4ML Beach Resort...Changing of Seasons..

In Maasim, Sarangani province, less than a kilometer from Gen. Santos city is a cute little beach resort which has the potential of becoming one of the best tourist spots in the Sarangani area...this is 4ML Beach Resort. It has its own private stretch of beach with a few cottages that are for rent at a minimal fee for those who want to spend the day in the beach. It has a lot of picturesque nooks and crannies that make it a favorite subject for photographers to shoot and test their skills artistically. In this case, Mr. OSG tried his hand in infrared photography which made 4ML look like in the middle of autumn or winter. This cottage might have been the most photographed slightly dilapidated cottage in this area. :) It provides a rustic effect to every photograph.

Below is another infrared picture of the foliage in the area with emphasis on the little boy playing in the tree's branches. If you want a quiet stretch of beach to spend your sunday with the family minus the crowd, then this is the beach to go. Its facilities might need a little improvement but you won't mind it much once you start frolicking in the water. Just make sure you bring all the necessary things you need to spend a day here like provisions for food and drinking water since they don't sell these in the area. After a day here, you can change and shower in your hotel in GenSan since it is only a  few minutes away.

Naga Churches - Bicolandia

The City of Naga is a first class city of the Philippines. Located in the Bicol region, it is one of the most progressive city in the Philippines and the most progressive city in the Bicol region, a peninsula on the south-easternmost tip of the island of Luzon, it is 377 kilometres south-east of Manila, the nation's capital, and about 380 kilometres north-east of Cebu City. It boasts of architecturally magnificent churches that mostly date back since the Spanish Era. 

These are photos of Mr. OSG in one of his recent explorations of Bicolandia.

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral officially known as the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist.

INSIDE.... Naga Metropolitan Cathedral

Holy Rosary Minor Seminary

Naga Metropolitan Cathedral

The Peñafrancia Basilica Minore

Our Lady of Penafrancia Basilica

The Magic of Caleruega

Caleruega strikes me as a place where beginnings are born. I say this due to the numerous weddings of friends and family that have been solemnized at this place. So the first time I was at Caleruega, I was mesmerized not only by the simple architecture of the Transfiguration chapel which I was told was a replica of the original chapel of the Dominican order in Caleruega, Spain.

It is a place of solace for the weary soul who want a quiet place to reflect and pray. The Dominicans opened Caleruega for activities like retreats, recollections, prayer, and renewal workshop. As well as study, research, youth camps, marriage and family encounter celebrations, skills training, leadership seminars, art, music, and liturgy workshops, and environment and agriculture-related activities. It has facilities to house a number of participants like the Veritas Hall among others. It makes one feel attuned with nature, a perfect place to commune with our Creator.

The Transfiguration Chapel

inside the chapel

It is no wonder that many chose to seal their love through weddings here. The towering trees and foliage adds drama to any wedding. It is simply stated, a romantic place to have weddings. How I wish I had my wedding here  many years ago. Probably, when hubby and I celebrate our 50 years together with God's grace we might decide to hold it there -- permitting of course that I can still walk all the many steps up the chapel. :)

the many steps up the chapel.. i think i counted 99 steps :)

Caleruega is located at Bgy. Kaylaway, Batulao, Nasugbu, Batangas. If you have a private vehicle, you can get there:

Via South Superhighway:
• Take Sta. Rosa exit.
• Proceed towards Tagaytay Market.
• Turn right to Tagaytay Rotonda.

Via Coastal Road:
From Roxas Blvd. proceed to Aguinaldo
Highway all the way up to Tagaytay.

a few visitors in front of the main entrance at Caleruega with a Dominican priest

Photos of the Week: "Summer in December"

A portraiture showcase of Mr. Omar S. Gallinero featuring the lovely Ms. Stephanie Palacios. Visit Omar's blog here.
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Model: Stephanie Palacios  MUA: Bobong Otanes
Shot last Dec 2009 at San Jose General Santos City.

