Monday, January 08, 2007

MANILA'S HISTORIC FORT


























Other than for this speedfreak cuchero, it was an idyllic Sunday blessed by sunny weather in Fort Santiago yesterday. But how this family could enjoy a high speed coach ride in this otherwise tranquil park is beyond comprehension. Why couldn't they just retrace Jose Rizal's final steps on foot (as marked by the trail of brass footsteps) which is a popular activity among the young visitors?



























Anyway, there were many tourists, local families, groups of young friends, and photography enthusiasts enjoying the manicured grounds of this historic site by the Pasig River. For the entire month of January, I will be spending my Sundays here to attend a workshop using Fort Santiago as both subject and backdrop for our photography projects. I couldn’t have asked for a better venue; Fort Santiago is not only convenient for me to go to, but it is also very photogenic; a perfect site for all avid photographers.


The following are some pictures I had taken during our first session yesterday; more to come in the ensuing weeks. By the way, the fallen tree in the photo right below was a reminder of Typhoon Milenyo's might that hit Metro Manila a few months ago.

Have a wonderful week everybody!


















posted by Señor Enrique at 7:00 AM


22 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wouldn't the calesa go faster without the giant payong ? :) I miss manila's crazy pace and tranquil sundays.

Just in case you want to read about nikon stuff. :)

http://www.bythom.com/nikon.htm

And a review of your 18-135 lens
http://www.bythom.com/18135lens.htm

January 08, 2007 8:09 AM  

Blogger sunkissed said...

hey eric! i am glad they're keeping the grounds of the Fort clean. it's good to know our tourist spots are well maintained, especially the ones in Manila.

January 08, 2007 11:21 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Anony ... I've a feeling you're S.A.!

Many thanks for the Nikon URLs. There's so much to know about this camera that I'm basically taking one step at a time; otherwise I might get overwhelmed.

I'll check out the URLs tonight.

January 08, 2007 11:34 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Hi G.Knotee! Yes .. the city is doing its best to keep not oly these sites cleaned but most of the entire Manila. They often have people sweeping the streets and keeping things in order. I've got to hand it to the mayor, though!

January 08, 2007 11:37 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

modern na modern na yang karitela ah, yung sinaunang karitela di ko pa nasakyan, lalo na yang bago :)

uy oks yung effect ah, porst processed ba yan or raw pic, ang gandang tignan.

nagbabalik muna sa pagpapahinga, hehe

January 08, 2007 2:29 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Akala ko mga jeepney drivers lang ang kaskasero. Pati pala mga kuchero.:) Wala bang seatbelts? I hope nobody fell from that coach ride.

Please refresh my memory. Where is Fort Bonifacio?

January 08, 2007 2:37 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Daming tao! Natuwa ako sa 2nd pic yung framing.

Miss ko na rin mag picture-picture dyan. Nung college kami, basta me Photography assignment kami, dyan kami sa area na yan napupunta. Hope to see photos of your photo workshop there.

January 08, 2007 5:44 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Were you talking about the speeding calesa, Iskoo? No, walang post process kundi setting ng camera -- slow shutter speed kaya ganon. Kung high ang shutter speed, very clear ang subject pero blurred naman ang background :)

Dapat naman masubukan mong mag-kalesa!

January 08, 2007 9:33 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Fort Bonifacio is at the tip of Intramuros by Pasig River, Irene. This was the military outpost built by the Spaniards.

Ako nga nagulat na may kaskasero doon kahapon. Pati mga pasahero mukhang enjoy sa bilis :)

January 08, 2007 9:36 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Napaka-photogenic nga ang lugar na ito, Ferdz. Sarap mag picture taking at very safe pa :)

I'll post more of my upcoming workshop shots here!

January 08, 2007 9:37 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

matagal na akong di nakakagawi dito, para tuloy gusto ko gumala sa weekend dito :)

January 09, 2007 12:51 AM  

Blogger NeiLDC said...

Sir Eric,
Happy New year to you, i really miss the torotots in manila, btw this article is worth reading. When i went home in Manila last year.. I visited Intramos and fort Santiago. you could feel being patriotic when you are outside of your country and proud of it!!

More blessings!
Neil :D

January 09, 2007 3:58 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Kung Sunday ka pupunta, Cruise, silip ka sa class namin. When you enter the gate, our classroom is the third room to your left next to Intramuros Information Center. Pasok ka at sabihin mo you just want to take a peek. Kung gusto mo din hanapin mo ako at makamayan ko man lang kamay mo.

Talaga mage-enjoy ka din dito kasi historical din at alaga nila.

January 09, 2007 7:07 AM  

Blogger carlotta1924 said...

ganda talaga ng fort santiago. do you have any pics of the dungeons? =)

January 09, 2007 7:07 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Being a resident of Madrid that you are, Neil, I'm sure you felt at home in Intramuros :)

You're right! We tend to appreciate our country more when we're away from it.

Happy New Year to you, too, mi amigo!

January 09, 2007 7:09 AM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Hi Carla!

No because the dungeons are locked and not open to the public. You can take a picture of the entreway, though.

January 09, 2007 7:22 AM  

Blogger GingGoy said...

ei eric,

try the panning shot of a kalesa

have yet to try it to check if my camera can do it or else I upgrade to a newer one :(

January 09, 2007 3:18 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

That was actually one of the shots we have to make, Tito, but you know how slow and leisurely the pace is at Fort Santiago.

This careening calesa actually took me by surprise! I was taking a landscape picture when I suddenly heard the rushing oncoming sound of the horse's galloping behind me. When I turned around, this was exactly what I saw and I immediately took the shots with a slow shutter speed instead of a much faster one :)

January 09, 2007 3:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said...

The grounds were so clean when I went to Fort Santiago and blimey, I was amazed. Seriously!

It was beautiful and the ride on the calesa was good as well. Man, I miss those ...

(:

January 09, 2007 5:21 PM  

Blogger sheilamarie said...

Hola Eric! LOVELY pics! It's been a long time since I last visited this place. Will have to bring the family there next time. A nice place to explore :)

January 09, 2007 5:37 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

Yes, Sheilamarie. Well-maintained place. Your entire family will certainly enjoy visiting it!

January 09, 2007 5:49 PM  

Blogger Señor Enrique said...

I'm really so glad to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Manila, Kyels!

So liked the calesa ride, huh? :)

January 09, 2007 6:59 PM  

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Life in Manila as observed by a former New Yorker who with a laptop and camera has reinvented himself as a storyteller. Winner of the PHILIPPINE BLOG AWARDS: Best Photo Blog in 2007 and three Best Single Post awards in 2008.

 
 

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