sojourn: a temporary stay; stop; stop over; vacation
This was one of those experiences that you could look back to and say that it changed your life.
I went to Tondo last monday with my dad to take photos of informal settlers (J123: photojournalism assignment). My friend, Duane, and I were supposed to commute to Tondo and just find our way around the place. Good thing my dad offered to go with (and drive for) me.
We didn’t really know the place. So we were relying on dad’s google maps application on his iPad the whole time. We tried asking around where baranggay captain was so that we could get permission to take pictures. In the end we didn’t need to ask anymore. Instead we befriended some of the people there and were even escorted around by a kind elderly man.
I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.
This is by the bridge in Balut, Tondo (above & below)
This lola was so sweet (below). She showed me her dog and her cat. It was heartwarming to see her so proud of her alagas.
People do their laundry out in the open (below). There are even people taking a bath right outside their houses, like this guy (above). He was too shy to look at the camera though.
This boy was shy too (above). His lolo tried to make him look at the camera, but wasn’t successful (below)
The little boy was watching (who I assumed to be) his father trying to cut the fan in two (below). They were trying to get the metal inside which they would then sell.
A little boy named Justin whom we saw crying in the corner. We weren’t too sure why he was crying though. My prof liked my shot (below), but he said I should have stepped back so that I’d be able to take his shadow (like as shown above). If only I could combine the elements of the two pictures.
We left Balut and drove along the highway where there were many more informal settlers. I saw two young boys trying to collect nails and other stuff from the trash (below). I just had to go down from the car and take their picture.
One of my favorite shots (below).
Irony (below).
My dad bought some meat and noodle soup from a vendor while waiting for me to finish shooting when he saw an old woman. He called out to her and gave her his soup. He told me later that the meat in the soup didn’t even taste like meat. Well it figures, the soup was only worth 15 pesos (below).
Her smile was so cute.
Drove along the same road and saw more informal settlers.
Stopped over again and talked to these two boys (above). They lit up when they saw my camera and called their other friends (below).
More people making laba.
I found this girl really pretty (below). Too bad she didn’t smile for me.
I don’t know why but I really like this shot (below). I didn’t pass it to my prof though. It looks more like an “art” shot than a photojournalism shot.
The only shot of my dad and me together (above).
On the drive home I reflected on what I had just experienced and I started counting my blessings. Who wouldn’t be grateful for what they have after seeing people that barely have enough money to eat?
1 Thessalonians 5:8 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
