Battle Mountain 4th of July 2008

July 4th 2008, Battle Mountain in Rancho Bernardo overlooking Lake Hodges was a pretty nifty idea in watching the fireworks around San Diego County. Realistically there were 3 shows that could be seen mostly in the North County obviously. The one filmed is of the show from Poway High I believe. There were about 15 people up there with us, very varied in age with even a grandmother joining her family in making the hike. Wish I had a picture of that.
The biggest incident or should I say scariest was when a tarantula was discovered scrambling about and I got a kick out of letting it crawl around on my hand while everyone else looked at it before we released it further away from where everyone was gathered.


Below are some pictures of Battle Mountain in the latter part of June when we did a few scouting runs. I hope to get some footage when there is rain and lightening in the region so stay tuned for that since some of those will be used hopefully in an upcoming short film produced by IslandSuns.

Family Summer Solstice Picnic at Lake Dixon

June 21, 2008 at Lake Dixon. Took sometime to plan this get together usually held in Mira Mesa. Danny and I convinced my brother Anthony and his fiancee Michelle to get everyone else to agree at the new location. There were some very ideal considerations including access to Lake Dixon where we could do some hiking, boating and even a bit of fishing.

I never anticipated how hot it was going to be put we did have plenty of water and of course, good ole Filipino food. Also, a lot of good company in the form of Family. I hadn't seen my favourite cousin Mimi and had never met her husband until this time and I was so happy to see them both.

My mom didn't mind the heat as much as my dad who had to go up to the car and sit in an air-conditioned climate from time to time. My mom being young at heart managed to get a couple of goofy pictures in, one with her, Mimi and Mimi's mom, my Auntie Cirila.

Here is my Dad with my niece Malaya. He is currently in re-mission from spinal cancer which is another story altogether and I felt blessed that he is still around to enjoy family gatherings with us.


The rest of the pictures shows some of the women of our humble clan, some of the family enjoying a meal, my cousin Sha with the lil man Jeffries and her husband Jerrick and a panorama of the picnic site. We had so much food, my family was a little embarrassed yet not surprised that I invited the family not to far from us to enjoy some of it too which they gladly did. To see some of the video footage of the picnic, just go to this link which should be viewed in high quality.

GK 777 One Festival at Kimball Park

One Festival at Kimball Park

May 24, 2008 at Kimball Park in National City and the day started off pretty early for my assistant and I. We were both excited but I was pretty much trying to stay on track since this was my first coverage of an event on this scale and to know that Apl and Taboo of Black-Eyed Peas was going to perform really put it in perspective for me.

The day pretty much begins with a caravan from Plaza Bonita to Kimball Park along the Filipino-American Highway in the South Bay. There were many supporters and various representatives from GK 777, Prime Motivation, and ONE.






That was a very invigorating start to the morning. Everyone showed so much enthusiasm and excitement although there were only about 32 cars in the caravan. Joann, one of the main coordinators really put together a lot of effort in getting even that many people together.


At the park, the numerous events were underway with performances both current and cultural in criteria. I can’t name all the performers but one of the notables was Q-York, a Filipino Hip Hop group out of New York City with a recording studio out in the West Coast in Los Angeles.


Numerous luminaries were also on hand to lend their support including the Mayor of National City and the Chief of Police.



I suppose though that a lot of the excitement was reserved for the appearance of Black Eye Peas. I was up in the V.I.P. staging area, the only photographer to capture Apl Ap as he exited his vehicle before the performance.



The performance was awesome with some of the students from Bell and Morse Junior High School joining both Taboo and Apl on stage towards the end.





It really felt good to be amongst so many people especially to be with the Filipino American community with a singular purpose of uniting everyone in recognizing and appreciating the Heritage and Culture. Although it did start off pretty gloomy, as the day progressed, the Sun did grace us all with what turned out to be a very warm and bright day as can be seen in the video that I put together. Hopefully next years Festival turns out just as good if not bigger and better.

Eight Belles

I love to watch competitive sports. Just something about the nature of the sport, when adversaries are pitted against one another in the old age pursuit of fame and glory, achieved in the ideal manner especially when the victor is considered by all as well deserving… surely it can move one to tears.

Yesterday’s 134th Kentucky Derby I anticipated to be also as exciting and rewarding. I watched Kent Desormeaux for some time along with Cory Nakatani who started in the sport mucking stalls and walking horses. As for the horses, I was especially intrigued by Eight Belles, the only filly in a field of 19 colts. Not since Winning Colors has a filly won the Kentucky Derby although I was rooting for Colonel John, instinctively knew Big Brown would most likely win yet hoped Eight Belles would at least show.

In this age of dog fighting, cockfighting and various forms of animal cruelty in the name of sport, I considered horse racing the truly dignified alternative. Even in the face of the numerous injuries suffered by a number of horses in the beginning of last year’s season at Del Mar, I believed that every consideration was eventually implemented for the sake of preserving the well being of the jockeys as well as the horses.

After witnessing yesterday’s tragedy, I can no longer be so sure. I begin to question the wisdom of allowing a 2 year old, still developing as race horse to compete in such a demanding event especially in a significant field of 19, older, much stronger colts. I became disgusted at the giddy, clueless faces of the crowd who seemed more moved at all the money and prestige they had immersed themselves in while the world hungered, suffered and struggled to survive. I became infuriated at the owner of Big Brown who could not for a minute, stop and reflect at the tragedy that followed at the heels of his horse’s victory, who could not contain his greed long enough to at least inquire as to the welfare of Eight Belles before thrusting his face into our living rooms exclaiming his victory.

