“Those are shrines. Some people believe spirits live in them. ”
I have been contemplating to write about these photos. But I left it too long, and now I can find the words. It is not because they’re too ordinary, it is because it is too complex beneath its simplicity and beauty.
I would rather that you tell the story about your impression of shrines, or your experiences when visiting one. Leave your comments below.
Thanks for stopping by!
“However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.”
Friends, I am proud to introduce the students of Leyte National High School, section Einstein graduating batch of 1987. Or I should say, my beloved classmates!
This class is the top section in this public high school selected on merit. Most of us have been together since the first year in I-Diamond, but have welcomed some transferees and other most deserving students from other sections, and have made them our forever friends. For many, they have stayed in touch until now and have treated one another like family.
Fast forward 13 years later, we have grown in age, found new occupations, studied abroad and decided to live across the globe. But that did not dampen our friendships developed in high school. Many have had mini-reunions along those years, and we did celebrate our silver jubilee. A grand plan was hatched by some of us to have a special reunion in Las Vegas USA in 2020 to cheer those who are celebrating their 50th birthdays this year. Then the came COVID 19 pandemic and the borders were closed. That doesn’t stop us at all, in fact, it may have been a blessing in disguise. Many who could not physically travel to Las Vegas are now able to attend a VIRTUAL REUNION! Thanks to Roselyn whom everyone pointed to as the brains behind this plan, and to all who helped plan and made this happen.
On 19 June 2020 it finally happened, with Neil delivering the opening remarks, Esterlina, offering the lovely prayer, and Jayson giving the closing remarks. We sure had fun remembering the lyrics of the LNHS Hymn when we all had to sing it at the end of the formal program.
There were no dull moments reminiscing the past including the triumphs of our youth, some curly moments that were revealed to have been handled really well. Recalling them all now, we just had a laugh at how it felt to insurmountable in high school, but now we have all agreed that we did ok, and we all turned out so well, successful and most of all excellent citizens and lovely human beings.
Why do I say this? I am certain that anyone reading our Facebook message board, especially leading up to this reunion, will have themselves in stitches. The boys will always be “malabad” and girls will have you giggling about the secret games they play during recess - Arlene doing her spirit of the coin, Cleo and Alma playing sipa in skirts!!! No wonder ROTC Commander Mr. Vicente Suralta had to tell them off to be lady like. Or the times when we have to fight sleepiness and boredom at classes held after lunch. What were they thinking having maths during that time? Some recalled our elective classes which was really fun because we have to cross the field, which is often muddy, to go up the hill where those technical writing, woodworking, horticulture and electrical classes were held.
Not all of us have had an encounter with the “cosmonauts” peeping under the cracked floor boards. But ask some and they will tell you some hair-raising and hilarious distractions under our chairs.
Who can forget the Junior-Senior Prom? When we were juniors, the prom was held at Divine Word University Auditorium. It was so cramped according to the rest, but I have no memory of being inside. I was outside with other girls taking our pictures, then we went home, as we have the littlest interest in dancing, just the chance to dress up and have a souvenir photo taken. During our senior year the prom was held at the People’s Centre and Library. Here I remember walking up the stage and bequeathing responsibilities through symbolic candle-lighting, to my junior partner. I am not really a socially active person and none of this had any significance to me, just nice memories. I hope it does to my high school friends.
Our 4 years in high school have had big impacts on us. Many were inspired by our teachers and followed suit. Most have chosen their careers early on and stayed focused in pursuing them. The disciplines we learned during those years were incredible. Having no mobile phones, no internet, no tablets and PCs, we learned to conduct research the long and hard way. We had to put in so many hours searching for books at the library, waiting when the books are limited and they were already on loan, and taking hand written notes as much as we can to take advantage of limited time. I am grateful growing up Tacloban and in that era. This cohort is as thankful too. Everyone agrees at the reunion how lucky we were to be taught by those dedicated teachers at Leyte National High School.
Here we are today…..
This is Neil. Neil is currently practicing in Neuro-Trauma-Critical Care Services (HCA/RCH). Lives with his two daughters, his lovely wife and pup named Oreo in Southern California, USA.
This is Aileen Bohol. Aileen works at Abuyog District Hospital and lives with her family in Abuyog, Leyte Philippines. Aileen is the Alpha in the family being the only lady of the pack.
This is Reggie. She works as Senior Environmental Officer at the DENR- Environmental Management Bureau, Regional Office in Tacloban City where her family resides. Reggie has three children but is also a doting Auntie to her sister’s children.
This is Irma. Irma works in the education sector. She and her husband live in England.
