Beautiful and engaging faces welcomed me, and matched the gorgeous,
colorful, Philippine landscapes that greeted me daily.
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This barefoot farmer walks along his terraced rice fields, in Malicong.
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Harvesting rice is an arduous job.
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| The work is done by hand in many villages, with rice the staple of the Philippine diet. |
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Ninety year-old Theresa, my bus companion, to Kabayan,
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| became my friend; her smile is contagious. |
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| Her 80 year-old friend, Luisa, struggles to keep apace, while a steady grin belies her hefty load. |
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Heavy load? No problem for these determined bottle recyclers.
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| Good friends may come in all shapes and sizes. |
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| Invariably, the omnipresent personal device is a close friend. |
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| I was fortunate to get a lengthy lift with the friendliest Flip-Flop roving sales couple. |
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Rex is determined to make a sale,
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| jumping out of his truck into the brutal heat to ply his wares. |
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| Perfect fit! Its a sale! |
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| Up, up, up the mountain goes the pig, off to slaughter and celebrate at a birthday bash. |
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A traditionally tattooed woman in Tulgao muses on the day,
perhaps in need of the flip-flop vendors.
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A few villages away, 100 year-old Maria Fang-Od, takes time out from
her busy schedule to welcome me.
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Then it is back to work for Fang-Od, as the revered elder traditional tattoo artist in the area.
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People from all over the country, and the world, walk to her village in Kalinga,
to have her signature tattoo. Yes, it hurts! |
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| With pine soot and thorns she taps in her traditional artistry. |
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| In the enervating tropical heat, a card game can be a great diversion. |
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As can a friendly walk by the sea.
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| Or a dressed up pre-nuptial promenade. |
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Despite the brutal heat, this street vendor remains upbeat.
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| And this balloon peddler is in over his head with his lot! |
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