I had the pleasure of taking engagement photographs of Kyle and Ashley, two people truly in love. The couple are from two of the four states that begin with the letter “I”, so the tropics in the winter is an especially new and exciting experience for them. From the moment I met the two of them, I knew they were going to photograph well, for when you are as in love as they are, the emotion will show in the photographs. They had no idea of what they wanted in their pictures, so they left it all up to me. Little did they know that could be dangerous for I can conjure up some out of the box ideas, really out of the box. They were good sports about it and were willing to even get a little sandy. Kyle and Ashley have had to be good sports about a few things as their original intention was to get married on Christmas Eve, but something about a marriage license, (Do you need a marriage license on Guam? Heehee.) :) The plan now is to have a small wedding in Hawaii, then have a full blown shindig at one of the states that begins with the letter "I". I really wish I could be their wedding photographer.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
I had the privilege the other week to visit the Capuchin Friary and take photographs of the Christmas Village that the Quinata family have worked to put together for people to enjoy this Holiday season. The theme this year is "2009 Christmas around the World". It took the Quinata family 55 nights that started in October, to build this winter wonderland. And what a wonder it was as it had many different environments of winter. From a carnival, to ice climbers, trains, mini towns, reindeer, sleighs, elves, lights and so much more. It truly was remarkable. Children and adults alike gazed in amazement at all the little details and not so little details that were incorporated into this mini display. The more you looked, the more there was to see. It all began in the 1990's when the families of Roman and Mae from Ipan, started a family Christmas tradition at their house, that has become so large that it now encompasses 1,800 square feet of the Friary. In 2007 Father Eric Forbes approached the family with the idea to showcase the tradition at the Friary and it's been there every since. The families involved are that of Roman and Mae Quinata, Roman Jr. & Anne, Frank and Pam, John and Donna and Mike and Terri Doyle, together with the families of Julia Villagomez. Joe and Rossana Aguon, Randy and Melissa Sablan and Mr. and Mrs. Rick and Donna Fegurgur, Dominic, Steven and Darin Muna, Brian, Tommy and Steve Arceo and the family of Mrs. Elaine Roberto, along with Fr. Joe English and the Capuchin Brothers of the St.Fidelis Friary. Whew! That's a lot of family working together.
If you haven't seen it yet, you better hurry or you might have to wait until next year.
Enjoy the Photographs!
If you haven't seen it yet, you better hurry or you might have to wait until next year.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Guam Anti -Tourism Task Force: GAT2F
The Guam Anti-Tourism Task Force or GAT2F, is up to its dastardly deeds again. The GAT2F's main purpose is to ensure that Guam is an unwelcoming tourist destination. The GAT2F is diligent in its efforts in seeking means to deter tourists from enjoying their stay on this tropical island. This Force makes it hard for tourists to visit our many beautiful sights by keeping our island as unkempt as possible. Litter is placed strategically in locations where it will be subliminally embedded into the minds of our visitors, and then later it conveniently reveals itself in the background of the many pictures tourists take. This litter has been ingeniously designed through vigorous research and developments in stealth technology to be highly unnoticeable to the local inhabitants of this island.
Roads are constantly being built then torn up at specific grid coordinates by highly trained men and women in tactical teams throughout our island. They are under the guise of making improvements to our roadways. However, as they leave the infiltrated areas the modified surface has complex multiple angles and varying degrees of heights specifically engineered to create a diversion so as tourists drive by beautiful scenic areas, their eyes will be diverted away from the scenery to maintain control of their PRV (privately rented vehicle). This tactic also serves to keep the locals desensitized to the beauty of the island by evoking on them the same action designed for the tourists' distraction.
The GAT2F also uses biological warfare tactics. They effectively and continuously contaminate our beaches and recreational waters with just enough raw sewage to create a situation where officials advise the general public. The GAT2F, however, manages to intercept and keep that kind of pertinent information away from Guam's visitors. When the tourists unknowingly frolic in the tainted beaches of paradise, they become sick in the latter part of their trip making it difficult for their officials to find the root cause. Locals on the other hand, have built up enough resistance to this bacteria that officials deem it unnecessary to remedy the situation. The GAT2F also implores urine stench technology at numerous tourists attractions and key areas such as Ypao bathrooms or Latte Stone Park caves.The sewage stench weapon is constantly being deployed in Tumon where tourists inhabit and reside
The GAT2F's history to thwart Guam's tourism goes back a long way . The Natural Habitat Annihilation Division (NHAD), of the GAT2F, successfully introduced very highly trained brown tree snakes to infiltrate and abolish the once many beautiful and indigenous birds who helped to pollinate Guam's flora, and provide ambiance with many different, beautiful, bird calls. Recently, the NHAD has been able to send in the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle(CRB) in hopes to eradicate the abundant coconut trees on the island, which are a symbol recognized worldwide of a beautiful tropical destination. The NHAD has trained the CRB to covertly bore an inconspicuous small hole through the trunks of the trees so they can consume them from the inside out. When the trees die, they conveniently become the decay the CRB's juvenile grubs need to survive so the cycle continues. The CRB has been trained to conduct night air tactical maneuvers to infiltrate and breach unoccupied zones until their objective's are met.