This is Roland. He is a banker and works at China Bank. Roland is an avid traveller and plans to see more countries on his list. He lives in Makati and is single!
This is Valerie. Valerie is a bookkeeper for a winery in Oregon called Durant Vineyards that makes wine and olive oils! She handles 5 different companies under this company. She also works in property management as an asset manager for a California firm overseeing 160 unit apartments with 4 staff in Oregon. Valerie lives in Portland, Oregon with her 2 kids, Russell (13 years old) and Audrey (11 years old). They will soon to adopt a puppy in the next couple of months.
This is Alma. She works as a Medical Technologist at LGU MacArthur, Leyte. She lives with her family in MacArthur Leyte, Philippines.
This is Danilo. Dan is a former Field Operations Manager of Nestle Philippines. He currently works as Family Nurse Practitioner at the Santa Barbara County Jail in California. He is an Assistant Professor at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles, CA. Dan is married to Dr. Ems Bernal (Ob-Gyn in Manila and a Registered Nurse in the U.S.). They live in Oxnard, California with their three children Dax 19 years old, Gio 17 years old & Aya 15 years old since migrating in 2004.
This is Roselyn. Roselyn is a Registered Nurse and Quality Management Coordinator. She lives with her family in Fullerton, California.
This is Ginalee. Ginalee is a doctor (MD) and currently resides with her family in Leyte.
This is Esterlina. Ester’s state of life is to lay consecrated but is an accountant by profession. Her community is her family. She lives is Pasay City, Philippines.
This is Cielito. Cielo works as a Nurse in London where she and her family lives.
This is Arlene Monette. Arlene is a Management Accountant for a clothing company called Bella + Canvas. She and her family live in Los Angeles, California.
This is Aileen A. Aileen teaches Physics and lives with her family in Texas, USA.
This is me, Myla. I work for the State government in New South Wales, Australia. I live with my husband Valentino and our Labradoodle Shinto in Central Coast, north of Sydney Australia. If I am not working, you’ll find me with my camera shooting pictures or riding with hubby on two wheels. I am also a sustainability campaigner and have been speaking at conferences and webinars about Sustainable Procurement and Circular Economy.
This is Arlene Theresa. She now works as an interpreter and lives in British Columbia, Canada. Graduated in 2019 with MFA Creative Writing from University of British Columbia. Arlene was a fellow in the 2017 Silliman Univerity National Writers Workshop.
This is Perly and her lovely family with daughter Aira and husband Kim.
Then there’s us. No matter how long, no matter how far, we will find a way to be with one another. In these photos among others are Liliani, Chona and Jayson.
Liliani is a Family Centred Care nurse at Kaiser, California. She lives with her husband and their daughter Francine in Beaumont, California USA.
Chona currently resides in Jakarta, Indonesia and is Head of Math Department in Lower Primary Level, and also teaches Maths at Nurture Spring Primary School.
Jayson is a partner in Galang Jorvina Munez and Associates Law Offices and Governor for Eastern Visayas, Integrated Bar of the Philippines. He currently resides in Manila with wife Wianne and sons Xavier, Joaquin, Carlos and daughter Alex.
Our story is not over yet, so don’t close your screens until you find out what we did for our region in 2020. This COVID 19 pandemic has affected us in a variety and significant ways. As you have read above, many of Einstein ‘87 students have gone into the medical field and are currently practicing in hospitals around the globe. They experienced first hand the difficulties in obtaining personal protective equipment in first world countries, and know how dreadful the situation is in developing countries, especially in rural areas. Filled with generosity and and kindness, Neil rallied our support to donate masks to frontline workers in the region. Supported by Cleo, Vicky, Roland, Reggie and Eric on the ground, and advised by Larissa, Catherine and Neil on the specifications, we managed to buy 200 pcs of KN95 masks and 200 pcs of N95 masks to be distributed to frontline workers at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center. Thanks also to our generous classmates all over the world who donated cash for the purchase of these masks. All have a part in this through their support, agreement, prayers and sending us cheers when difficulties happen. They are the source of our strength and inspiration.
Thanks for dropping by. Leave your comments below if I missed any memory, detail, or other facts. Much love to you all, Myla.
“Zen is not some kind of excitement, but concentration on our usual everyday routine ”
Calm….is what this picture brings. This is the Golden Pavilion or in Japanese, Kinkakuji and it is a Zen temple. According to various publications, the history of this place dates to 1397 when the villa was purchased by shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu. It was his retirement villa and converted by his son into a zen temple when he died. What is notable about this structure is that it represents three different styles of architecture - shinden on the first floor, samurai on the second and zen on the third. Have you noticed it from the outside? There is no shortage of publications about the history of this temple and I will not even attempt to rewrite one.
