Noche Buena

Kuha sa Camera ni Ninong Owen...

Naipit na daliri ni Jacob

Ang naipit na kamay ni Jacob sa Pituan ng kusina...5 stitches sa dulo ng daliri sa kaliwang kamay...

Vanilla Ice Cream

December 27

Singapore Zoo

..while waiting for his one scoop of vanilla ice cream...

Noche Buena sa Singapore

Our first Noche Buena in Singapore with our dear friend Rolly...

Pasko - Pilipino Komiks 1949

Found this scanned image in the internet...

December 24, 1949 copy of Pilipino Komiks

Merry Christmas Singapore

"Christmas Sale" by Larry Alcala

Nakakamiss ang pasko sa Pinas....

ang traffic...

christmas song habang nakasakay sa jeep...

Simbang gabi...

Mga batang nag-kakaroling...

mga choir na nagpapraktis sa simbahan...

puto bumbong...

Bibingka na may cheese at itlog na maalat....

noche buena...

fruit salad at spaghetti...

Sa Singapore ang pasko namin ngayong taon...ano kaya ang pakiramdam ng pasko na wala sa Pinas?

Jacob with Nanay Olive

I found this file while deleting files from my old Hard Disk, This was taken using Olive's mobile phone.

Holy Week by Larry Alcala

Sana makuwi kami sa Holy Week next year...

Jacob's last day in Playschool

Jacob's playschool classmates with Teacher Josephine and teacher Lau Su

Ninong Owen

One fine morning with Ninong Owen

This was taken during the time when Owen handed his Konika Minolta to Ayan (Ms. Florian)...

Euro Asia Park Playground

October 13, 2007

Euro Asia Park Playground

Jacob testing the water

This was taken at around 6:30 in the evening after a heavy rain. We were not able to go out of the compound as the road is still wet so we just walk around the building and stayed on the playground...

Canon Photo Marathon Singapore 2007

This is our picture in the recent Canon Photo Marathon (2007). I joined the competition together with Zaldy, Zaldy's wife, Aldrin, Jun, Papa A and Edgar.

Thanks to Zaldy's friend for the Photo.

Of course I did not win... :-)

Jacob @ McDonald's

October 20, 2007

Jacob eating ice cream @ McDonald's

My first glimpse of Jacob

My first glimpse of Jacob

Hungry Jacob

Jacob really looks hungry in these pictures. He normally opens the refrigerator to find something to eat...this time he found a watermelon...

Jacob observing a butterfly

September 30, 2007

Singapore Botanic Garden

Jacob observing a butterfly

Happy Birthday

October 5, 2007

Nay,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Anniversary

October 4, 2007

Nay,

Happy Anniversary sa ating dalawa

Our Wedding

Our wedding

October 4, 2003

Jacob with dogs

Botanical Garden, Singapore

September 30, 2007

The labrador was very friendly....so friendly that it licked Jacob's face while playing. Jacob toppled down as the dog covered his face with it's huge tongue.

Bahay ni Mang Bading

I can't remember how long this shelter has been in this place. What I can remember is that this place used to be an open space with a huge fire hydrant (about 6 feet tall) with a small faucet-like opening that you can open anytime whenever you want to take a bath. I believe the fire hydrant is still there (maybe inside the house) but not sure if it still working.

Until now I'm still trying to find out what Mang Bading's real name is.

Story to follow...

Jacob in School

This is Jacob with his classmates. This picture was taken from a Nokia phone camera

Fire Dancers

This group was introduced by the emcee as the group from Tahiti. I really don't think that they are from Tahiti. I guess that was just a gimmick to make the show more ethnic.

Anyway, I followed their show for two consecutive nights. The first night was terrible (my photoshoot terrible, not the show) as I did not get any good shot out of over a hundred pictures. I was more prepared for the second night and brought a tripod. This time I got at least a few shots that are good.

The shows runs everyday in one of the Barbecue outlet of Westin Resrot Guam.

Free Trip to Guam

This is my third trip to Guam and every time I go there I always have fun memories (not in Guam but in Manila Airport)...

I was very excited the first time because i get to have a US VISA and the company pays for all my expenses (VISA processing, Air tickets, Hotel Accommodation and meals).

Guam is really a nice place, I guess this is because of the people living there. Most of them came from Philippines who were naturalized and became US citizens.

So after a month of doing a project, I finally get to go home to Singapore. Here's the fun part: Upon checking in my luggage in the Guam Airport I asked the lady in the counter if she can put my luggage direct to Singapore so I do not have to pick it up in Manila airport and her reply was "I am not sure, let's try" (there is no direct flight from Guam to Singapore so needed to get a connecting flight via Manila to Singapore). I smiled at her trying to get her assurance that I will be able to pick up my luggage when I am back in Singapore. I was reluctant in checking in my luggage upon hearing her reply but I guess I had no choice. So it was checked-in, I got my luggage claim stub that says the luggage is going direct to Singapore. My flight arrives in Manila at around 8:00 PM and my next flight is at 9:00 AM the next day. I am actually happy about this long waiting time as i was thinking of visiting my mother in Manila.

