating headaches.

That is exactly what we experienced today. Temperature in Riyadh according to Yahoo News was registered at negative2 deg C and feels like negative 4 deg C when chilling winds are factored in. Huh! Cold? Brrr... yeah, really cold. Personally, I could say that it even feels colder than the neg 10 deg C in Toronto. There, you'll seldom experience nose bleeding but here, ugh, you will most of the time. My guess is because of the microscopic sand in the air that irritates our nostrils.

I didn't get out of the house today. I don't have work so I'll just stay in my room and .... sleep! Hehehe... I guess I gained an extra pound today.

my christmas in riyadh

Celebrating Christmas amidst our Arab brethren is never easy in this part of the world. Here in Riyadh, religious police called mutawahs would zealously scout for any outdoor activities related to Christmas and anyone caught on the act are dealt with accordingly. If you think they are kill joy, please don't. I never blame our brothers because they are only doing - by faith - what they think is right. The mutawahs are only particular with outdoor gatherings, though. Gathering inside residential places, are spared provided the number of merry makers is just tolerable.

That is why, today, I was brave enough to convince my house mates to invite people to join us in tonight's noche buena. Ate Girly & Kuya Danny - the Filipino couple living next to our flat was here with their two kids. The other two couples living across the street - the Mendoza family, Ate Flor & Kuya Cen with their kids were also present. Two more couples joined us at around 11pm, with four more kids with them. That brings the total kids in my place to over 10. You guess it right, they were all noisy.

Being the one without a partner in the group, I stood as the Santa Claus for the kids. I gave each of the kids gifts (I bought several gifts few days ago) and ask them to perform a trick for the parents. Hehehe... it was fun, really!

I actually invited my nurse friends from Hammadi but they politely turn it
down because they were not allowed to go out beyond 8pm today. Besides, they also have a party at their housing accommodation. Much as they wanted to visit us tomorrow, they couldn't. All of them are required to report on duty and the next four days and only after Jan that they could enjoy their day off.

Anyway, with or without my own friends, I had a very nice noche buena - my first for so many years. Being with the kids was more than fun enough.

* * * * *

Happy holidays to all my friends and regular blog readers. You've been my inspiration since day one when I started writing here. Thanks for your personal mails, comments and criticisms. I owe a lot from all of you