Out of 200 plus participants,  nine finalists  from each category emerged as the best from  the three themes given:

Theme 1:
“The people of this golden friendship city, inherent and traditional traits.Camaraderie and hospitality. The beauty of this golden glimpse.”

Theme 2:
” The golden blessings that glow and behold to this city of the river of gold. Like the confessions of His love and passion. You will deeply cross this rare Kagay-anon.”

Theme 3:
” A city considered as a melting pot in Mindanao, where modern lifestyle and booming economy arise. With the goal of nature preservation for future generation. They put eco-tourism as the core of it’s tourism attraction.”

Finalists, Point and Shoot Category:

Winners, Point and Shoot Category:

Grand Prize Winner:
Yonelyn Robles
prizes include Red Canon EOS 1100D, Benro Tripod, SD Cards, Bag, etc

1st Runner Up:
Charles Cepeda
prizes include Canon Ixus ___, Tripod, etc

2nd Runner Up:
Christopher Ronald B. Bandoy (my husband)
prize: Benro Tripod only (uh.. in fairness the tripod was nice!)

Finalists, DSLR Category:

Grand Prize Winner:

Euben Hallazgo
prizes include Canon EOS 600D, Tripod, Loot Bag with SD cards, Bag, etc

1st Runner Up:
Sally Mileva Dime
prizes include Canon EOS 500D, Tripod, Loot Bag with SD cards, Bag, etc

2nd Runner Up:

Erwin Romel Roa
I don’t remember the prizes but I’m guessing it’s also a tripod

Congratulations to all the winners! Remember, if you’re joining the Canon Photomarathon in the upcoming legs in the Visayas and Luzon regions, have fun, do your best but don’t expect too much. Anybody can win in this event, pro or not. If you don’t get lucky, don’t let the loss put you down. Consider it a rare learning experience.

Thanks to Canon for putting up a fun event like this and for choosing CDO as its Mindanao destination! Thanks for the food and other freebies! Hope this will not be the last time to gather “Canonites” from Cagayan de Oro.

Schedule for other regions:

Tagbilaran City Bohol (Visayas)- September 3
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (North Luzon)- September 10
Legazpi City, Bicol (South Luzon)- September 24
Metro Manila- To be announced

You may register at the http://www.canon.com.ph/photomarathon2011/

color ink cartridges

Last year’s Canon Photomarathon Mindanao leg was held in Davao. Now that they picked Cagayan de Oro as its destination for the Mindanao leg, I made sure to sign up for it as it changes cities for its destinations every year. The only place constant is Manila where thousands of participants flock to the event.

Even if I knew that it would be attended by rabid photographers who live and breathe photography, I still wanted to join. Professional photographers, serious hobbyists, and amateurs alike are expected to bring out their intimidating canon gears. I knew that winning in it was like hitting the lotto jackpot with my newbie skills and inexpensive lens, but the fun and experience of it was hard to miss. Plus, the free lunch, snacks and dinner would save me from cooking for this day.

The Canon Photomarathon 2011 in CDO was successfully held yesterday, August 27, 2011 at the Limketkai Center Atrium.Some people traveled from Davao, Iligan, Pagadian, etc to join the Mindanao leg. We were provided with shirts and caps to use during the event for identification. We were free to shoot anywhere, as long as we return to the Atrium within the time limit to upload our best shots for the designated theme. There were three themes that we had to interpret throughout the day, with 2 and a half hours budget for each. Post-processing was not allowed except for built-in editing tools within the camera. It was called a photomarathon because it tested our endurance for a day of shooting under the scorching heat of the sun or while getting soaked in the rain.

The first theme was:
” The people of this golden friendship city, inherent and traditional traits. Camaraderie and hospitality. The Beauty of this golden glimpse.”

Second theme:
” The golden blessings that glow and behold to this city of the river of gold. Like the confessions of His love and passion. You will deeply cross this rare Kagay-anon.”

Third theme:
” A city considered as a melting pot in Mindanao, where modern lifestyle and booming economy arise. With the goal of nature preservation for future generation. They put eco-tourism as the core of it’s tourism attraction.”

I’d rather not bore you with my entries for each theme in the DSLR category coz I realized they suck. But I was thrilled that two of my husband’s entries to the point and shoot category made it to the top 9, and one of it placed 2nd runner up in the said category. I didn’t want to go to the event alone, I had to convince my husband to come along. My old compact Canon, the Ixus 55 has  long retired so I bought him an affordable Canon Powershot A2200 just so he could come with me. We never knew it would be his winning gear. He’s not really passionate about photography as much as I am, but I’m guessing the win will spark up interest in him.

