Talking Heads on Electricity

(May 22, 2008) Congressman of 4th District of Isabela, Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, talks about the Republic Act (RA) 7842 on the abolition of system loss that public utility companies (like Meralco) charge to their customers during Usaping Balita media forum last May 22 at Serye Restaurant in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City. He says that the bill is already with the Committee on Energy.

(May 22, 2008) Chairman of Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Hon. Rodolfo Albano, talks about the alleged overcharging of Meralco on electricity rates during Usaping Balita media forum last May 22 at Serye Restaurant in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City. He says that his organization is still reviewing the system loss (stolen electricity) being charged to customers. He hopes that they would have the results before he retires on July 10 this year. ERC is the organization that encourages competition and penalize abuse of power in electric industry.

(May 22, 2008) Deputy Minority Leader Congressman, Rep. Roilo Golez, suggests overhauling the accounting system of public utility companies like Meralco in solving the current controversy on overpricing of electricity rates during Usaping Balita media forum last May 22 at Serye Restaurant in Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City. He believes in uniformity of accounting system and should be applied also to private organizations with similar situation (pertaining to system loss).

Distribute Arroyo Land Now

(12 May 2008) We have mouths to feed. Alvin Celis, one of the farmers of Arroyo-owned Hacienda Bacan, prepares lunch as he spends his third week in a makeshift camp in front of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Central Office in Quezon City. Task Force Mapalad (TFM) supports the farmers by providing them food, water, and other basic needs. 

(12 May 2008) Counting the years. Filipino farmer Renato Garay has been tilling a land that he does not own since 1972. He is one of the farmers dismissed from work after joining the makeshift camp in front of Department Agrarian Reform (DAR) central office in Quezon City. They demand distribution of 157-hectare Hacienda Bacan in Negros Occidental owned by the Arroyos. 

Dominance and Submission

This is my first time covering a Jiu-Jitsu competition at Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Jiu-Jitsu is a contact sport where a player should be dominant and forcing his or her opponent to submit. 

I love taking photos of contact sports particularly tae-kwon-do and rugby because of emotions and form. But this is a contact sport that is hard to get that much facial expression and action.

Unfortunately, the competition was stopped due to heavy rains. Janitors of the mall had to remove the water off the competition areas.

Sunny Laboy Day 2008

I decided to take photos of the Labor Day protests for wage hike as my general news event coverage for ACFJ. Besides, it has been ages since I covered a demonstration in the Metro. I realized how important it is to monitor the news on the tv, radio, or internet. I was able to find out the schedule and routes of the rally.

I prepared my gears, attached the lens, and adjusted my exposure settings before leaving the house. I expected that I could just bump into a rally on the streets. I took the LRT going to Central station at around 10am to go straight to Liwasang Bonifacio. The moment I went down from the train station, I saw a bulk of protesters walking from Quiapo bridge to Liwasan across the Post Office.

I ran as fast as I could and checked the best angle I could shoot from. I saw a fly-over that is perpendicular to the bridge and hurriedly went up there. I had jumped over the fence to go to the other side and have the good view.

People started organizing themselves despite the scorching heat of the sun which composed of groups from different sectors of the society such as the public school teachers who are underpaid. I caught them eating at the same time right in front of the Post Office while a TV crew was also documenting them. 

Activists decorated the area with slogans and posters calling the attention of the government for wage increase. There were also banners that highlight good qualities of Filipinos and one of them is "Makabayan" which means 'Nationalistic'.

Several representatives were called on stage to speak about their opinions on the current administration. One of them is Olivet Nepumoceno who spoke regarding the status and the benefits of the public teachers.

The march resumed at 1pm from Liwasang Bonifacio to Mendiola near the Malacanang Palace. I walked with the crowd. There were lots of people just watching the march. I came across a kid who looks like living in the street. And that made me feel that the child sort of represents the standard of living that my fellow Filipinos are experiencing.

As soon as the protesters reached Mendiola, they again started their setup like what they did in Liwasang Bonifacio. They also asked more representatives of different sectors to speak up.

The road at Mendiola was already blocked with steel railings and barbed wires when we got there. At the other side of the barricade were police men and women who were prepared with their shields to push protesters away in case a riot happens. 

Despite the barricade, it didn't stop the protesters to organize and say loudly their sentiments by waving the flags and banners.