BACKSTORY: Our last day in Dauin was so stressful. It was time to catch our domestic flight from Dumaguete to Manila, and after days of perfectly reliable transport…from coasters and four-wheel drives to tricycles…we finally experienced our first hiccup. Just before our scheduled pickup, we learned that our booked transfer from the Airbnb to the…
Tag: Philippines
Discarded Plastic Installations in BGC
I came across these installations in Bonifacio Global City that completely drew me in. Created by Manila Automat, the space felt like stepping into an underwater world … only this one was built from discarded plastic. The Starfish Pod was the first to catch my eye, bold and sculptural, almost glowing in its form. Then…
Dauin Seats and Doors
Travel isn’t always about famous landmarks. Sometimes it’s the colourful doors, the inviting chairs, and the little corners of a town that catch your eye. These snapshots from Dauin, Philippines, are small details that helped tell the story of the place. Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge Xingfumama‘s Pull Up a Seat Challenge
Travel Diary: Dauin – Day 3
Patricia suggested having breakfast at a healthier option restaurant. We all agreed to go, except for Tim, who preferred to sleep-in a little longer. We walked back to our accommodation, taking our time to enjoy the local scenery and the laid-back charm of the province along the way. We had pre-booked a van to take…
Tuesday Streetart: BGC Mural – 129
I visited the BGC Arts Center in Taguig, Metro Manila, and saw a long mural showcasing Filipino dances and musical instruments. Called Isang Guhit, Isang Pintig (“One Line, One Pulse”) by @_racamagay, the colourful artwork celebrates the harmony of music, dance, and acting. I loved how it brought different art forms together in one vibrant…
Windows on the way to Turtle Island
The tricycle driver took us to Turtle Island in Negros Oriental, Philippines. No, we didn’t find any turtles there, but they said that people had scared them all away. I’m not sure if that’s true or just an old woman’s tale. Anyway, on the way, I spotted these charming windows and couldn’t resist taking a…
Travel Diary: Dauin – Day 2
When I woke up, this was the view from our room window. It was a beautiful sight to start the day in Dauin… a town near Negros Oriental, Philippines. Before the place fully woke up, Jack and I enjoyed breakfast by the beach. At that early hour, it felt like we had the whole place…
Cellpic Mural
This is a mural by Los Angeles muralist Bunnie Reiss and is entitled David’s Hand . I am linking this to Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and to Debbie’s One Word Sunday – Mural
Shine from Within
“Shine from Within” by Daniel dela Cruz is a pair of public artworks on Bonifacio South Street, in BGC, Philippines. It is reminding us that true light comes from within, not from the spotlight. I am linking this to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge
Happy Independence Day Celebration
Today, I attended the Philippine Independence Day celebration at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren. The event started with a flag-raising ceremony, which was a proud and meaningful moment for the Filipino community. You may be wondering what these flags were. Well, the first on the left is the Philippine Flag, the second is the Aboriginal…
Travel Diary: On the way to Dauin – Day 1
Took the budget airlines, Cebu Pacific from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. After an hour-and-a-half flight, we finally arrived safely in Dumaguete. Just look at how excited I was to see my son’s name flashing on the sign held by our driver waiting for us at the airport! 😂😂😂 Our van took us to our…
Tuesday Streetart: Birds in Greenbelt – 127
During our stay at an Airbnb in Greenbelt, I walked past these murals every day. It was only later that I stopped to appreciate how beautiful they truly were. This was taken in March 2026.
Floral Friday: Heliconia Bihai – 39
This is a Heliconia Bihai which I found in the Philippines. It is also commonly known as Red Lobster Claw, False abird of Paradise or Balisier. Floral Friday
Mall of Asia Windows
And this is happy Dog Momo in front of the windows at the Mall of Asia Main Atrium. Mall of Asia, or MOA for short, is a sprawling waterfront shopping and entertainment hub in Pasay in the Philippines. Monday Window Challenge
Floral Friday: Hibiscus – 37
A Hibiscus in the gardens of our AirBnB in Dauin in Negros Oriental, Philippines. Floral Friday
Floral Friday: Bougainvillea – 36
Bougainvillea thrives in the Philippines’ hot tropical climate. Here are some colours I found on the grounds of Villa Escudero. Floral Friday
P is for…
This week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge is from Sarah of Travel with Me with the theme of “it begins with a P”. So here goes… P is for … PEDICABS go by many different names around the world—often depending on language, culture, and slight design differences. In Vietnam they are called Cyclos and they’re one of…
Bollards in BGC
Some bollards in Bonifacio Global City(BGC) in Taguig, Philippines. These are cute because they are wearing the traditional clothing of countries such as Japan, Philippines and others which I am not sure of. I am linking this to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge
Walking around Villa Escudero
Travelling is harder for me now because I can’t carry heavy things anymore. I already have to bring my walking stick, a water bottle, umbrella, jacket, hat, sketchbook, pens, watercolour, sunscreen, and sunglasses … the list never ends. So I decided to stop bringing my camera whenever I travel. My phone is my travel companion…
Snippets of my first week in Manila
Hello Manila.. I’m not a morning person and rarely catch the sunrise. But during my first week in Makati, staying at my sister’s place, sunrise found me instead … gently spilling across my face and waking me up each morning. The food was so good — but wow, the sweet stuff! Filipino food really loves…
Wordless Wednesday – 24
PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES Photo taken in 2010
Wordless Wednesday – 21
PALAWAN, PHILIPPINES
Thoughts on Resilience
Resilience reminds us that, no matter how hard life gets, we have the strength to navigate, adapt, and thrive. RESILIENCE, an amazing theme from Anne for Lens Artist Photo Challenge. The first thing that I thought of when I read the prompt was my homeland, the Philippines. Filipinos endure life’s hardships with quiet strength, doing…
Angono… a fun place to be
This week, Egidio’s challenge is Destination: Fun. I struggled to decide what to post this week because, for me, traveling—whether close to home or halfway around the world—is always an adventure filled with fun. But I suddenly remembered these places that my niece and nephew took us in Angono, Rizal in the Philippines. This is…
Monochromes in The Philippines
It’s been a year and a half since my holiday in the Philippines, but the memories remain vivid. The trip was filled with fun, nostalgia, and new experiences with friends. I’m especially glad I had the chance to visit Ilocos as well. Here are some monochromes which may not be my favourite shots but they…
Yesss
3 August – Pinoy Pride-Carlos Yulo wins a historic GOLD for the Men’s Artistic Gymnastics Floor Exercise. It’s been a long time in the making, but Carlos Yulo can finally call himself an Olympic champion. And it was impossible for him to hold back the tears. After rocking his floor routine — capped off with a stuck…
People…memories from the Philippines
I’m thrilled because my sister from the Philippines is finally visiting me here in Melbourne for the first time. Despite living here since 1991, I’ve always been the one to visit her because she felt Melbourne was too far. But now, she’s finally making the journey, arriving at midnight, and I couldn’t be more excited….
Last chance bloopers
This is the last post for the Lens Artist Photo Challenge for the year. Led by Tina, we are asked to post photos that didn’t quite make it to the blog for this year of 2023. I will give it a go… Last Chance Here are some photos that were taken during my travels to the…
Looking back to my Philippine holiday
I saw these in my archive … reminiscing my trip in the Philippines last March. These are cute sculptures by Ronald Ventura in the Art Alley of BGC.. And that’s my niece with a new found friend. Linked to Natalie’s Photographingg Public Art Challenge And to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Tuesday Streetart from a mall – 12
BGC, PHILIPPINES In SM Aura in BGC are these two murals on both sides of the exit. These are by Robert Castro.