not much to do.. not really being productive especially in earning much needed cash...
I do am busy.. as a volunteer though... I actually tire myself to death working on a lot of stuffs for other people FOR FREE...
damn.. I really need to do something w/ my life.. I just turned 25 last sunday.. O_O... fucking god I am 25!!! and yet my life is still a mess and no where of getting stable..
I wanted to go back to making big drawings and paintings... its just that I am not earning anything for now that it's also hard for me to invest on art materials to satisfy my artistic cravings..
photography I guess is the only thing keeping my sanity... I also find it to be my most effective source of income but I don't have any projects or commissions so I am just an IDLE BASTARD for now..
yare yare
shiikata ga nai...
Bug Run… An Interesting Road Trip
Volkswagen Käfer Club of Iloilo
Bug Run - Feb 9 - 10, 2008
Iloilo City - Roxas City - Iloilo City
The Bug Run took a year of planning for the Volkswagen Käfer Club of Iloilo Inc. The club itself has to tackle a lot of things before really committing itself on the idea of a long trip for everybody. Iloilo City to Roxas City is quite a long travel especially if you took via the Balasan route. We knew quite well that not all VW Beetles can commit in the event as car conditions and personal obligations may hamper them from participation.
Come January 2008 and the guys met to discuss the possibility of really making the activity possible. From there we had a confirmation of 15 VW beetles, a reasonable number and a feasible one. The date of activity was set and the preparations were noted. February 9 came with much anticipation as those whom committed to the road trip prepared their cars as well as themselves.
The starting point was the Shell gasoline station just after Gran Plains Subdivision, Jaro, Iloilo City. We had 13 VW beetles ready as one was not able to make it due to personal matters and another suffered from car trouble. It was a long morning for most of us as we prepped our cars, double checking everything from the full tank of gasoline to the engine oil and the last minute application of car wax. Some of the club members whom cannot participate came to show support and to send the guys off.
Seeing that everything was ok, everybody started their engines and lined up as we prepared to hit the road. We had a small plan on the order of cars and we headed out to leave the city limits. It was pretty interesting to see the bugs lined up as I was in the last car having the mechanic with us. Our pink VW was the sweeper car. We left at past 9 in the morning.
The trip was a mixed of sunny weather and rain. We had people look at the convoy with curiosity. Its not a frequent thing to see 13 bugs lined up speeding on the highway. Kids saluted and hit each other to the common games we are quite fond of when seeing a bug on the streets. I was really amused at the sight of people smiling at us as we sped away.
We took a break at Barotac Viejo, had a cup of coffee there and we took a stop at Hilltop in Ajuy as we enjoyed the scenic coastal beauty of the place. We also took a break at Ajuy town proper. From there on was a non-stop trip to Balasan, Iloilo.
We arrived at Vice-mayor Ganzon’s residence in Balasan just 30 minutes after 12 noon. We had our cars line up outside his house. The Ganzon family had prepared a hearty lunch for us and we really enjoyed it. Then a text message came that the VW that had car trouble was catching up with us and so we decided to wait for him. We enjoyed that early afternoon talking about everything and then the fourteenth bug arrived.
We left the Ganzon’s residence at past 3 in the afternoon. Our last leg of the trip to Roxas City was met with very heavy rain. We slowly make our way out of Pilar, Capiz with almost zero visibility and only guided by the car signal lights of every bug in the line. Minutes after the heavy rain stopped and we found our way in Pontevedra, Capiz. We took a detour in Pontevedra as we visited the brother of one of the club member whom was our lead car.
Well I guess things will not really go without a hitch. As we were leaving Pontevedra, one of the bug had engine trouble and took time to start up. We waited for him and when we were on our way, another bug had almost ran out of gas. We slowly took him to a gas station to fill up and we slowly assisted the other bug all the way to Roxas City.
We arrived in Casa Felisa, San Antonion Resort Village, Baybay, Roxas City past 6 in the evening. Upon arriving our attention was on the car that had engine trouble. We everybody lending their tools to the mechanic we spend half of that evening figuring out what was wrong with the engine of that VW as well as securing our rooms for the night. The night became more interesting as people came to look at the cars lined up in the parking area as well as VW enthusiasts of Roxas City came and talked with us. Everybody took a break as we headed out to dinner at the local beachside seafood restaurant that was just a walk away. The dinner was welcomed with much conversation on our experiences that day. We had a long talk about that day’s trip and assessed on things that would prove to be useful for the next day’s trip back to Iloilo City.
We returned to Casa Felisa late that night and some of us called it a day while the rest were still focused on the engine of the VW that broke down. We had some conversations with the Roxas City VW group until late that night.
