Fishing in Taluksangay

One of the most dangerous jobs in the world...in one of the most dangerous places on earth. Fishing is the main source of living in the Zamboanga peninsula. The seas remain rich and fertile as the land.

But for how long....

Kawa Kawa at Night

Transfiguration Parish at Sinunuc

The Winner from Zamboanga

Mother
96 x 69 inches

Woman in the gallery
60 x 48 inches

Girl

Untitled
72 1/8 x 62 ¾ inches

Winner Jumalon's Statement:
My art is survival. To date, three spaces define my
art—Zamboanga, my hometown; Laguna where I spent
four years in scholarship in a secondary school; and
Metro Manila, where I’m currently studying fine arts in
a university. Having to uproot myself twice and grow
up thrice all over again has affected my instincts and
aesthetics.
Back in Zamboanga, I painted mostly colorful pictures
of myself at play using circular patterns. The images
were whimsical, carefree. My paintings in Laguna, on
the other hand, were done in subdued earth colors. I
was then living in a mountain where my alma mater
stands, learning the rigors of the academic art world.
Lost, I was groping for an identity, painting selfportraits.
It was then that I started using a layering
technique, drawing faces over faces, an observation
perhaps, watching fellow students with different
personalities go under guises just to establish that
harmony. Currently, I’m living alone, playing with wide spaces
and abstract figures—graffiti, black scratches on white
background. I see stark black and white—anonymous,
animosity, bare—my perception of urbanity. These
images, random and varied, are my companion in my
necessary evolution to fit in and endure.

Zamboanga City General Hospital

Zamboanga peninsula's premiere health care facility which was built at the time of "Americanization" of the rather strict mixture of predominantly Chavacano and Moro cultures

Huwad na Proyekto

ang nakatiwangwang na ob-gyne ward

Sayang at hindi ko naisipang kunan ng kamera ang isang malaking billboard habang kasagsagan ng eleksiyon sa harap ng pampahalaang gamutan na nagsasaad tungkol sa itatayong bagong OB Gyne ward. Nakalagay ang presyo ng proyekto-6 million pesos, kung kelan ito matatapos at syempre nakalagay ang larawan ng isang tumatakbong congressman ng mga panahon na iyon (na ngayon ay nakaupo na)....

Anu na ang nangyari sa naturang proyekto? Sa ngayon, walang sariling OB-Gyne ward and naturang pagamutan...nakahilera lang ang mga pasyente sa mga corridors ng Ortho ward...naka expose sa mga taong dumadaan...
Ani ng mga nakakaalam...binawi ang funds ng proyekto matapos ang eleksiyon...

Zamboanga City Hall Centennial

Ciudad de Zamboanga's city hall has been a memorable landmark of the city for the past 100 years...This month, it inaugurates its centennial celebration by setting up Christmas lights also in preparation for the coming yuletide season...
Senator Manny Villar opened the celebration and considered it as "the most beautiful and most grandiose city hall edifice in the country...."

Should i believe him? i've never been to all the cities in the country to consider that...its unfair to claim such prestige if you dont have any basis (same is true in the field of medicine)

however, the senator must be speaking from experience during his campaign tour..

The structure itself is remarkable...the turn of the century architecture is evident...there is fusion of both European and old Filipino craftmanship from the bricks and wooden windows adorned with capiz shells...

After all, the structure was the center of a flourishing city which at that time was peacefully inhabited by people from different cultures..Spanish-Filipinos, Americans, Tausugs, Samals, Yakans, Subanons, Chinese, and the so-called Bisaya from neighboring provinces...

At present, this melting pot is still the center for trade and commerce in Region 9-the three Zamboanga provinces, Tawi-tawi, Sulu and Basilan

secreto el ciudad de zamboanga

singing and dancing street children

palimos po

along the crossroads

Maria Clara revisited

Benches at the Woods

secreto el ciudad de zamboanga 4

The sun, the seas, the trees, and the land... all the right ingredients for a bountiful ground..

At Z-Beryani's

At the end of the well cemented stretch of Nunez extension is an entertainment plaza which houses KFC, Coffee Mix (local's version of Starbucks) and the Iranian resto owned by a

a good friend. Dining out being the only form of entertainment i have to be contented myself with, i have prided myself to be more or less "expert" to what and where to invite visitors from Manila to eat.

So, i'm not exagerrating if i said that i have tried all the restaurants locally.. You can just imagine how boring life would be, if you're all alone in your loft, cooking for yourself.. its a routine i am not looking forward to..so it is now my duty to share this restaurant before it suffers the same fate of the dodo..Fine-dining restos had very short half life in this part of the world..

Beryani, as the name sounds, is a Persian restaurant. The owner is a connossieur of excellent cuisine, and while reminiscing his years of doctorate training in Manila, his family frequents a Persian restaurant where they serve the best Rotti bread, that's why he thought of bringing this exotic food home.

In terms of ambience, every visitors would be greeted by the calming sound of waters cascading down their interior fountain. Although this corner houses at least 7 tables, the mirror and glass partition made an anti-claustrophobic effect. The well-lit interior with light green, yellow and pink rose shades plus the antique Asian decore would make you feel you're somewhere in North Africa.

The food vary from chicken or beef kebab, rotti bread, humus ( spicy mashed beans) to their specialty chicken Beryani. Somewhat deceitful, because after a few mouthfuls you feel satisfied already..but when u go home a few minutes later...you feel hunger pangs again..

Is that a good sign? It must be because of that special rice.. really not sure.

The crowd is varied. Sometimes you feel that youre in a foreign country: Turkey perhaps, when a party of 10 or so Turkish would dine out with their characteristic separated dining of men from women. Or the very colourful garbs by religious Tausug or the occasionally fearful all-dark ninja style costumes of ultra-sensitive and religious Moslem women.

What about the price? Its a little expensive by local standard, but if you're just a visitor from the Big city, well its still considered cheap..

Definitely, this restaurant would be remembered...just like the dodo.

secreto el ciudad de zamboanga 3

Unpretentious, no one would ever think that a cozy restaurant with late sixties ambience would emerge, nestled in the center of congested downtown pueblo. For me it serves the best hamburger in town, and I never expected a pancit luglug would be delectable in this part of the country.
Part of its charm is very few people know of its existence. You can absolutely enjoy your dinner with your date privately.
Its located at the second floor of Lim Town Center, beside KFC.

secreto de ciudad de zamboanga II

Fort Virgen del Pilar at night

famous bilao meal

pink sands of sta cruz

maria clara at santa cruz island

zamboanga sunset

secreto el ciudad de zamboanga

infinity pool at a private mountain resort

San Ramon public beach
historical government hospital at Veteran's

turn of the century architecture in San Ramon Penal Colony

colourful boats in Sangali..

Sumptuous food at Puericulture

exotic flowers at Palmeras
Cathedral's famous flowers