Here are his entries which made it to the top:

For theme 1:

For theme 2, which won the 2nd runner up in the Point and Shoot Category:

It sure was an exhausting event but nonetheless fun, especially with the ongoing city fiesta parade. As for me and my husband, we only went away from Limketkai during the second theme, in which we headed to San Agustin Cathedral. Although we brought a car, we took a taxi, taking cue from ” The Amazing Race” to get there quicker and not to be bothered where to park when we come back because Limketkai Mall was more packed than usual.

In the first theme, the energy was up, we kept shooting to our hearts’ content. But towards the afternoon, especially on the 3rd theme, we got really tired and went back to the site much earlier and submitted whatever we had, whether or not it had potential for winning.

We had pictures printed at the Canon Pixma station where each participant is entitled to one print out.  While waiting for the results of the competition, the hosts gave away prizes for games.There were loads of prizes given out. I just wished that they also gave at least a pen to the top 9 finalists (aside from the recognition of being up on stage) for each category because it wasn’t an easy feat to be chosen in a sea of amazing photographers from Mindanao.

If you’re from Visayas, Luzon, and NCR, be sure to join the upcoming Canon Photomarathon events in your area. Have fun and don’t take the challenges too seriously.  Otherwise, the pressure might eat you up. It’s anybody’s game at the Canon Photomarathon. You can be a newbie like my husband and still win.  Bring  along your spouse or kids as it can be a great bonding time with them. With or without prizes, you’re sure to bring home new experiences, memories captured, and do i need to mention, freebies?

The youngest shooter with her dad, awarded with Canon Freebies

Check out these following dates:

Tagbilaran City Bohol (Visayas)- September 3
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur (North Luzon)- September 10
Legazpi City, Bicol (South Luzon)- September 24
Metro Manila- To be announced

You may register at the http://www.canon.com.ph/photomarathon2011/. Hurry coz the slots tend to fill out quickly, but be patient with the registration if you don’t get in initially. My hubby had trouble registering so I had to come back often to finally sign him up. Stay tuned for my next post where I will be featuring the winners for each category.

Halloween invitations

Ms. Suzanne Tan of Suesh, who trained in Tokyo for Kanebo Philippines, gave a lecture and demo on proper skin care and makeup application. She taught the audience two looks: the daytime look and the smokey eyes using the palettes sold by Suesh.

Although I practice makeup professionally, I still grabbed this chance to attend the session  because I believe there is always something new to learn. True enough, her techniques are easy to grasp and helpful for women who are always on the go but can’t skip the makeup part in their daily routine. I’ve been trying out the looks to work for the past 2 days, using the quick steps discussed in the workshop.

The event was not like the usual paid Suesh makeup workshops in which participants are provided with materials and handouts to do makeup on themselves. This one was more of a demo of their products, serving  as the launching of Suesh in Cagayan de Oro. But then, no one’s complaining coz for a free event with new makeup tricks taught, the attendees were also served with overflowing snacks.

Some of the products were put on display, which were readily patronized by the guests. I bought  a green makeup palette for Php 350 (which is Php300 on the Suesh multiply site) and a liquid eyeliner for Php150, which I will review on this site soon.

Suesh will now be available in CDO through Spruce at the 2nd floor of Limketkai Center.

cash advance

Ms. Sheryl Ong of Suesh texted last Wednesday that due to health reasons, Ms. Suzanne Tan (the instructor) won’t be able to travel from Manila to Cagayan de Oro. Please note that only those who reserved a slot will be admitted to the free workshop.

I will post on this blog further announcements regarding the new schedule, so please check back often. For more information regarding the Suesh CDO workshop, please text them at 09158997377 or email events@spruce.ph.

UPDATE: 5/24/11: new schedule is on June 26,2011

hair loss products

Here are the details:

When: 22 May 2011, 10:00 A.M. – 2:00P.M.- POSTPONED!
Where: Boardroom of SDNI
#32 T. Chaves Street, Cagayan de Oro City
Brew Berry Cafe
Instructor: Suzzane Tan
Organized by: SPRUCE (Suesh products will be on sale)

Limited Slots only, please make your reservation by calling them at (02) 8068013 or 09178942625.

Update (5/14/11): The venue has been moved to Brew Berry Cafe

Update (5/18/11): THE WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO SOME HEALTH PROBLEMS OF THE INSTRUCTOR. COME BACK OFTEN ON THIS BLOG FOR UPDATES ON THE NEW SCHED.

Update (5/24/11): new schedule for workshop will be on June 26,2011

cautery

Darren Criss joined the cast of Glee since the “Never Been Kissed” episode of season 2, in which he sang the lead vocals of the Katy Perry song ” Teenage Dream” with the Dalton Academy Warblers. The cover took the top spot on iTunes upon its release. Darren plays Kurt’s mentor and potential love interest. Although he plays an openly gay student in Glee, in real life, he’s straight and admits to having a crush on co-star Heather Morris, who plays the funny blonde cheerleader, “Brittany.”