One would think that those who enjoy such great blessings in life would not be so indignant as to the attainment of further fortune and glory. One would think that in the face of such a valiant effort to only result in such a sad and final ending, the celebrations could at least have been tempered just long enough to acknowledge the passing of such a great creature. All I saw was the ecstatic reaction of those who cared little about the life of the very creation that allowed for them their indulgent lifestyle. What is a horse when you have plenty of life’s comforts?

I am not contending that the same could have afforded to Eight Belles as was given to Barbaro by his owner’s who unselfishly and lovingly tried to save a horse who obviously would not be able to race again. I will not get into the assumption that such acts are negated by their hopes to take advantage of Barbaro’s lineage, to have him live long enough for breeding purposes. I will not assume that a filly is considered less valuable for breeding, that they are most likely euthanized because they are not worth the cost in trying to save them.

Those are questions better left to those having the moral higher ground to ponder. After all, those in the horse racing world are affluent, civilized, true blue blooded Americans for the most part, surely they would not hold onto the notion that money supersedes all considerations and that in the pursuit of it, even such magnificent creatures are dispensable, as conveniently regarded as collateral damage.

I for one don’t certainly want to believe that. There is too much wealth associated with that industry to think that there are those so greedy as to pursue their fortunes at the expense of the horses they breed, groom, and train. Then again, after what I witnessed yesterday, I can no longer be sure. What I am confident of though is that Eight Belles ran the race of her life… literally and although she came in second, the tears that I shamelessly shed for her made her a winner to me.

Rest in Peace Eight Belles and say hello to Barbaro for us.

Yoga and the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Did you know that according to Wikipedia, Origami historically originated from Tibet and that Yoga is "central to Tibetan Buddhism?"

“Historically, Tibet is considered the home of the ancient art of paper folding known as Origami. The tradition started as an artistic way of folding chanted or meditated mantras into decorative shapes in order to help spread their influence over the world.”

I have always been intrigued by the Buddhist culture and will be the first to admit that I know next to nothing about the religion yet have found myself drawn to the simplistic and spiritual aspect related to it. I have even tried to incorporate Yoga in my daily existence to help me achieve a sense of balance, deeper understanding and compassion for the World I live in.



For the most part and because I would like to think I have matured and grown a bit more patient if not wiser, this approach has been relatively effective. I say relatively because it seems to be for some, more ideal to incorporate such philosophies while disregarding the plight of those that brought such concepts and approaches to light.

Yes, I speak of the current crisis that is happening in Tibet. It’s people who are suppressed by an oppressive government. A government who has displaced even it’s own poor for the sake of building the facilities being used for the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing.

Why do we as a Country, speak of Freedoms and Democracy yet remain silent on China’s insistence on suppressing the Rights and Freedoms of Others? Are we so shallow that we tend only to the novelties of Eastern Civilizations, the Art and Sculptures that adorn our very own surroundings presumptuous in our belief that we are therefore as equally Enlightened by doing so?

I for one will not hesitate to boycott the Olympic Games held in Beijing. If I were to discuss the numerous Human Rights violations related to how China governs it’s People, I might just feel inclined to publish a book. As it stand’s, China’s actions with regards to Tibet and it’s people are in direct contrast to the spirit and purpose of The Games and I will not contribute to how it is being undermined by participating as a willing spectator.

The More Things Change...

...the more they seem to remain the same. Quite sad really how we as a society tend to just sit around and analyze the ongoing issues that goes on around us, we critique them, dissect them, form opinions of them to eventually support those in positions of leadership we believe are best suited to address and resolve them.

Yet as time passes, does it not seem as if for all the moments we commit to resolving the current problems, nothing really changes.

There is still hunger and poverty throughout the World no matter the Band Aids. Democracy even in our own backyard is undermined by the unreasonable presumptions brought on by our very own fears. Corruption and greed persist at the expense of the well intentioned and common of all people and our response for the most part? We alleviate being enveloped by the sheer madness of it all by shopping or stuffing our faces and/or engage in the tried and true method of pointing the blame at someone and or something else.

It's the Liberals, the NeoCons or Fundamentalist Muslims. It's the Blacks, the White so called Power Elitists, the Christians, the Gay Community, the Illegal Immigrants. We were touched inappropriately at a young age, not privileged enought to receive a good education, had to raise a child as a teenage mother.

Anything to deflect from where the true burden lies in how we can truely engage and act upon our common hopes in bringing about the necessary changes in our World. Instead we let others do our thinking for us. Out of convenience and the easily attainable notion of comfort and complacency, we let others convince us of the appropriate opinions and or beliefs to be upheld and are content in mimicking the current catch phrase of the day to later on complain when as always, the wool once again is pulled over our very eyes.

I make no attempts to minimize the pain one goes through on a personal basis and I myself as has everyone, experienced and some ways continue to deal with the difficulties associated with living Life yet, I have nevertheless endeavored to approach it by remaining positive. I have tried to employ kindness and compassion to everything and everyone I encounter but it always results in an eventual drowning of my Soul in the despair and hopelessness of the current times and attitudes around me.

We are a people of extreme contradictions groomed throughout the ages and without a second thought to say things we don't necessarily mean. If we all just slowly but surely resolve to give ourselves the most frank of assessments, that would be a good start in achieving a foundation of recognizing what therefore can be deemed the best for others. That would be a good start in effecting the changes we had the courage to first initiate within OURSELVES.