One Day Love Affair

Nov. 5, 2006

I relocated to Antipolo lately and with my kind of job, meeting my girlfriend regularly is a real challenge in my blood. I didn’t have a fixed day-off, only a fixed payout that cannot even suffice my daily subsistence. I virtually work 24-hr a day, 7-day a week - not a thing to brag about, really. Had I prepared for a fallback long time, I must have already fired out my big boss. I was stripped off with luxuries but not really a big deal if only I was not relocated and can meet my girl any moment I want it to. Anyway, we are already into this predicament and what we can do as of the present time is to face with the situation and accept it matter-of-factly.
My relocation was just untimely, that’s it. After a long courtship that lasted for a year and 20 days, I finally won her heart. No, I don’t admit to really be too patient to wait. In fact, I ease off myself in the middle of the process. We only discovered we’re falling for each other when typhoon Milenyo wreck havoc to Metro Manila and the two of us needs to unite as one to survive the raging typhoon. We were barely 18 days after being officially on when I ponderously moved to Antipolo City. We understand we couldn’t frequent with each other unlike before, but we promised to always get in touch with each other via phone and see each other on weekend. That was difficult though as my presence in my workplace is very much essential. Taking a weekend break seems impossible I still had to have a few skirmish with superiors before I could take back my Saturday break.
Last November 4, a Saturday, I was with the girl in my life. We actually couldn’t spend the whole day together because she was at work then. Even when we stayed late at night, we still felt that Saturday is not sufficient enough to compensate all those lonesome weekdays we had to endure together. We agreed for a Sunday pleasure walk in Manila. We would make it as memorable as can be so we could get back those days being taken away from us.
The following day, I prepared very early, though we would meet at Boni MRT Station by nine in the morning. By the way, I'm still staying in my former condo in Mandaluyong when I have to go down to Manila. I turned off my cellphone so I could avoid those unnecessary work-related calls. And to think that I should be back to work on that very Sunday, and I have to avoid those calls when they turn crazy looking for me. I cleaned up my Silverado (my Canon EOS 300D) and fixed the tripod that was beaten up during my recent Iloilo trip. I didn’t know if my girl would like the idea of me bringing big camera for our date, but something struck into my mind. I suddenly thought that it is my chance to determine her acceptance of my expensive hobby or not.
As usual, she was already there when I arrived in our meeting place. I remember to be always being late on our appointments, while she being always punctual. But there, she would just always smile and never complain. She took the tripod and I slung the camera bag. We took MRT until Taft Ave. When we reached the end of the MRT destination, we transferred to LRT. I never thought LRT can get crowded since it was Sunday morning. I thought of getting taxi instead of train and told her about it. She said it was okay for her. She must have thought of me being concern for her convenience. Truth, I was more concern of my bulky camera bag that will give me hard time squeezing in with fellow commuters. I insisted for a taxi so we climb down from the LRT station. She expressed dismay over the two single journey LRT tickets that were used up for nothing. Overall, that was all she said.
I remember we didn’t eat our breakfast yet so I asked the taxi driver to bring us to Jollibee in UN Avenue instead of going directly to our main destination. It was almost 10 in the morning and I was hopeful we can still catch Jollibee's breakfast meal. We arrived on time anyway, and the taxi meter indicated P82.00 fare from Taft-EDSA to Jollibee. She gave the driver a 100 peso bill and didn’t ask for a change. That was one thing she learned from me – to pay more than what is the actual taxi fare. I started the habit when the fuel price escalated so high and taxi drivers were directly hit by the price surge.
It was almost 10:30 in the morning that we finished our Jollibee breakfast. As we went out to head to our destination, we stopped by for a while to wait for another taxi. There were also “padyak” drivers who barged in to ask where we wanted to go. She asked me about how far is Paco Park from our present location. I told her it’s already very near we can even walk if we want it to. Unfortunately, no taxis were coming in and she suggested for padyak. I told her the padyak and my digital camera simply doesn’t match. We end up walking all the way to Paco Park. We just walked leisurely so it took us more than 10 minutes to reach the place. She enjoyed with the walk anyway.
Paco Park is formerly a municipal cemetery enclosed with a circular stone wall occupying approximately a space of 4,500 square yards. It was completed in 1822 and had by then been used for two years. It was here on the night of December 30, 1896 that the Philippine national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal was interred by Spanish soldiers following his dawn execution at Bagumbayan (now Rizal Park). At present, the park serves as a regular venue for intimate musical and cultural concerts featuring local and international artists bringing art to the masses. Weddings, garden receptions, holy masses, and family gatherings are likewise being held here. It was just the second time that I visited the place. The first visit was when I had it photographed using my 35mm film SLR.
We paid 5 pesos each as entrance fee and we proceeded inside. She was amazed at how solemn the place once we were inside. It was like getting into a different world, considering that few steps back is just the environs of the metropolis. A Sunday mass was held when we get in and to the left is I thought a wedding preparation.
She was very mesmerized with the place that she became very excited to roam around. I just follow with her wherever she went into. I let out my Silverado and started to snap photos around the place. I asked her to pose a photo for me but she just smiled and told me she didn’t want it. Unlike Mae Ann who always like to pose in front of the camera, my girlfriend is camera-shy and it would take a heap of convincing power before I could let her even just stand right there in front of the camera.
When I got the chance of changing lens, I mounted my Sigma 70-300mm telephoto lens and enjoyed taking photos of people from afar. I got here three samples; 1, 2 and 3. When we felt tired, we sat on a bench and talked. It seems that the time had stopped since we entered into the place. We talked a lot and had she didn’t check her wristwatch, we wouldn’t realize it was already past 2 in the afternoon. So we decided to hit our next destination. By the way, I found a link that will give us the details about Paco Park. I found it here: http://www.pilmap.com.ph/luzon-pacopark.php.
Outside Paco Park, we could see Taft Avenue to be just a stone-throw away, so we just decided to take a walk. When we reached Taft, we cross the street towards TM Kalaw St. and hailed a Baclaran-bound jeepney. Our next destination was Malate Church. The traffic flow was so smooth that we reached the church in a short while.
We were feeling hungry even before we could disembarked from the jeepney. I chose Aristocrat Restaurant and she chose Max Restaurant. I always ate to most Max Restaurant branches so I convince her for Aristocrat. I promised her that the dinner would be at the restaurant of her choice, in that case - Max'. She agreed.
Aristocrat didn’t change a lot in a few years that I wasn’t able to visit the place. Maybe, the only changes that I took notice was their knockdown signage, probably was flown away by typhoon Milenyo. That was just a wild guess.
We ate our lunch slowly while being engaged in a very serious conversation. I haven’t seen my girlfriend as serious during that moment. I mean, when a woman would start to talk about her biological clock, I know that’s something to be considered so seriously. Earlier, I was very excited to take a shot of the Malate Church in digital as I had photographed it in film a few years back. But now, the mood is real serious that I thought of lowering the camera down for I was afraid the Silverado might intimidate her.
Anyway, we stayed long inside the restaurant and it was getting late in the afternoon the sun started to touch down the horizon. The sun was red, of course, and just like most Manila Bay sundown sighting, it was just red – simply like that. I didn’t expect my girl can become that excited about the sunset that after she paid our bills, she dragged me behind and cross Roxas Blvd. to the baywalk side. Incidentally, TV network giant ABS-CBN was there also doing photoshoot for Ms. World 2006 (I’m not sure. It was something like that!) but my girl was more excited about the sunset. She asked me to take photo of the sunset that I myself was also excited to do such. I told her to setup the tripod while I change telephoto lens. She said there was no time as the sun is quickly being engulfed by the clouds. She was right, and besides, I realized she must have no idea how to setup the tripod for me. We’re losing our time and without changing lens, I turned on the Silverado and running out of time to tweak the manual setting, I set it to program mode and let the Silverado think for itself. I snapped a few photos and in less than a minute, the sun was already behind those clouds. I realized it was a decisive moment for both of us and my partner. But my biggest realization at that time is that somehow my girl would gradually love my addiction to photography and given that, photography will never hinder with our relationship. This is a very important issue, believe me. My ex-girl was a nagger and she never appreciated my inclination towards photography. I parted ways with my ex-girl not really because of photography issue but because of a heavier reason. But that’s another story.
We never ever planned our date very well except for the Paco Park and simply, baywalk. But we found ourselves being led to the ticket booth for the Manila Bay Cruise. It was already 5:15 in the afternoon and the Tennessee Cruise Ship was heading its way towards the bank. I bought two cruise tickets worth 495 pesos each that already included dinner onboard. We didn’t wait that long and after we signed our names at the passengers’ manifest, we boarded the ship right away. An attendant guided us to the second level.

