VCF Alabang Kid’s Ministry Team Building

We just had our team building activity last Saturday 15th day of August 2009held at Yamaguchi Resort, Dama Noche St., Calamba, Laguna (I hope I got the address correct).

 It was a great event being able to meet and be close to other people in the Kid’s ministry of VCF Alabang. It was even accompanied with a great sunny day, a good pool and a high slide, good tasting food, and Ptr. Carlo’s birthday! “Whatever it takes!” - we will continue to reach and guide the new generation.

I was not able to capture the portion on the way back to Alabang, Muntinlupa inside the bus while we were stuck in traffic along SLEX because the camera just ran out of power.  Jester, Alvin, and Jeremiah just made an improptu puppet act giving eveyone a good time, I look forward to having them perform it again.

 Here are our photos captured in my camera while it still had power:

(Photos still soon to come)

Here is the album link to get the individual pics.

Batangas Getaway

I went to Salao, Batangas last 9-11 of July 2009 to have a vacation getting away from all the hassles of Metro Manila (air pollution, noise pollution, etc.), work, and whatever is there in Metro Manila not found in the provincial areas. I was with my girlfriend, Gellene, and stayed at her grandma’s house.

The first date of our vacation was timely for her grandma’s birthday celebration and their place was filled with her relatives! I got to meet almost all one by one, but I am sorry if I might not be able to remember their names

The food was great as well. My girlfriend’s aunt, Ka Marissa, is great when it comes to cooking food! Though my mouth and throat got itchy when I ate a spoonful of “gabi” leaf (now I am aware I have a second source of allergic reaction where the first is alcohol) still it did not stop me from eating the other delicacies from a good tasting rice to thesumptuous viands to the lavish desserts of “puto”, “suman”, and other truly native Filipino food. However, someone brought two cakes but it tasted good so I might as well mention it here.

Nature was great! It was really green out there and the place is a vast farm land for rice and corn. I get to enjoy good air and all green sceneries were just splendid that taking pictures of them might justify for their beauty to be shared. The place coupled with the fine weather was a real peace for the mind being able to rest from all the troubles Metro Manila brings.

Thanks to the advent of digital cameras and we’re able to take endless number of pictures! Just see a few of them here:

Here is the album link to get the individual pics. 

The 2009 Photographer’s Greatest Toy

I was just sniffing some cool devices over the Internet and there was this specific brand that was at the tip of my tongue, thanks to Google, I was able to remember it. Remembering the brand was one thing as they are a really knwon and trusted brand but this particular beta product of theirs struck my curiosity: http://www.s.leica-camera.com/ The Leica S2

In the Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera world, I was already at awe at Sony’s a900 offering superb performance with 24.6 megapixel images, however, this specific new find gadget totally blew me off! I am already amazed by the brand ever since I came across it way back then when all I knew was just about film based SLRs and this device just left me drooling onto it.

Here are the teasers they have provided that might interest you:

• Ergonomically designed - smaller and more compact than other DSLRs of other brands
• S-Lenses - offering optimum performance and detail quality with dust proof and waterproof metal fittings and good flash synchronisation
•  3.0″ Display - has 460,000 dots (other brands with the same size have 300,000 dots or lesser)
•  Maestro image processor - Leica’s dual processor system enabling optimum performance at great speeds
•  37.5 megapixel effective resolution
•  Ease-of-Use - provides an easy to use 4 button menu panel with a click-wheel to navigate quickly and intuitively
•  Organic colour LED - allows you to see the camera’s settings clearly even under the bright sun

Overall, the camera is really superb, however, Leica is still doing some improvements on the model as it is still in beta stage so those features listed above and on their website can still change to totally blowing you off your mind! Further information, currently a 32GB CFC can approximately accommodate 400 shots.

My conclusion: I want one. However, my financial status states I don’t have sufficient funds to purchase one unit in the next ten years!  So help me God.

Company’s First Year Anniversary Outing

Our company is celebrating its first year anniversary and we are going to hold it at Subic.

 I am honoured being able to see this company progress from its humble beginnings, being a part of that beginning, and to what it is now. I just can’t wait for the company outing!

However, I still don’t have a camera! Well, I guess I can’t post any pictures about that event as I don’t want to use the pictures others took. I just wish I can find a good deal sometime soon.

 I believe the company outing will be grand as it has been a milestone for everyone. I pray for further milestones and more blessings to pour heavily on the company and all its stakeholders.

Test Driving a Sony DSC-W300

I was testing the Sony DSC-W300 at a mall showcase and, instantly, I love the gadget! It was too awesome as it has lots of features and on top of that it has manual settings similar to a SLR or DSLR but you need to click your way thru not like the ease the SLR and DSLR camera provides.

The model model is the latest and the top of the line in the DSC-W series for Sony and it has been released sometime February 2008, therefore, it can demand a bit out of your pockets for a small compact digital camera. (see DSC-W170 and DSC-W300 comparison)

Looking thru the camera model’s features, it is rare to find Sony to offer a larger aparture size at 1/2.8, however, you don’t get too much tele capability, the optical zoom capability. However, looking at other brands, the others do offer even larger aparture sizes from 1/2.6 to 1/2.7 with greater tele capabilities compared to that of the W300. I am still looking forward to Sony being able to make such cameras in the future.

Comparing Sony’s small compact digital camera lines with the rest of the other brands, they are by far one of the most expensive in the market. Becasue of their prices, they try to compensate that by offering many other features such as instant photo retouching, image slide shows, and more. However, what is more compelling for me to buy such camera is the way Sony digital cameras offer colour quality to your shots as I believe they have engineered a different set of sensors.

By the way, if you plan on buying a Sony camera, do take good care of it as it is disposable when damaged. What I mean by disposable when damage is that when you get the camera’s internal parts damage is it is better to buy another new unit than having it repaired. Expect the main part’s replacement to cost at least Php6,000!