Before his heartthrob status as a Glee star, Darren used to part of the theater company Team StarKid, formed by theater students at the University of Michigan. He essayed the role of Harry Potter in their production of the musical comedy dubbed as “A Very Potter Musical” which became a youtube hit.

glass tiles

By purchasing a gift certificate worth Php 1,500 at Bobbi Brown in Rustan’s Makati which is fully redeemable of Bobbi Brown Products, you are entitled to attend the much- anticipated event on Thursday, next week. The beauty classroom will give you not only beauty lessons but will include a sneak peek into their Holiday Collection and will introduce you to Bobbi Brown’s latest book, “Beauty Rules.”

The workshop will be held at East Cafe, at the 2nd floor of Rustan’s Makati. If you register before November 17, you get to score a special gift from Bobbi. Please refer to the poster below for more details.

Black Friday

This is the second time that the Misamis Oriental Medical Society (MOMS) organized a fashion show featuring the works of one of Cagayan de Oro’s top designers, Gil Macaibay III, modeled by the doctors of MOMS themselves. The event held last September 26, 2010 at the Grand Caprice was well- attended by bigwigs from both the fashion and medical world. This was a fund-raising project for the benefit of cancer patients of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, a cause that’s clearly close to my heart. While it was fun to be a model for a night, it feels good that the revenues earned from this project will help pay for the treatments of cancer patients.

The Misamis Oriental Medical Society’s current president, Dr. Emily Ceballos, is a fashion plate herself, which explains the glamorous route to the group’s fund-raising event. Dr. Andresul Labis, (aka the one who discovered our modeling potentials), spearheaded this project. In behalf of all doctors, we’d like to thank Gil Macaibay III for his generosity in co-sponsoring the event. It was such a surreal experience to have been able to model his fabulous designs.Who would have thought that at our age, we could still be walking down the fashion runway?

Thanks are also in order to creative director Dennis Almazan, who choreographed our moves. The hair and makeup for the night was provided by Gil Macaibay’s team, while Roger Lactao and team handled the photography. The stage design was creatively arranged by Flower Matters.

I realized that walking in heels is a skill, which makes me all the more in awe for supermodels like Tyra Banks. For a first timer in the runway, walking in stilletos in a pretty, long dress with train was like mounting a balance beam. I was concentrating so badly on not turning the event into a comedy bar. The heels of my shoes frequently got caught up in the hemline of the dress I modeled. It makes me wonder how Kate Moss and other runway stars are able to pull it off effortlessly. Hopefully, I did not murder the Gil’s creations.

We had fun so much fun that evening, and it was a rare experience I was fortunate to have been part of. Below are some photo and video captures during the event:

free web directory

When I saw the event’s poster tagged on facebook, I immediately contacted the person who posted it, who turned out to be our resident in Obstetrics during senior clerkship in med school, Dr. Carl Tan. An obstetrician and photo enthusiast in Cagayan de Oro, Dr. Tan is co-sponsoring the event with Hundred One Events & Exhibits.

About the Mentors

Ku Manahan took the musical route to photography by shooting concerts, band profiles, and singers. He’s done press photos, website photos, and album inserts for various local musicians. Capturing rock star enigma, the drama of fan hysteria, and human interactions in events that he covers are his melodious ways of expressing the beauty of music through the still and silent nature of excellent photos.

Parc Cruz has come a long way from experimenting and exploration, and defying conventions in photography. A self-taught master lensman, his inclination to the arts and movies earned himself a distinct brand of emotionally powerful and cinematic photos. Each shot reflects his visions of the movies playing in his genius head.

Music and movies soulfully translated into beautiful images.. what more can a photography student ask for? When these two are offering the rare chance to teach you the tricks of the trade, grab it! Even CDO gurus like Dustein Sibug are recommending  this workshop to everyone interested in photography.

Here are the details :

A Lighting, Photography: Post Processing Workshop
by Ku Manahan & Parc Cruz

DATE: Sept. 12, 2010
TIME: 9 am to 5 pm
FEE: Php 4,000.00 (includes Lunch & Snacks)
VENUE: Cagayan de Oro Polymedic Medical Plaza Conference Room,
Kauswagan National Highway, Cagayan de Oro city

COURSE OUTLINE:

- hands-on workshop on basic ambient and controlled lighting
- basic guide on production shoots and model shoots
- tips on selection and output of best work
- post processing techniques

Workshop includes a photoshoot with a guest model from Manila, Ms. Maffy Soler.

WHAT TO BRING:
camera with full manual controls (DSLR)
laptop with at least photoshop CS3
extra shirt

For reservations, please call/text Dr Carl Tan 09228631998 09177181998

sat prep courses