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Hello travellers!

Its been an amazing first week of December. My Canon 1100D has been quite busy these past few days. I attended the 2nd Coming Home Photography Workshop last December 1 & 2, then a friend invited me to do some documentation on their resort's first year anniversary celebration, and last Thursday I also took some photos during the Buraburon Festival of Festivals.

Its my off, so I decided to dedicate this time to create a post on what I've been up to this week. No procrastination for today. I'm trying to declutter my gallery, so I'm post processing and uploading my photos as soon as I can. Give me a 100,000 TB memory, and I'm still gonna have a problem with my storage. 🤦‍♀️

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COMING HOME PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP

If you have been following this account, you might have remembered that 2 months ago, I posted about Mahagnao Volcano Natural Park. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the workshop, so when Ate Cha, the organizer, informed us that there will be a part 2 this December, we were all excited about it.

This time though, payment was collected to cover for the food, accommodation, travel, professional fee and all other expenses for the workshop. However, I think, a huge part of the total cost was still shouldered by Ate Cha. She is very dedicated in introducing filming and photography here in our town. Will forever be grateful for her generosity.

The venue was supposedly in Brgy. Mahagnao again, however the weather wasn't cooperative on that day, so it was agreed to have the workshop in Sabang Surf Camp, in Dulag, Leyte instead.

I guess, it was a blessing in disguise, since we had a different environment and moments to capture. It was also my first time to sleep in a hammock, which brings so much camping feels.

I didn't know it feels so comfortable to sleep in those hammocks. I had some chit chats with Ate Charesma, about films and travels, until midnight, while we savor the view of the stars, and as we listen to the sound of the waves and the snore of our fellow campers. Haha.

It was one perfect night, then around 2:30AM. We felt small droplets in our face... its starting to rain. Panira ng moment!So we didn't have a choice but transfer to the room. It was still a nice experience, and I'd definitely do that again.

We woke up around 5:30AM, to do an early morning photowalk at the beach where fishermen would usually dock their boats.

Growing up in a mountainous place, where fishing is not the primary source living, I'm amazed to have witnessed a tiny part of the day of those fishermen. Here are some of the photos I took that morning of December 2, 2018.

Despite the bad weather, I took that chance to get some shots of the kids playing. They seem to enjoy the rain so much, I'm so jealous. I didn't have any spare clothes anymore so I needed to stay dry. =(

Remember the time when all we wanted was play outside, and we don't have to think about anything else. Ahh. Those carefree moments, that's what I miss the most about being a kid. I know, you miss it too.

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SABANG SURF CAMP

After the photowalk, we reviewed the shots and Sir Luis taught us about post processing. It was a whole day mentoring, then around 4:30PM we head to the beach again to catch some surfers, and do some last minute shoot before we head home.

Sadly, I was too busy editing my photos so I forgot to charge my camera. When I took some few shots of the surfers, baaaam.. my battery surrendered. I had no choice but use my phone, I couldn't let that moment pass without taking some snaps.

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BURABURON FESTIVAL OF FESTIVALS

On December 6, 2 days before the town's fiesta, the Local Government Unit of Burauen organized the 2nd Buraburon Festival of Festivals. This was participated by 5 different schools, compared to last year wherein there were only 3 schools who competed.

It started with a mass at 2PM, followed by the street dancing parade.

I didn't had a lot of photos during the parade because I stayed in the vehicle in case someone needed medics. We were on duty that day, but I also brought my camera in case we won't be toxic and I'll get a chance to take some photos.

After the parade, the dance presentation followed.

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The winner this year was last year's grand campion, its still Tribu Sulog. If we will join the Pintados-Kasadyaan Festival in 2019, they will be representing our town for the second time.

It was so nice to see these kids in those beautiful and colorful festival costumes. Glad that the tourism is being boosted through this kind of events. There was also a mobile photography competition organized by some local photographers here in Burauen. Indeed, this was a such a joyous celebration of the town fiesta.

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2018 is about to end, and I must say, just like Buraburon Festival of Festivals, it has been a beautiful and colorful year. There may be so many challenges along the way, but without those, we wouldn't be who we are now... braver and stronger.

The strength and courage that we acquired from surpassing these hardships, will be our greatest weapon for surviving more battles in the future. Just like the fishermen, may we learn to sail in whatever weather condition. Let those surfers remind us that life won't be easy all the time. There will be waves that would come to us, they will sometimes knock us down, we will stumble, and won't know how to surf through those waves, but the point is to keep trying and enjoy the whole learning process.

Same goes with the kids playing in the rain. Adult life is filled with so much pressure that when it starts raining, we become so uptight and lose the kid within us. We forget how to play, and find joy in simple things. We hate the rain so much. We became so focused in keeping up with this very demanding world.

Protect your carefree and cheerful self at all cost. Do not let anybody steal the goodness of your heart that appreciates the little things, despite how dark the outside world could be. Remember, you are not like them. We do not need to own so much power and money to be truly happy. We just need heart that would see the beauty in everything not only when the sun is up but even when its raining so hard.

Most of all, we just need to learn how to take things lightly, and accept life as it comes to us... one day at a time. ♡

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