Instead, I would like to talk about my experience here and some quick tips to take good photos. I am lucky enough to see this place through one of our land tours as part of the cruise around Japan my husband and I did a few years back now. I soaked in all the sights, sounds and smell and I was determined to take really good photographs. I was mesmerised by the colours, the illusion of simplicity and the strong feeling that nature and structure were integrated. I was impressed that there is a tree in these pictures that is more than 6,000 years old.
However this is a heritage listed place and attracts thousands of visitors throughout the year. There was a swarm of people and millennials taking selfies by the pond with the Golden Pavilion in the background. All my zen quickly disappeared and I had wrestle my way in just to have a moment of opportunity to snap these photos. Then we had to quickly turn around or else you will be pushed by the throng of Instagrammers and their smartphones. One positive thing is that many people want to have a glimpse of this historical place and it will not be forgotten.
Today I look at these photos to remember the zen it brought me as soon as I viewed the temple from a good, elevated vantage point. As a novice photographer, I was lucky to have set my camera into the mode that I want to have these image effects before I got off the bus. All I had to focus on was to aim and shoot. I used my 55 mm Sony prime lens set to aperture priority at f1.8, and on wide area focus. Because the weather was perfect and there was plenty of light, I left the rest on auto and let the camera do its job.
My top tips:
Know beforehand if you are going to shoot fixed objects or moving objects AND if it is indoor or outdoor
Observe the weather, is it sunny or gloomy if outdoors, or if indoors it is well lit or dimmed
Set your camera to desired setting, as I did and described above and don’t fiddle with settings while on shoot. Even for a short period of time the lighting could change
Take as many photos as you can, you’ll never know what will turn out to be the best
Last and most importantly, take time to put your camera down and SEE it with you naked eyes and be in the moment.
“The man who hunts a deer does not gaze at the mountains”
One of the most tranquil places I have visited where animals and humans mingle is the Nara Deer Park. Deers roam welcoming their human visitors to the park and the nearby shrines.
Nara Koen (park) is located in Nara, Japan at the foot of Mount Wakakusa, and is home to over a thousand shika deers. Despite the large number of deers roaming around and buses offloading both domestic and international tourists, it is quiet, tranquil and peaceful at the park. As you can see in my photos, there seem to be an unwritten rule of mutual respect. At least in this visit, I have seen the respect animals gave to humans. There are occasional persistent ones who sniff and follow a visitor. They perhaps assume that humans have some shika-senbei (deer crackers) hidden in their bags. Yes, you may feed the deers, but only with deer crackers sold in the park and it is the only food allowed. That sight is fascinating to behold.
Along the path from the deer park to the entry to Kasuga Shrine, are the breathtaking stone lanterns. According to my readings there are 3000 lanterns in total. The feeling I experienced as I walk and pass by each lantern is hard to describe. In simple words, I felt relaxed and unburdened, like something heavy was lifted off my shoulders and chest. I guess that was partly due to being in nature.
We joined this tour as part of the around Japan cruise we took with Princess Cruises. The cruise also included a tour in Busan, South Korea. The tour operators are third party providers contracted by Princess Cruises. We are fortunate to have a very organised, well-spoken, funny and knowledgeable Japanese tour operators who “educated” about Nara and Kyoto prefectures during the short trip. There are so many articles already published about Nara and Kyoto, and folklores about the deers, so I won’t repeat them here. I hope you enjoy these photos instead.
A few things that I observed and would like to also share are:
Cleanliness - the Japanese are known for being tidy and clean. I have not seen any litter in this park and it was very enjoyable to experience.
Respect for environment - despite the country’s size and overpopulation, they have areas of nature both man-made and preserved to protect their environment and for their citizens and animals to enjoy.
Understand the animals - they are wild and they are not pets. Therefore, to enjoy the visit, do not tease or scare them, nor take a selfie close to their faces.
Bring your camera and a selfie stick to capture moments without being so close.
Stay tuned for my next post which is the nearby Kyoto.
Do leave your comments below, and if you have questions I will do my best to answer promptly. Thanks for stopping by.
Photos were taken by me with my Sony Alpha A7II and 50 mm f1.8 prime lens.
“The dog is the perfect portrait subject. He doesn’t pose. He isn’t aware of the camera.”
Life takes us through many experiences. Some good, but the bad outbalances the good. It sucks, like losing family members due to long term illness, seeing a sibling struggle with health and life in general, getting rejected at a project ideation, and seeing your bank balance go from black to red. For me there is no shortcut to gaining positive back, I have to work doubly hard and have some sacrifices.
