For a few times a year I find myself, together with kindred souls, combing the Sarangani coast (Mindanao island in southern Philippines), looking for a nice place sunrise or sunset. Over time we have made a few spots our favorite and we kept coming back time and time again.


Some days we get lucky, most days its your usual overcast coastal twilight. But we don't mind. We don't even mind shooting the same scene over and over again. I guess its not the photos at the end of the shoot, its the folks you are shooting with.

But on a more serious note, I think the reason why I love shooting the coast is because of these beautiful trees and what (I think) they represent: strength and resoluteness amidst the harsh environment.

The older mangroves are vanishing, some due to the natural cycle of life, some were deliberately cut down. The stumps were a mere reminder of how once these were tall, strong, and magnificent trees.


Several of our favorite spots have been bought, fenced, and declared off-limits. Soon these will be "developed" into resorts and most of the time development spells disaster. Will the mangroves remain?