Canon 400D, EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM, Shutter Speed 1/125sec, Focal Length 70mm, f4.0, ISO 200

Canon 400D, EF 70-20mm f4L IS USM, Shutter Speed 1/200sec, Focal Length 150mm, f8.0, ISO 400

Canon 400D, EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM, Shutter Speed 1/200sec, Focal Length 200mm, f8.0, ISO 400

Canon 400D, EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM, Shutter Speed 1/160sec, Focal Length 200mm, f8.0, ISO 400

Canon 400D, EF 70-200mm f4L IS USM, Shutter Speed 1/200sec, Focal Length 200mm, f8.0, ISO 400

Coco Dock at GenSan's Queen Tuna Park

Some time ago, Mr. OSG photographed Queen Tuna Park previously and more commonly known as Lion's beach, close to GenSan's market area. Coco Dock is among them. During weekends, you still find a number of people in the beach frolicking in the water and enjoying their time with their families. Below are some of his shots...

Some fisherfolk still haul their catch at the Coco Dock of Queen Tuna Park

Before the GenSan Fishport was built, the mighty tuna was hauled in these docks...

The kids of Coco Dock...

Sunset at Lion's Beach

The Hong Kong Aura

Taken at the Victoria Harbor

Hong Kong strikes me as a bustling metropolis with an attitude. It is a mix of the fast paced life of the West anchored in deep rooted traditions and beliefs that is a signature of the East.

Upon strolling through the Golden Mile/Nathan Road, my eyes popped with the myriad of luxury brands that are in every street corner. Now I understand the frenzy that most women have when they hear "Hongkong". It is truly a shopper's paradise. This city has it all.. from glitzy malls to trendy street markets. Almost all the ladies I see carry branded bags..(swoon!)But hubby was quick to point out that most are not the real thing. I wonder how he knew about that. (Probably getting nervous that I might suddenly ask him for an advance Christmas present.. hehe)

The shopping district in Nathan Road

I have to mention the gastronomous choices for food there. Name it, they have it. From the westernized Pizza Hut and Mcdonalds to the local Chinese restaurants. There was this nice Chinese restaurant we braved to eat in where we noticed has a number of local clientele. So we decided to go ahead and try eating there even if we were practically clueless how we would order our food (we don't understand Chinese characters :). But lo and behold, once they heard us speaking english, they have a customized menu hidden in the cashier's counter --in English!! Talk about being in a city that's really friendly to tourists. It was in this restaurant that we had the most wonderful experience. The yummiest dinner we had the entire trip!

They serve the best food we tasted here at Ah Say Fastfood

After that appetizing dinner, we strolled around the city before we headed off to the Avenue of Stars for photo ops with Jet Li and Jackie Chan's star. The Symphony of Lights was a nice treat and I was in awe at how they orchestrated such a show featuring more than 40 Hong Kong's skyscrapers in a stunning multimedia extravaganza. Hong Kong for me exudes an aura of constant change and development. It is where the West invariably met the East. A fusion that blends and makes this city truly unique.

A tourist boat which reminds me of an ancient Viking ship

Macau...City of Lights

Macau is aptly tagged as the Las Vegas of the East. From what I've seen, it really does seem that way. From our evening strolls around Taipa, here is what Mr. OSG had captured.. enjoy the pictures and see the city direct from my hubby's camera frame.

The Venetian Macao is a hotel and casino resort in Macau owned by the Las Vegas Sands corporation. The Venetian is a 40-story, $2.4 billion anchor for the 7 hotels on the Cotai Strip in Macau. The 10,500,000-square-foot (980,000 m2) Venetian Macao is modeled on its sister casino resort – The Venetian in Las Vegas – and is the largest single structure hotel building in Asia and the fifth-largest building in the world by area.

Outside The Venetian Hotel

The intricate and elaborate design details of  The Venetian Hotel Lobby

City of Dreams, widely known as CoD or CoD Macau in the industry, is in the style of a podium, with four towers: namely the Hard rock Hotel, Crown Towers Hotel, and the Grand Hyatt  Macau (2 towers). A 47-story luxury apartment block is planned for a later phase of development. Its three-floor podium includes a mega-casino, over 200 shopping facilities and hotel guest facilities. City of Dreams has 420,000 square feet (39,000 m2) of gaming space with 550 gaming tables  and 1500 machines, over 20 restaurants and bars, including one of the largest in the city. The property also includes 175,000 square feet (16,300 m2) of high-end retail space (The Boulevard) spread across two levels.

The water fountains outside the Hard Rock Hotel