Sky Flowers

"Sky Flowers"(as you can see at the background)
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ The SM Mall od Asia Pasay City Philippines
Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-2sec.
A-22
iso-800

"Eye Candies"
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ The SM Mall od Asia Pasay City Philippines
Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-2sec.
A-22
iso-800

"The Big One"
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ The SM Mall od Asia Pasay City Philippines
Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-2sec.
A-22
iso-800

The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition opens at the SM Mall of Asia, the country’s top lifestyle mall by the scenic Manila Bay. This annual event will put on a never-before-seen spectacle of lights and colors where the night sky and sea meet as staged by the world’s leading pyrotechnic experts.This competition will not only paint the Manila sky with brilliant bursts of vivid color, but will also be the venue to showcase the emerging artistry and evolving sophistication of Filipino fireworks technology. The Philippine International Pyromusical Competition will be imbued with the awesome fanfare and delightful displays of the world’s leading pyrotechnic events, but done with that distinct Filipino flourish that will surely bring together eager audiences from all over the region.

Masskara Festival

Masskara Festival
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ Pasig Catholic College (Field Demo)
Canon EF-S55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-1/200
A-f/5.6
iso-800

Masskara Festival
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ Pasig Catholic College (Field Demo)
Canon EF-S55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-1/200
A-f/5.6
iso-800

Masskara Festival
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan
Taken @ Pasig Catholic College (Field Demo)
Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
S-1/200
A-f/5.6
iso-800

The word "Masskara" is a portmanteau, coined by the late artist Ely Santiago from mass (a multitude of people), and the Spanish word cara (face), thus forming MassKara (a multitude of faces). The word is also a pun on maskara (Filipino for "mask"), since a prominent feature of the festival are the masks worn by participants, which are always adorned with smiling faces.

The festival first began in 1980 during a period of crisis. The province relied on sugar cane as its primary agricultural crop, and the price of sugar was at an all-time low due to the introduction of sugar substitutes like high fructose corn syrup in the United States. It was also a time of tragedy; on April 22 of that year, the inter-island vessel Don Juan carrying many Negrenses, including those belonging to prominent families in Bacolod City, collided with the tanker Tacloban City and sank. An estimated 700 lives were lost in the tragedy.

In the midst of these tragic events, the city's artists, local government and civic groups decided to hold a festival of smiles, because the city at that time was also known as the City of Smiles. They reasoned that a festival was also a good opportunity to pull the residents out of the pervasive gloomy atmosphere. The initial festival was therefore, a declaration by the people of the city that no matter how tough and bad the times were, Bacolod City is going to pull through, survive, and in the end, triumph.

Pahiyas Festival!

"The Filipina Beauty"
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan

Taken @ Lucban Quezon Philippines

Canon EF-S55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

s- 1/100

a- f/4.5

iso- 800

"The Filipina Beauty"
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan

Taken @ Lucban Quezon Philippines

Canon EF-S55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

s- 1/100

a- f/4.5

iso- 800

"The Filipina Beauty"
Photo by: Cyrill Concepcion Intalan

Taken @ Lucban Quezon Philippines

Canon EF-S55-250mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

s- 1/100

a- f/4.5

iso- 800

Lucban Quezon:

Legend has it the town derives its name from the lucbán or pomelo tree. Three hunters from neighbouring Majayjay— named Marcos Tigla, Luis Gumba and Lucas Manawa— lost their way following the trail of some wild animals at the foot of Mount Banahaw. Resting under a tree, they saw a crow (uwák) in the tree’s branches, and believing this to be a bad omen, they moved to another place and rested again. Whilst in the shade of a large pomelo (lucbán) tree, the trio were attracted to a couple of kingfishers (salacsác) that were singing. Fascinated by the bird’s beautiful plumage and rhythmic chirps, the superstitious hunters took this a sign of good fortune and thus settled in the place they named “Lucbán.”