Upon arriving in Manila Airport, I asked the people in the transfer desk if I can check-in to my next flight, again the answer was something I did not expect. The counter attendant said "the person who is in charge is not yet in". Then I asked him if I can go out of the airport, his answer was "not sure". He said I can try going out but that depends on the immigration officer. I then asked him to at least put a note on my ticket that I am a passenger in transit so if ever i go out I do not need to pay airport charges on my way back. This he immediately did.

So, I tried my luck and went directly to the immigration counter. The immigration officer was quite friendly. I was the last person to pass through immigration as I needed to check things in the transfer counter. I then asked the immigration officer if I can go out and he said "pwede pilipino ka naman". I were a foreigner, will he deny my request? I then handed to him my passport together with the immigration form. He looked at these documents and said "no need for these, just tell the check-in attendant that you are in transit so you do not have to pay for airport taxes and other things", he then added "if I put a chop in your passport, you might need to pay the airport charges". He also told me that I just need to tell the check-in attendant to put a stamp on my boarding pass the following morning.

I was surprised about this, Isn't there a proper procedure on these situations or is this the right procedure for this kind of situation? I do not know if this is legal or not but I was a little happy knowing that I do not have to pay anything when I check in the next morning.

Before I went out of the airport, I waited near the conveyor belt just to make sure that my checked-in luggage is going directly to Singapore. To my surprise (again), I saw my luggage going around the conveyor belt (in Manila airport!). What if somebody picks up my luggage and bring it home? Olive (my beloved wife) will nag for at least a week as her bags (bought in Ross, Guam) are all in there. Don't they scan the tags of these luggage before putting them in the conveyor belt?

I picked my luggage and looked for the person in charge, luckily he was still there doing some paper works. I then told him that this luggage (the one i am holding) is supposed to go direct to Singapore. This time he was the one who is a little bit surprised. He paused for a few seconds then told me to give him my luggage and he will take care of it. At this point I wanted to take my luggage with me while I visit my mother. But then again, this luggage is already checked in. With a very doubtful facial expression, I handed him my luggage...

My visit to my mother's house was very short, it was only for a few hours. I arrived in the house at about 11:00PM and went to sleep at around 1:00AM.

I woke up very early the next morning because I know that the traffic in Manila is really bad during peak hours, arriving in the airport 2 hours before the flight and ready to check in. While checking in, I told the check in counter attendant that I was in transit and should not pay any airport charges. I had this feeling that she did not know what to do in cases like these. She stared at my ticket and finally called here supervisor to ask what needs to be done in cases like these. They them discussed for a few minutes and when they finished she told me that I need to pay the "processing fee" (not airport tax) of 200 pesos. I was taken aback by this...the immigration officer assured me that i need not pay a single cent! So then again I had no choice but to pay. Before I went to the cashier, I told her that I have one luggage checked in and she has to chop "in-transit" to my boarding pass. I was stunned upon hearing her reply, she said "I forgot the rubber stamp that is used chop "in-transit" in our basement office, just give me your last night's boarding pass and I will attach it to your new boarding pass, you just have to tell the Airport Tax collector that you are in transit". Waaaahhh...what is happening? What if I do not have my previous flight's boarding pass anymore? Everything seems to go wrong! Isn't there a proper procedure here?!!

So I paid the 200 pesos and picked up my boarding pass and went directly to the Airport tax counter. I handed my papers to the counter attendant, he examined my boarding passes and my ticket for about a minute and then told me that I have to see their director. He then went out of his cubicle to assist me to their office. In their office, somebody told me to sit in the waiting area while they check what needs to be done and if I need to pay the USD15.00 airport tax. After a few minutes, I was told that I need not pay the tax and jut go direct to immigration officer. Again he mentioned that I just need to tell the immigration office that I am a transit passenger.

I had no problem at the immigration counter (hayyy thank God). I was actually expecting them to bring me again to their office and ask me a few questions.

So I thought everything is settled, I just need to board the airplane and relax. While waiting at the Boarding gate, I heard my name being called from the PA. I then approached one of the the attendant who led me to another attendant who told me that my luggage is missing. Waaaahhhhhhhhhhhh....is this my luck?!! She told me in a very apologetic manner that it was not their fault. I told her "I don't care who's fault this is, I just want my luggage back". I thought I was a little harsh to her. I know it is not her fault but I did not know what to say anymore...

Before boarding she approached me and told me that my luggage is still missing, this I already expected. She then added that I need to report my missing luggage when I arrive in Singapore.

I made no comment on this anymore as I was already tired of asking things. I am actually not worried about my missing luggage as I've heard before that the airlines pays you if they cannot find your things.