February 10 greeted us with a mild shower in the morning as we had breakfast and continue working with the VW engine. Some us took the opportunity to enjoy the beach. We finally got the VW fixed and we decided to arrange the bugs into a VW formation on the open field next to the parking lot. We spend late that morning taking pictures of the bugs as well as having me climb up a tall ladder which the guys held against a tall post just to take an bird’s eye view shot of the whole thing. We also asked a truck parked nearby by to give me permission to climb on top of it just to take a picture of the whole bugs from a different angle.
Lunch came with us enjoying it at the same restaurant we had dinner the night before. It also was an opportunity for us to discuss the trip back to Iloilo City. We basically talked about guidelines and protocols while we were on the road. The topics discussed were based on the previous day’s trip from Iloilo City. Lunch ended and we returned back to our cars and prepared for the trip back home.
We left Casa Feliza around past 2 in the afternoon and headed out into the heart of the City of Roxas. We had a detour stop at Tracy, a famous cake shop in the city and some of us bought bake for pasalubong. We then made our way to the Shell gasoline station and had our tanks filled up with gasoline for the long trip back home.
The group decided to make another detour and we headed to Yellow Box, a local pizza place and enjoyed pizza. Some of the guys took the time to order take out as well. When everything was all set, the group left Roxas City past 4 in the afternoon. For the trip home we took the route via Passi City.
Leaving Roxas City came with a much slower pace and a much coordinated convoy. We had a lot of people waiting to see us sped away. Children were waving goodbye at us and we see such interesting smiles from people who saw us. The trip came with a light shower but it never hampered people from seeing us as we pass by.
We finally reached Passi City late that afternoon and we were quite relieved to find us back into Iloilo Province. There was a light traffic as Passi City had its fiesta celebrations and we had to be contented to the amount of vehicles and people in the streets.
The trip ended as we arrived in Zaraga, Iloilo past six and the guys stopped and had the final talk for the day. The convoy shall end from Zaraga as we all will be heading back to Iloilo City and home on our own separate ways. I arrived home exhausted from the trip almost 7 pm.
I guess the road trip was quite an experience and am sure we will be doing the same again soon.
----------------------------------------------------
more pics of the event here
http://vans3n.multiply.com/photos/album/82
Rock Ed Philippines - Iloilo "PASA ARTE" Feb 23, 2008
Art workshop for the kids of the Sulod-Bukidnon Tribe at Don Ignacio Ramirez Elementary School, Brgy. Jayubo, Lambunao, Iloilo
If you guys can donate art materials: papel, pencil, crayons, watercolor. coloring books or visual
We are also still looking for more volunteer art teachers and those who are willing to help us in this endeavor.
*still accepting books for the ongoing BOOKBIGAYAN.
EDUCATE TO END POVERTY
NO MORE EXCUSES PHILIPPINES!!
NUJP: JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ENEMIES OF THE STATE!The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) urges the Philippine Nation al Police (PNP) to stop treating journalists who covered the failed Magdalo uprising as enemies of the state. We protest in strongest terms the PNP's move to forcibly bring some journalists to the National Capital Region Police Office in Bicutan and condemn the confiscation of video footage of the day-long stand-off at the Manila Peninsula Hotel. We denounce the overkill that led to the tying of the hands of members of ABS-CBN's technical team and reporters in what looked like a virtual arrest. The explanation by police officials and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro that the move was made to prevent the escape of Magdalo troops does not wash. The technical team had superiors who could have been asked to verify their identities. And, certainly, there is no reason police officials would be ignorant of the identities of reporters Pinky Webb and Ces Drilon. While we concede the PNP's right to conduct a thorough investigation of a crime – and we do not dispute that the takeover of the Peninsula was a crime – the police ought to follow legal procedures. Invitations to questioning shoul d be differentiated from coercion; journalists have the option to accept the invitation and, certainly, should be accorded the basic right to counsel. We concede authorities' right to demand a halt to coverage that could jeopardize the lives of state security forces but believe any move for redress should pass through normal channels, involving management of television stations and not lowly ground staff. While journalists' refusal to leave the Pen when ordered by the cops could have jeopardized their lives, live footage of the Pen standoff showed they did not block authorities from doing their tasks. Nor is their little to support suspicion s that media showed bias for Trillanes and company; if anything the rebels complained about media's alleged bias for government. It is regrettable that a day that would have given the government a clear-cut politic al victory would be marred by knee-jerk reactions of the authorities. This government claims it is protecting democr acy. It should realize that media is a prime component of the democracy it purports to serve.
Reference:
Jose Torres Jr. - Chairman
National Union of Journalists of the
Philippines (NUJP)
|
|
bravenet.com
