I got another chance to revisit Ilocos Norte a few weeks ago with my brother and sister-in-law who were on vacation here for a month. My brother, who is  also into photography (you can find his gallery here), had no questions about the itinerary I prepared which included visits to places scheduled at hours most tourist would consider "ungodly".




Our first stop was Bangui, site of the famous Bangui Northwind windmills. We decided to stay in a small resort within the quiet town, a few minutes walk from the first windmill on the northern end. I was excited to see the windmills at sunset (last time I was there our group left before sunset) as well as sunrise.



We headed out to the center of the column of 15 windmills by late afternoon.The windmills are a popular attraction among those visiting Ilocos Norte as evidenced by the bus loads of tourists one can see there. They look really spectacular at sundown, towering like giants among the visitors.



We stayed a bit late while most headed to the nearby resorts in Pagudpud after the sun went down. On the way back, I notice the sky's color turned a hue of pastel pink and blue. I stopped our tricycle and hurriedly looked for a possible vantage point. My brother, who perfectly knew that time is of the essence, decided to forgo shooting and instead helped with setting up my tripod while I scramble for the necessary filters. We were able capture a couple of frames before the colors faded and the night finally won.

We were back at the windmills at 4AM the next morning. This time the place was empty. It was still dark but I could already see thick looming clouds over the eastern horizon. I was expecting for a dull and gray sunrise.  I was glad nature proved me wrong.



The dawn's early light diffused through the fog and clouds created a surreal mood. The entire landscape was painted in hues of orange, pink, and blue, more vibrant than what we saw at dusk the previous day.



The sun finally broke through the clouds and fog. The haze turned from soft pastel colors to deep warm tones. It was amazing to see such transformation happen within a few seconds.

The first batch of vans and buses arrived by the time we packed our gears. A few folks are already enjoying the huge waves. I, on the other hand, am already famished. A light display like that can certainly work up one's appetite.

Its been three weeks since I last posted an entry. In the blogging world 3 weeks is an eternity. So I'm sharing some of the moods and colors I captured during my last trip home.

My home province of South Cotabato once included the coastal towns of Sarangani bay in the southern end of Mindanao mainland and the mountainous areas in-land to the north of the bay. Today its split into two provinces: South Cotabato and Sarangani, with General Santos City in the middle (hence the acronym SOCSARGEN)



I have this personal project of shooting scenes with mangroves whenever I visit a coastal town. Last time I visited SOCSARGEN, I went to Kawas to shoot the mangrove reforestation area. This time I headed to the town of Maasim in western side of Sarangani bay and found the mature mangroves of Brgy. Tinuto much to my liking.



Mangroves are an essential part of the coast ecosystem. They are natural breakwaters and provide a sanctuary for small fishes and crustaceans. They are also a good sign that the shoreline had not been abused and converted into resorts.



A few days after shooting sunrise in Maasim, I found myself with two of my photographer friends in the middle of the DOLE pineapple fields at 4 in the morning, waiting for the first light. The area around Mt. Matutum (whose iconic shape is always visible from my hometown) had always been planted with pineapple for as far as I can remember.



I enjoyed the cool mountain air as much as I enjoyed the colors of sunrise that morning. It was a surreal feeling, standing in the middle of a field planted with pineapples as far as the eye can see.



A trip home wouldn't be complete without a visit to of Lake Sebu (see the Favorite Places section of this blog). We stopped along the way to photograph Allah valley at sunrise, with Mt. Matutum figuring prominently in the background.



SOCSARGEN abounds in natural wonders: fine beaches and dive sites of the coastal areas, the caves, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls of the mountainous towns.  Despite the tainted image of Mindanao when it comes to the "peace and order" situation, SOCSARGEN continues to be one of the most peaceful regions in the island.