Photojournalism Workshop 2009: It's the person behind, not the camera...

My first post for 2010, and it is about an event of a year ago (and I mean it only because it happened in 2009!)

It was on December 21, 2009 (a month ago today) when bloggers from all over Soccsksargen gathered to do mainly two things: (1) take lessons on basic photo-journalism and (2) exchange Christmas gifts.

The event was initiated by world-famous Gensan blogger Avel Manansala and was made possible through the benevolence of Orman Manansala of Asia United Bank and the inspired contributions of other Gensan bloggers like Sheng Dumalay and Sir Gilbert Tan.

The Farm @ Carpenter Hill, a hotel-resto garden resort in Koronadal City, provided the food and venue for the 1-day event; and served as an excellent subject and backdrop for the blogger-participants' practicum during the photojournalism workshop.

The workshop (which intentionally did not delve into the technical side of photography) was handled by veteran and renowned photojournalist Jojie Alcantara who ably provided input on several key guiding theories and principles on taking good photos (e.g. rule of thirds, looking for patterns and leading lines, using perspectives, etc.). With Ms. Jojie were co-photography artists Joyce Mariscal and Bogsy San Juan.

Here are some of the blogger-participants' raw photos taken during the workshop (mind you, only two of these photos were taken using a DSLR, the others were shot from a point-&-shoot cam, a China phone, and an early P&S model with a 16MB memory card):

by Hecky Minoza

by Van Almeria

 

by Remo Aguilar

 

by Kristan Franco

 

by Rabsky Villanueva

  

The above output along with the gigabytes of other photos brought home by the participants after the workshop once again has reaffirmed the perpetual photographers' dictum "It's not the camera, it's the person behind the lens..."

The Farm's Asst. Manager Mr. Jovic Ferrer

 

I got a coffee mug and a t-shirt as Christmas gifts :)

 

The Pax

Yummy bibingka at Jim's Place

These are among the most delicious bibingkas (rice cakes) I have ever tasted.

Well, I am not even sure if I can call any of these a bibingka because there is something in it that is different from what we traditionally know as bibingka. Many of the latter come in smaller sizes than this one.

This particular bibingka is kind of a cross between a traditional bibingka and a... Kenny Rogers Roasters muffin!... and that's even downplaying the true merits of this comfort food.

Now, I am not really good at describing food in writing; so may I just invite you to take a bite of this bibingka at Jim's Place in Koronadal City. At P16 each, you will be wasting money on the shrinking dunkin' donut than on this one.

Jim's Place is near the corner of Gensan Drive and Zulueta Street (a.k.a. One-Way); a little past the roundball (rotunda) if you are coming in from Gen. Santos City.

If you are a native of Tacurong City, then it is of no wonder for you why such a yummy bibingka can come from a thing called Jim's Place. It is the very same Jim's Place that has brought you good food for many years back in your own hometown. The branch in Koronadal opened sometime in November last year and has since provided a good alternative to the other food venues in the South Cotabato capital.

Jim's Place is both a bakeshop and a restaurant. Food in its restaurant is served either by fastfood or a la carte. The place is Wi-Fi connected and is open 24 hours.

Jim's Place is open all day and night

The restaurant area in the interior is Wi-Fi connected

Various types of bread, cakes and pastries are sold 24/7 at the bakeshop

New eating venues in Koronadal

Tiana's Cafe & Bar is located along Alunan Avenue, where the office of SOCOTECO I was once located. It professes to have the best fried chicken in town. It is where one finds what are probably the largest plates served among food venues in the region.

Below is a branch of Pritong Manok inside the Fit Mart Mall of Marbel. It's probably just a couple of days old as it has yet to serve some of the items in the menu. You have to check very carefully the integrity of its chicken macaroni salad.