"Coqui frog found in shipment of plants" was the title of an article in the 12/12/09 Guam PDN. The NHAD has tried twice and failed in its mission to conduct a secret insertion of this invasive species of frog. Being only about the size of a quarter, this frog may someday be successfully inserted under the protective camouflage of ornamental plants coming in from Hawaii. The NHAD has trained this particular frog in psychological operations(PSYOPS). Although small in stature, a single frog can sing at an astonishing 120 dB. That's 20 db louder than a jackhammer. The GAT2F hopes that it will reproduce in great numbers once it is here so that they can all conduct PSYOPS chirps simultaneously, thereby effectively causing sleep deprivation of the island's tourists.
There have been other species that the GAT2F has introduced, like the worm that targets and consumes the island's Flame trees and the mud dauber wasps that build their nests anywhere and everywhere.
Sooner or later, the GAT2F will prevail in their diabolically relentless plan to drive tourists away from Guam. When they succeed, the tourists will suffer the same fate as the Marianas Fruit dove and the Guam Flycatcher. Once they gone, they are gone forever.
Roads are constantly being built then torn up at specific grid coordinates by highly trained men and women in tactical teams throughout our island. They are under the guise of making improvements to our roadways. However, as they leave the infiltrated areas the modified surface has complex multiple angles and varying degrees of heights specifically engineered to create a diversion so as tourists drive by beautiful scenic areas, their eyes will be diverted away from the scenery to maintain control of their PRV (privately rented vehicle). This tactic also serves to keep the locals desensitized to the beauty of the island by evoking on them the same action designed for the tourists' distraction.
The GAT2F also uses biological warfare tactics. They effectively and continuously contaminate our beaches and recreational waters with just enough raw sewage to create a situation where officials advise the general public. The GAT2F, however, manages to intercept and keep that kind of pertinent information away from Guam's visitors. When the tourists unknowingly frolic in the tainted beaches of paradise, they become sick in the latter part of their trip making it difficult for their officials to find the root cause. Locals on the other hand, have built up enough resistance to this bacteria that officials deem it unnecessary to remedy the situation. The GAT2F also implores urine stench technology at numerous tourists attractions and key areas such as Ypao bathrooms or Latte Stone Park caves.The sewage stench weapon is constantly being deployed in Tumon where tourists inhabit and reside
The GAT2F's history to thwart Guam's tourism goes back a long way . The Natural Habitat Annihilation Division (NHAD), of the GAT2F, successfully introduced very highly trained brown tree snakes to infiltrate and abolish the once many beautiful and indigenous birds who helped to pollinate Guam's flora, and provide ambiance with many different, beautiful, bird calls. Recently, the NHAD has been able to send in the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle(CRB) in hopes to eradicate the abundant coconut trees on the island, which are a symbol recognized worldwide of a beautiful tropical destination. The NHAD has trained the CRB to covertly bore an inconspicuous small hole through the trunks of the trees so they can consume them from the inside out. When the trees die, they conveniently become the decay the CRB's juvenile grubs need to survive so the cycle continues. The CRB has been trained to conduct night air tactical maneuvers to infiltrate and breach unoccupied zones until their objective's are met.
"Coqui frog found in shipment of plants" was the title of an article in the 12/12/09 Guam PDN. The NHAD has tried twice and failed in its mission to conduct a secret insertion of this invasive species of frog. Being only about the size of a quarter, this frog may someday be successfully inserted under the protective camouflage of ornamental plants coming in from Hawaii. The NHAD has trained this particular frog in psychological operations(PSYOPS). Although small in stature, a single frog can sing at an astonishing 120 dB. That's 20 db louder than a jackhammer. The GAT2F hopes that it will reproduce in great numbers once it is here so that they can all conduct PSYOPS chirps simultaneously, thereby effectively causing sleep deprivation of the island's tourists.
There have been other species that the GAT2F has introduced, like the worm that targets and consumes the island's Flame trees and the mud dauber wasps that build their nests anywhere and everywhere.
Sooner or later, the GAT2F will prevail in their diabolically relentless plan to drive tourists away from Guam. When they succeed, the tourists will suffer the same fate as the Marianas Fruit dove and the Guam Flycatcher. Once they gone, they are gone forever.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Mount Jumullong Manglo may be paved.