When I arrived in Singapore (around 1:00 pm) I immediately went to the missing baggage counter and reported my issue. They asked for my passport number and then told me that they already found my things and will deliver to our house within the day. True enough, they delivered within the day...somebody knocked on the door minutes before midnight!!

Jacob's Limousine

This is Jacobs's Limousine and I am the Chauffeur.

I bought this bike for 100 dollars. I had no intention of buying a new bicycle before as we have one in the house (Owen's bike) and we rarely use it.

One of the reason for buying this bike is the Baby Seat that Weng (thanks to Weng) has given me. He said he has an extra baby seat (for bicycle) and asked me if I want it. I immediately said "Yes" even if I do not have a bike to put it (normally I always say "Yes" especially when people give me something for free :-)). I saw Weng the following day in the lift landing carrying this seat in a big plastic bag. He said he took a taxi from his house to office which cost him around 30.00 dollars for taxi fare (He lives in Woodlands, near Malaysia). I felt obliged because of this.

So then I had no choice really but to buy this bike. I started googling and looked for a lady's bike so that Olive can also use it to exercise (hopefully). There were some internet suppliers that offer free delivery but I am always hesitant to buy from the internet. So I ended up buying the one from a small store near our office. I had to ride the bike from our office to house as the store does not offer free delivery or maybe they do not do delivery at all.

We were also planning to send Jacob to school so I thought Olive might be able to use this to send/fetch Jacob to/from school. For now I am using it to tour Jacob whenever I have the chance in the Potong Pasir area where we live.

Pambihirang UV Filter

Mag dadalawang linggo ko nang kinakabisa kung paano gamitin itong camera ko. Araw-araw pag uwi ko sa bahay camera kaagad ang hinahanap. Nagagalit na nga si Olive dahil puro camera na lang daw inaatupag ko.

Sa mga nakalipas na araw takang taka ako dahil lahat ng kuha ko e medyo madilim. Pag nilagyan naman ng Flash e nagiging flat at walang kabuhay buhay yung mga pictures. Napansin na pala ni Olive ito pero di nya sinasabi sa akin dahil baka mawalan ako ng gana sa paggamit ng camera.

Sinasabi ko pa na baka dahil sa lens (kasi pinaka murang lens ang nakalagay sa camera, salamat pa rin kay Roger at binigay nya sa akin ito ng libre). Kasalanan pala ito ng UV filter na nakalagay sa harapan ng lens. Salamat kay Bingko at sya ang nakapansin dito, kaagad nyang tinanggal ang filter at sinubukan muling gamitin ang camera. Hayun sa wakas e mas maliwanag at gumanda ang kuha. Syempre mas maganda ang kuha nya kumpara sa mga shots ko. Di bale, matututunan ko rin ang techniques kung paano gumamit ng tama. Sa ngayon nanginginig pa rin ang mga kamay ko kapag ako ang kumuha. Nagiging mukhang multo tuloy yung mga kinukuhana ko.

Canon EOS 400D

Bought my Canon EOS 400D last Sunday. Thanks to Owen who helped me haggle for the price and for the Camera Bag that he has given me.

I only bought the Camera Body as Roger (thank you Roger) has given me his own Kit lens including the UV filter.

Now the only thing I need is to learn how to use this fantastic camera. I haven't finished reading the manuals yet.

I will be posting some of the picture on this site once I learn how to use this camera.

University of the Philippines

by Larry Alcala



This picture reminds me of my college days. Naalaala ko pa 'nung gustong gusto kong mag collaege sa UP, araw-araw akong dumadaan sa bilog na simbahan (UP Diliman) at nagdadasal na sana makapag-aral ako sa eskwelahang ito. Dininig naman ng Diyos ang aking dasal, naawa siguro dahil madalas ay dalawang beses sa isang araw ako dumaan sa simbahan.

Bago makapasok, pahirapan sa pag-enroll. Pila dito, pila doon. Minsan di mo alam kung anong pinipilahan mo. Sa pila pa lang marami ka nag bagong terminologies na matutunan tulad ng 'Pre-req", "Prerog", at kung ano ano pa.

Unang araw ng klase noon, mapalad akong naka-enlist sa "Communication I", 'langhiya lahat ng kaklase ko english magsalita. Ako tameme sa isang sulok, galing kasi akong probinsya kung saan ang english ay sa textbook lang ginagamit. Sana pala "Kumunikasyon I" na lang ako nag enlist para tagalog ang medium ng pagtuturo.

Lantern parade ang madalas na hinihintay ng lahat. Madalas kasi ng walang announcement kung kailan ang umpisa ng Christmas vacation, ang palatandaan lang ng lahat ay ang parada. Pagakatapos ng parada, siguradong wala nang pasok.

Under Construction

This site is still under construction. I plan to post some pictures on this site but I am still trying to save some money so I can buy my camera.