[Project 297] Week 32

10.11.10
Day 216: Dolphins Love Freedom

Ric O'Barry used to catch and train dolphins for the Flipper TV series. But the death of Cathy, one of his Flipper dolphins, turned him around. According to him, she committed suicide in his arms. For dolphins, every breath is a conscious effort. They can end their life if it becomes too unbearable by not taking the next breath. And that's what Cathy did. She took a breath and did not take another. That's when Ric realized that these creatures suffer when kept in captivity. From then on, he spent his years trying to tear down the industry he once helped build.

Every year, thousands of dolphins are being brutally slaughtered in a hidden cove in Taiji, Japan. A group of activists led by Ric was able to document these killings in a gripping film called "The Cove". To watch bleeding dolphins as they were being speared to death and to actually hear their agony is very disturbing and heartbreaking. :(

Inspired by the film's message, an artist named A.G. Saño aims to paint 23,000 dolphins on walls around the country to help raise awareness and protest their capture and killing. The above photo is one of his murals painted on a concrete wall along C5 road.

Have a minute? Help save the dolphins by signing this online petition. :)

10.12.10
Day 217: Birthday Boy

Happy birthday, Furanzu! So how does it feel to be a quarter century old? Hehe. Have a great one! :*

10.13.10
Day 218: Darkness Falls

I'm not afraid of the dark. I'm afraid of what lies within it. Like the Boogeyman. Or Jocelyn Wildenstein.

10.14.10
Day 219: UNO Stacko

Sometimes it feels like a game of UNO Stacko. I laugh and have a good time trying to stack the blocks as high as I could only to watch it fall into a messy heap on the floor. :(

"Nahihilo, nalilito
Nasan ba ko sayo?
Aasa ba ko sayo?"
--- Migraine, Moonstar88

10.15.10
Day 220: G1 Night Only

A star-studded night of singing, dancing, drinking and bonding at Sala, Center Stage. Winner talaga sina Usher and Medwin! Haha.

10.16.10
Day 221: Bag Tags

Weeee! Got my free bag tags from KLM Royal Dutch Airlines! And it's a real treat to see my photos printed on them! Happiness! :)

10.17.10
Day 222: Little Angels

Went to CRIBS Foundation with some of my officemates to care for the babies there. They are all so cute and oh so adorable! How could their parents abandon these little angels?! I only spent an hour carrying them and playing with them but when I got home, I was so tired that I immediately fell asleep the moment I hit the bed. Haha.

[Project 297] Week 31

10.04.10
Day 209: Parol

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
Some houses have started glowing with holiday cheer. Brightly colored parols and Christmas lights are now up, giving life to our dull streets. Hello Christmas! Hello ridiculous Meralco bills!

10.05.10
Day 210: Just Another

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
What makes Simbang Gabi so special? Feeling the nip of cold air, hearing the faint sound of Christmas carols, smelling the waft of freshly-made puto bumbong and bibingka. But now that these two delicacies have found their way into the malls and are now available all year round, I dunno. Sure, I still enjoy eating them once in a while but they became just another kakanin. Nothing special. Lagyan man ng kesong puti at itlog na maalat.

10.06.10
Day 211: Will The Real Fat Santa Please Stand Up?

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
A whole troop of Santa Clauses can now be found hanging out in malls. Wearing their usual red and white suit, sporting long beards so snowy white and carrying huge bags of presents for nice kids like me! Hehe.

10.07.10
Day 212: Chasing Lights

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
A curtain of Christmas lights dancing to the beat of famous Christmas tunes.

10.08.10
Day 213: Away In A Manger

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
So not in the mood to write anything about this photo. Not in the mood to think. Or even try. Haays. People do get on my nerves sometimes.

10.09.10
Day 214: Christmas In Bloom

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
Poinsettias have long been associated with Christmas because of its flaming red petals and bright green leaves. And they are once again in bloom and on sale at most flower shops! I could smell Christmas!

10.10.10
Day 215: Christmas Shopping

Theme: Signs Of Christmas.
That's my mom looking for a new Christmas tree topper. With a sosyal-looking Christmas tree as her backdrop. Hehe.

[Project 297] Week 30

09.27.10
Day 202: H2O

Theme: Chakra Element - Water.
Water breathes life to the world. But it is also a force capable of great destruction.

It's been a year since Ondoy happened and thankfully, I could say that our humble city has fully recovered from the devastating flood and is now standing strong. Sadly though, our country remains unprepared for such disasters. Thousands of families are still living under bridges or atop open sewers and majority of our drainage systems and waterways are still clogged.

I can't help but think, what if another Ondoy hits the country? Heaven forbid, but what if?

09.28.10
Day 203: One Earth

Theme: Chakra Element - Earth.
Freak weather conditions and natural disasters of unprecedented magnitude. We have experienced the adverse effects of global warming and climate change and according to many scientists, we ain't seen nothing yet. We will continue to experience these calamities with greater intensity and frequency if we don't drastically reduce our carbon dioxide emissions. And that doesn't mean we have to stop breathing. Hehe.

Small changes in our lifestyle could help reduce our carbon footprint. Switching off the lights when not needed, unplugging appliances when not in use and taking public transportation to reduce fuel consumption. You can even go a step further and plant a tree! :)

We only have one Earth. Let's take good care of it.

09.29.10
Day 204: Dreaming Out Loud

Theme: Chakra Element - Fire.
It all started with a dream. A part of our house was on fire. There were no firemen, no sirens. There was just me, trying to put out the flames with an empty bucket of water. Woke up feeling exhausted and defeated. I wanted to shake the feeling off but my attempts were futile.

I googled what my dream meant and according to one site, the fire could represent danger, anger, passion, pain or fear. I thought of my family. I thought of work. I thought of people in authority. People who misuse their authority. People who squeeze the life out of others. People who are not only blowing their own horns but who are blowing it too loudly. I thought a lot and I realized what the fire meant.

A fire is only alive as long as it burns. And just when I'm about to put it out, someone comes along with a gallon of fuel. Ugh.

09.30.10
Day 205: Upwords

Theme: Chakra Element - Thought.
I think, therefore I am.

10.01.10
Day 206: Hear My Photo

Theme: Chakra Element - Sound.
One of the things I want to achieve is to be able to communicate sound through a photograph. Am I successful in doing so? Did I make you cringe?

10.02.10
Day 207: Ako Ay May Lobo

Theme: Chakra Element - Air.
A brass sculpture mixed with color-saturated glass balloons by the greatness that is Michael Cacnio. How I wish I could own at least one of his works.

See more of his Balloons series here.

10.03.10
Day 208: God Is Light

Theme: Chakra Element - Light/Dark.
And in Him there is no darkness at all.

"Teach me to trust in You with all of my heart
To lean not on my own understanding
Coz I just forget
You won't give me what I can't bear."
--- Take Me Out Of The Dark, Gary V.