Bunguiao, Zamboanga City Philippines

Bunguiao is one of the 98 baranggay in Zamboanga City Philippine. It is located on the east coast of Zamboanga. People here speak pure Chavacano (Philippines' Broken Spanish dialect) Bunguiao is a love place. It is a place that teaches you that a simple life would more likely bring you to happines.

I fell in love with this place. My job sent me here and this place has become my second home. This is a small 'barrio' is surrounded by forest. The air always feel fresh. The water is always cold, straight from springs and it is always free! Electric wires and posts are built but the electric company has not provided the electricity yet. So there are no TVs, internet, or any electronic entertainment. There isn't and mobile phone signal either. But people still find ways to have fun by playing cards and drinking alcohol, which is not-so-cool. 

I met many beautiful people and made friends. Life in this place is a bit harder than in the "pueblo" or downtown. Farming is the main source of money nd that is quite difficult. I hope to leave my imprint into the people in this place before I leave. 

Here are some videos I shot in this place :)

Enjoy! 

Venice Piazza Mall, McKinley Hill Philippines

It has always been my dream to be in Europe. Who wouldn't want to go there? It is such an amazing place. Although I haven't been there, I know it is an amazing place. I have watched it on TV and internet. It is truly mesmerizing. The mixture of the old buildings and modern lifestyle fascinates me a lot. Everytime I see Europe, I always wonder and ask myself, "Is there a chance for me to get there?"

Getting to Europe is very expensive especially for a Filipino like me. I only earn 12,000 PHP pesos per month and getting there might require me to gather at least 400,000 pesos. That's like years of work! So, I ask myself, "What are the chances for me to get there?" Still, I cant find an answer. Or shall I say, it is impossible for me to get there, yet.

Few days after I decided to leave Manila, the Venice Piazza Mall in Taguig Manila just opened. Although the whole construction isn't 100% completed, they allowed visitors and shopper to get into this Venice-like place in the Philippines. Just like most malls in the Philippines, it has the same stalls as you would see in SM and Ayala Malls, especially the expensive stalls that only upper class Filipinos can afford. Thankfully, getting in the canal area is free!

I came here with my girlfriend. It was around noon time when we got here. It was scorching, just usual tropical summer noon time, hot and humid. there were few people around. We walked and took pictures. I was impressed by the details of the walls and the corners. A lot of effort was put in trying to replicate Venice. However, it is nothing like the Europe that I see in TV and internet. There was no rustic feels and no vintage aroma. Since this place was fairly new, I could smell the fresh paint from the wall and hear the construction ongoing. As if they were rushing to meet the deadline of the completion of the mall's construction. 

With all this, still I'm planing to get back to this place. Maybe at night time so I could also experience the beautiful night light that it has to offer. Still, I'm grateful I have stepped on a Venice replica. A part of a dream has been "fulfilled" already.