Baliangao Hill, Misamis Occidental
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I often work alone and with that said, it is the price to pay on getting exclusivity and prestige on photographs and stories that very few have seen or know about. Presenting your work to an audience on social media however can be quite tricky.

Magsaysay, Misamis Oriental

With all these issues and pressing matters (or gossip) on social media platforms, it is beginning to become quite hard for people to hear your voice or see your photographs. I often ask myself, what do people want to see? What do they want to know? Do they even care? I’ve tried over and over again and failed horrendously, but failure as they say is a great teacher.

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I’ve failed so many times that I can personally expound each one and the lessons that they’ve given me. I’ve tried so hard in many competitions and have fallen short on winning. It always takes me a while to bounce back and recover but one thing I’ve come to know is that when you’re shooting festivals, events or just by doing photography, you miss a 100% of the shots you don’t take.

Personally, I see my photographs nowhere near the works of true masters of the craft and years away from literary write-ups of great writers. Yes, I am very hard on myself. Tough love has given me focus on things that I need to improve.

Baliangao Hill, Misamis Occidental

All those praise from success often blinds us from the fact that we are not yet using or fulfilling our utmost potential to become the best we can be. In a few days I’ll be celebrating another year in my life, the celebration however is bitter sweet as I look back and reminisce the triumphs and downfalls. A year has passed, but have I become wiser, stronger, or better?  I suppose.

Mt. Malindang, Misamis Occidental

There really isn’t a benchmark for success in life, for everyone is fighting their own battles. But to my personal threshold, I’d say that I come near to breaking even. The determination for growth and mastery intensifies as each year progresses. Photograph to learn and not to lose, the fear of failure should not stop us from doing what we are passionate about. We grow old because we stop doing what we love. This, we all have to remember dearly.

There comes a point in your life where you’ll have to make decisions which could define your life. Being disappointed and stuck in a state of all time low however has its positive sides, one of which is to see more clearly the possibilities and options for the next chapter of your life.

Higaonon Chieftain, Naawan – Misamis Oriental

Travel, photography and writing have been with me for the past 6 years and I’ve travelled to exotic destinations, seen festivals, tasted food and met people whom I will treasure in photographs and writings for years to come. The next chapter of my life is presenting itself as both exciting and scary.

But I know I won’t be alone in facing the challenges, there will always be family, friends and the love that God has sent to stand by me no matter what happens. Thank you for another year, life is beautiful indeed.

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