But that is really not isolated to me. I figured we all have our struggles in some form or another because that simply is life. Thankfully gravity exists, the force that keeps our feet firmly planted on the ground without being flung off by our spinning planet.
We also have gravity in a figurative sense. For me it is my immediate family in my little home occupied by me, my loving and supportive husband, and a funny dog. No matter what life throws at us, I always gain my balance and perspective through time spent with them. Because I have to work long hours, sometimes it is not easy to enjoy a relaxing time but we try. It does not matter if it is just for 30 minutes in the yard, or an hour by the lake, as long as we take a step outside into a world of just us and be in the moment.
What is your gravity? Leave your comments below, I appreciate you sharing your story.
Thanks for dropping by.
“If your photos aren’t good enough then you’re not close enough”
I am only just learning to balance my two lives - the one I must be (work), and the one I love to be (me). I have been conditioned to do what I must do first and it has occupied my entire life. I have been meaning to post as often as I can but work-life imbalance sometimes need to be allowed…..sometimes.
Personally, I find that learning to balance takes place when we allow ourselves to let go and accept. I have learned to let go of what I can’t control, like time. Time, that I always chase to complete my work projects with my self-imposed deadlines so I can accomplish more. I have learned to accept that sometimes I just have to draw the line between work time and me time. Believe me it is not easy. It is not always possible either. I have friends who work for themselves and often that blurs the two timelines.
However as I am a believer of the growth mindset, I dare to try and keep on trying. My camera has been a convenient excuse and it has given me the perfect distraction to focus on me and what I love doing. For some, it can be a riveting book, music, canvas and paint, or meditation. Whatever you need to give you the most satisfying me time even just for 15 minutes a day, get it and do it.
What has been your most positive distraction so far? I am keen to hear your experiences or challenges with work-life balance and how you manage it. Do leave your comments below.
Thanks for dropping by!
Photos taken in Sydney, all mine with Sony Alpha 7II and 50mm prime lens.
“Real poetry, is to lead a beautiful life. To live poetry is better than to write it.”
Beautiful poetry indeed, and it is more than words. It is alive in these young women who came to Kyoto to be able to don a Japanese Kimono for a day!
We came to Kyoto to see this ancient capital of Japan and visit its magnificent temples and shrines. I did not expect to be amazed by this sight upon coming out of our tour bus. I planned on browsing the shops for pottery, dolls and silk handkerchief. However, I was pleasantly distracted and started to follow this spectacle of colours, gracefulness of movement and moving artwork.
I learned during a conversation with our tour guide that these young women are not all Japanese. Some of them are international visitors who want to experience the Japanese way of life — even just for a day. The majority of them are young Japanese women who want to get in touch with their traditional culture and embrace to duality of past and present. As you can see, many of them are live-streaming their experience on their smartphones, while some are taking selfies and uploading into their social media account. I couldn’t have known that fact. It seemed like the Kimono, as an attire, has the power to transform an individual into a traditional Japanese woman — style, grace and disposition.
This demonstration of pride of one’s culture is amazing and impressive. I believe that it is very important to always remember who we are and keep our ancestors’ legacy alive, just like the proper way of wearing the Kimono.
These photos were taken In Kyoto’s Higashiyama District. I hope you enjoyed dropping by my page.
Photos are all mine, taken on Sony Alpha 7II. If you’d like to share, please do the right thing and acknowledge the source. Thanks for dropping by!
“A confluence of vintage and contemporary....”
Tokyo is a fascinating place. I have not encountered anyone who has been to Tokyo and did not like it. On this night I decided to explore the famous Shibuya crossing again. Despite living in Japan for almost five years, I have been consumed with studying and working that I have neglected to appreciate my surrounding and city. So I decided this time on a holiday after nearly 10 years, to re-explore Tokyo and take my own version of the Shibuya crossing photos.
However, as I walked to re-orient myself, I was drawn to the narrow alleys and I could not take my eyes off the scene. The place displays a dichotomy of old and new, of traditional and ultra modern, of flamboyance and simplicity. And therefore became a confluence of vintage and contemporary that makes it a unique mega city.
One night strolling with fully open senses and living in the moment made my heart and soul full.
I hope you enjoyed dropping by and looking at the street scene photos.
What has been your experience in Tokyo? Let me know if you have stopped by, or took photos yourself of the same spot where I have been.
All photos are mine, taken on Sony Alpha 7II with 50mm F1.8 prime lens.