It was an awesome feeling being up there. I was very excited and so did my girl. From our vantage location, the baywalk can be seen in its entirety. She couldn’t help but express her appreciation towards the beauty of Manila. At that moment, I was hesitant to let out the Silverado. I didnt' want to be misunderstood. I didn’t want her to feel like competing the Silverado in catching my attention. But I was wrong. I was totally wrong. It was my girl who told me to start taking photos around. So, I setup the tripod and mount the camera on top of it. My girl in fact reminded me to check the cruise ship authorities for any regulation against the use of tripod. She's aware about other places that limit the use of tripod so to avoid untoward accident. I inquired from the nearest bar tender about the tripod issue but I was told it is just okay. So, that was fine. It was getting darker so I had to use a slow shutter speed. I could stabilize the camera on board the ship since it is mounted over the tripod and that was fine. My problem is that the cruise ship is already moving against the scenery so I know I still would suffer blurry images. I was forced to use ISO3200 but still it didn’t turn out good. I just found out most images are blurry as of the time I’m writing this article and preparing a few photos to go with it.
My girl became my instant photography directress (or director?). She knows what to be taken photograph and where. I was simply amaze at how she can see those things the right way in photography perspective. She probably must have a hidden talent for photography which is only needed to be unveiled of. Well, I just didn’t know, but she enjoyed a lot. There was even one instance while the cruise ship we were in was heading towards Harbour Square that she told me to include the moon in one of my composition. I was really thinking she also has an eye real photographer naturally possessed of.
Tennessee docked Harbour Square for fifteen minutes. While waiting, I got the chance of opening a conversation about photography. I asked her straightforward for her opinion about my hobby. She answered by starting to tell me how she came to like those portrait photos of her that I gave sometime ago. She said she started to like photography and if photography is really in my blood, she wouldn’t hesitate loving it, too. I was fluttered, I mean, that was exactly what I really wanted but never expected the statement would come from her. She also asked of the competitiveness of my camera. I told her it is still "so far, so good." She must have heard of my daring statement for a Nikon D80 upgrade. I told her the Silverado is still quite doing fine and if it can last for another twenty years, I still would utilize it over newer models. I assure her that I’m satisfied with my present photography equipments and if ever she heard of me talking about camera upgrade, I advice her not to take it much seriously as I was just saying those things in order to tease Dennis Villegas.
Time works from behind the scene and we realized the high-spirited fun and enjoyment onboard the cruise ship was over in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Yet, for the two of us whose hearts are united as one, it was just the start of a very joyous and blissful journey in a lifetime. The Sunday encounter was surprisingly Jovy’s one day love affair to photography. For me, it is also the beginning of loving her for eternity.

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