Surviving LuzViMinda

3:27 AM All About U 0 Comments

It was already dark when we arrived in Sagada. We really didn't get a chance to see the beauty of the place, so we just ate our dinner, chugged a bottle of beer and called it a night. The next day, we were awakened by the silence and the cold, fresh weather of Sagada. It was beautiful. "The search is on", we said. The gang went on to check on some caves while I walked around town since my busted knee won’t allow me to do some caving trips. By lunch time, Dada, was kind enough to accompany me to see the hanging coffins. Seeing the coffins, hearing stories behind it and learning about the history of this sacred place are the top highlights of my trip to Sagada. While we were leaving, I had the chance to speak with Joaquin at the back of the Pick-Up truck, braving the cold, wet foggy weather of the Mountain Province. Joaquin grew up in Baguio and witnessed the transformation of his home town and Sagada. One thing I learned was that while everyone is complaining about how slow the internet connection is and not having enough memory space in their phones for duck faces and selfies, children and local folks in this side of the country were playing on the fields and enjoying each other’s company while appreciating the beauty that surrounded them. I think they are very lucky to still have the luxury to be one with nature while the rest of us are drowned by buildings and pollution in the city.

I finally got the chance to go back home to Iloilo city on the 20th of October. I stayed home and tried to work on the photos the whole day and night. Two days after, I packed my bags again for the final leg of the tour. I found myself stepping on another plane bound for Davao city. The grinning faces of Nelson and Brylle of Familia Mulatto picked me up from the airport and went straight to the Mulatto house. It felt like I was in a tournament after party when I got there as I was joined by players from Mulatto, Extreme, Boracay Dragons, Boracay Ultimate, Fasa Fuego, Team Lumad and some other players who were there for the Manila Spirits and  the AOUC training camp. It was so much fun to see those fine athletes together under one roof. Big thanks and high respect to Sir Joie and Ma'am Daisy for welcoming us into their home. While the players went off to their training schedule in the afternoon, I stayed home to catch up on some sleep. I was starting to feel a little feverish, and the bug finally caught me the next day, Friday; the day when we were about to go on a 5 hour road trip to Mati city for the Pasa Plato Beach Tournament.

Shooting a beach tournament under the heat of the sun with a slight fever and a runny nose is the worst condition you can ever be in as a sports photographer. I tried to fight it off and kept on shooting until heavy rain poured upon us. "Okay, this is the worst thing that can ever happen to me right now" I said to myself while I was trying to keep my camera from getting wet. And then I realized that I had gotten a fever and there I was walking on the beach soaking wet. I stayed inside the hut for almost an hour, trying to keep myself warm and dry. When the sun came out and my equipment were dry, I decided to go back out and shoot. But the damage was irreparable. I was shivering even though the sun was heating up the entire beach. I was actually telling myself to call it a day and cancel the Sunday coverage, declaring the Mindanao leg of the LuzViMinda tour, a bust. But that didn't happen either. I just kept my cool and composure, and still finished the day with some decent shots. I felt a little better on the second day. I became more focused on my work and began to enjoy what I was doing once again. Pasa Plato 2015 coverage was a success!