I was flabbergasted when I read the PDN article about the paving of Mount Jumullong Manglo. Mount Jumullong Manglo is the southern hill where once a year on Good Friday, hundreds of Catholic faithfuls flock together to make the arduous trek to the top. It is an Easter vigil that has been going on for some time now, longer than I have been alive. My first thoughts before reading the article was, okay, which Gov-Guam head wants a school named after them now. Now every John, Bill, and Joe Cruz will be able to get up to the top, and with the way things are going at the landfill, it will become another illegal dump site. Then I read that it wasn't proposed by anyone in Gov-Guam, it was proposed by the Department of Defense. Now I support our troops wholeheartedly, and I am not a military basher, but I think the Federal decision makers are not at all concerned for the people of Guam, but for their own wants. A long time ago, my mom explained to me the difference between needs versus wants, and in my opinion, this decision is a want. There's plenty room elsewhere to pave a road for training, or not pave a road for training, as the spokesperson eluded too. The road, however will be under military control. If you look at all the places on Guam that the military has for it's use, many of the areas under their control are prime locations. Naval hospital and its housing have a great ocean view as well as NCS, and Nimitz Hill Flag Circle. I could go on and on but that would be bashing. The Agat-Umatac road is a beautiful drive. The ocean vista on one side, beautiful, green rolling hills on the other, which I enjoyed recently on my way to a birthday party in Merizo. Now that the military is going to use it for training, say goodbye to the beautiful, green rolling hills, and say hello to Humvee tracks, and barren areas on the not so beautiful any more rolling hills. Cetti and Sella bay are one of the island’s most pristine areas. One just has to be there to feel the awe inspiring secluded scenery of the bays. You might also imagine how the islands ancestors lived, for there are many artifacts that proved they enjoyed life there. The Spanish conquerors inhabited that area also, for it was a perfect place to moor their ships. Just imagine all the beauty, and history being washed away because the barren rolling hillside run-off, because there is nothing there to hold it in place.
Well after the 8000 Marines, their families, logistic support personnel, aircraft carriers, and the such invade, liberate, relocate to Guam they are going to need a place to train. Hopefully after they occupy our island, the reservation the Federal government gives us, has an ocean view.
We still won't be able to vote for president, and they won't ship to Guam.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Goodbye my friends, goodbye.
Just recently Guam has lost three well known photographers. Paul Borja, Roel Santiago, and Eduardo Siguenza.
I knew Paul through acquaintances, and through many of his articles in the Pacific Daily News. He was a former editor of the Guam PDN. I admired his commitment to photojournalism. He was a good friend and relative of many in my circle.
I knew Roel Santiago since we were in the Boy Scouts. We also went to high school together. He was always smiling and would always take the time to chat with you. He never hesitated to share his knowledge of photography. A week before he passed, we had talked about going to the PI together for a photography seminar. He was a major influence in my decision to shoot with a Canon.
Eduardo Siguenza was a photography icon on Guam. Everyone on the island knew Ed Siguenza. Someone, somewhere, on Guam has a story to tell about him. I knew Ed for a long time as his son Floyd and I were always hanging out together. We were virtually inseparable, and his family was my family. Whenever you ran into Ed, he always had his camera. Really. He always seemed to be at every event that took place on the island. He was a mainstay at the many South Pacific Games. He had documented Guam and her people for about fifty years. He always gave away the pictures he would take at the many religious ceremonies we have on Guam, to the church free of charge. Ed was well known and well respected. At his funeral mass, at the Dulce Nombre De Maria Cathedral-Basilica, when 12 priests come out to give his mass, you know he was well respected! I am privileged not only to know him, but to be a part of his family.
Guam will miss you guys. Adios.
I knew Paul through acquaintances, and through many of his articles in the Pacific Daily News. He was a former editor of the Guam PDN. I admired his commitment to photojournalism. He was a good friend and relative of many in my circle.
I knew Roel Santiago since we were in the Boy Scouts. We also went to high school together. He was always smiling and would always take the time to chat with you. He never hesitated to share his knowledge of photography. A week before he passed, we had talked about going to the PI together for a photography seminar. He was a major influence in my decision to shoot with a Canon.
Eduardo Siguenza was a photography icon on Guam. Everyone on the island knew Ed Siguenza. Someone, somewhere, on Guam has a story to tell about him. I knew Ed for a long time as his son Floyd and I were always hanging out together. We were virtually inseparable, and his family was my family. Whenever you ran into Ed, he always had his camera. Really. He always seemed to be at every event that took place on the island. He was a mainstay at the many South Pacific Games. He had documented Guam and her people for about fifty years. He always gave away the pictures he would take at the many religious ceremonies we have on Guam, to the church free of charge. Ed was well known and well respected. At his funeral mass, at the Dulce Nombre De Maria Cathedral-Basilica, when 12 priests come out to give his mass, you know he was well respected! I am privileged not only to know him, but to be a part of his family.
Guam will miss you guys. Adios.
Dancing In The Street
The Dance Fest in Tumon was an exciting place to be. There was a lot of food, music, and of course dancing.
http://www.frozenmomentsphoto.net/
http://www.frozenmomentsphoto.net/
Down South
A good friend called me up the day before thanksgiving, and told me that the waves were really big down south. Mother nature was reminding us that she is still a force to be reckoned with. Because of my excitement to photograph these, I was rushing to the shoreline, lost my footing and fell on the sharp and jagged rocks lacerating the lower part of my palm, about 1.5 inches long, and about 3/8th of an inch deep. My cat like reflexes kicked in as I was falling (albeit an older and slightly overweight cat) and I was able to protect my camera. Luckily my camera was okay, my hand will heal. I found out that day that it's kinda hard to take pictures with blood pouring from your hand!
(It got me out of doing the dishes Thanksgiving day too!)
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