COSPLAY | TOYCON 2014

The Philippine Toys, Hobbies and Collectibles Convention, or TOYCON as it’s more widely-known, is Asia’s biggest and longest running convention for collectibles, toys, anime, comics, cosplay, gaming and anything and everything related to hobbies and collections. The convention has been ongoing since 2002 so it is now on its 13th year of thrilling fans and aficionados alike. It is, simply put, the biggest pop culture event in the country.

Testing my new Toy - Samyang 14mm f/2.8 IF ED UMC Aspherical

Wide angle enthusiasts just can't get enough - the wider it gets the better. 

I have been thinking weather to buy a new Canon body or a new lens. I have been using my Canon 40D EOS for almost 2 year since the last time I bought it online (this unit is a second hand only). 

Then, I think I should buy a new lens. Been searching the internet what good lens will fit my tight budget. After long search, I found out this SAMYANG 14mm f/2.8 ultra wide lens. 

Image from the internet. 

The build quality is surprisingly high for such an affordable product. It is made of a tightly assembled combination of metal and good quality plastic parts. The focus ring operates as smooth as silk (dampened). The plastic aperture ring has distinctive clicks in 1/2EV steps. The lens features an internal focusing (IF) mechanism so the physical size remains constant during focusing and the big front element does not rotate.

I am very satisfied with the output of this lens. Will recommend for those who searching for a wide lens on a cheaper price. 

Here are some of the photos taken using this lens. 

MT. Batolusong , Tanay Rizal

Mt. Batolusong is one of the 'latest hits' in the local hiking scene, its proximity to Manila spurring a spate of interest in the mountain in 2012 and onwards. It is located between Brgy. Cuyambay and Brgy. San Andres in Tanay, Rizal, pretty much in the same direction as Sta. Ines, the jumpoff of the more popular and more difficult Mt. Irid. It is often compared to nearby Mt. Sembrano, because of some similarities in the two mountains' grassland slopes; Batolusong may be thought of a 'closer and easier' version of Sembrano.

Just take Cogeo Gate2 and your landmark is CMA (City Mall of Antipolo). You can have your breakfast or lunch at nearest fastfood chains like, Jolibee and Mang Inasal (locate at Rublou Market/PureGold Jr.) (UPDATED ONE)

From your dropped off point at CMA, a market there is terminal of Sampaloc, Palo-Alto. Every 30minutes there is queue of in-bound and out-bound trip between Cogeo Gate2 and Sampaloc. Asked driver to dropped you at Junction in Barangay San Andres or Bario Kai- Ibon. 

From this point, you have to take motor or tricycle that will take you to the barangay hall. They will arranged you the guide and at the same time you have to register 20 pesos each. 

Right now, it is uncertain. Under the old setup, hikers are asked to register at the PSD Outpost in Sitio Kay-ibon. With this new trailhead, the logical registration point is the barangay hall or with the barangay officials of Brgy. San Andres. However, it is also very possible that municipality of Tanay may demand that hikers get a permit from them as well. Considering the history of insurgency in Rizal province, this is very understandable but I hope they do not impose it since it will be very inconvenient for hikers if they will have to go all the way to Tanay proper.

Dropping by the Kai-Ibon Fall before proceeding with the hike. 

Kai-Ibon Falls.

In a dry place, fortunately that this thing grows up here. 

One cold morning and refreshing view of Sierra Madre Mountain Range. 

There are no water sources in Mapatag Plateau and for most of the trail. Cellphone signal is present in Mapatag but not in the trailhead or most parts of the trail.

There are some reports of theft in the past so hikers are advised to be careful.


Additional reminders: 

There is no cellular signal.
Sunblock is advisable as the first part of the trail is open, also in grassland until mapatag plateau, mapatag plateau up to the traverse jump off. 
There is no limatik presence, there is watersource 30-45minutes from the jump off. Nearby in Kay-ibon there is watersource
Last trip of jeep is 6:30PM from Sampaloc. 

2L-4L is safe enough for a dayhike, for an overnight please consider your campwater. 

Fortune Island - Nasugbu Batangas

Fortune Island is a resort island in Batangas province (Nasugbu) in the Philippines. 

The island was long owned by José Antonio Leviste, a former governor of Batangas Province. Leviste opened the Fortune Island Resort Club on the island in 1995.

The beach resort was built along a 20-metre (66-foot) stretch of pristine white sand. Several rest houses facing the water.

This was once a luxury island resort, but now it is now just an abandoned island with a few crumbling structures called the Acropolis from the Acropolis of Athens, is the island's current main attraction. Fortune Island's Acropolis stands on a rocky cliff that juts out into the water.

It is used to be a luxurious hotel.

You can put your tent at this area. 

Shipwreck, that used to be a museum. 

Calaguas Island Camarines Norte

     Fine white sand and beaches, you might think of Boracay, Laiya in Batangas and in Bohol. You need to add Calaguas on your list of beautiful beaches in the Philippines. 

How to get here: 

We are fortunate that we had rented a Van who can take us to Pensacola Port in Camarines Norte.

Two ways in which you can get to Calaguas are via bus and via plane. 

There are a plenty of buses that serves Manila-Daet route. One in Cubao in Quezon City and  Buendia and EDSA-Taft in Pasay City. Bus fares ranges from Php550 – Php600. You can contact Superlines and Philtranco for schedules. 

Take a bus going to Paracale or Naga and tell the driver to drop you in Talobatib. As I have said travel time is eight (to nine hours) hours. We left at Philtranco bus terminal at 9:30PM and we arrived at Talobatib at around 5AM.

Our travel time is about 8 hours. 

What to Bring:

Number one on the list is food provision for your desired length of stay.

Water

Tent, although you can rent at the island.

Flash lights

Mosquito Repellent

SPF 

Garbage Bag

Umbrella (sun protection if you want to walk in the afternoon)

Let me take you our trip in Calaguas.

Before we go the island, I have the time to take some photos of the community and amazingly that these people who are in such a place that they only live for basic necessity and enjoy the things around them. 

I remember in my younger days when I used to play this "pool" which is located in some alley. Fortunately, that I have seen again this kind of table game. 

Children plays "ten- twenty" 

Boat travel would take around 2 Hours. I had missed to include, that our trip is after the storm Yolanda. We might think that this one could not possibly push through as we think that the boat can not travel, but with a all prayers we do, we are given a good sunny day. 

Did I say 2 hours on the boat?, yes! 2 hours. I admit it, after Yolanda  typhoon we did not anticipate that the wave could be this rough. The boatmen said that it is just normal wave in the province. Normal wave? what the???! hahahaha. 

I don't have plenty of photos to share, it is because I REALLY ENJOY THE ISLAND!!!

Is it human or a dog's footprints? 

Pan De Amerikana

        It is not what you think. This is not the usual "panederya" where you can buy hot pandesal. 

The construction of the place is amazing. The idea to place a car in a opposite position. Actually, the outside decoration was a house which is place up side down that would captures customer's attention and brings out their curiosity.  

You have noticed that this restaurant was build way around 1950's. 

It’s a typical restaurant that serves affordable Filipino dishes, with well mannered waiters. But what makes it different is how it was styled both outside and inside. 

This sign tell us to try their food, which is very good and enjoy the ambiance of the place with a friend. 

This beautiful faucet wanted me to wash my hand every single minute. 

LOOK UP!!!

Enjoying the food with your friend, is indeed AMAZING!!! 

And for those who wanted to try for themselves, Pan de Amerikana is located at 118 Katipunan Avenue, White Plains, Quezon City. It is open Monday – Saturdays 8am -9pm, Sundays 8am-3pm