Agatha Wong (PHI) won gold (her second) at the Women’s Taijijan in Wushu 30th SEA Games, December 3, 2019 at the World Trade Center in Pasay city, Metro Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

Last October, I was so grateful when my brother George, his wife Hazel and daughter Hannah made a surprise visit to my mom Linda for her birthday. Our time together as a family was made even more important since my dad’s passing last August 31. George, Hazel and Hannah are based in Auckland, New Zealand so it was a great surprise for all of us to see them here in Manila for mom’s birthday last October 14.

Before they went back home to NZ, George helped me purchase a new lens —Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 and a new flash Canon 430 EX IIII-RT.  George asked me to accompany him to the redesigned food court in Shang Ri La Plaza Mall. We walked into Camera Haus and he asked me what I needed, the Tamron and the flash immediately came to mind. The prices were quite reasonable (although still a big acquisition) and very competitive compared to Hidalgo street (photographer’s haven) in Quiapo, Manila.

Financed by the generous couple, the purchase was something of a surprise for me too, which I greatly appreciate. As a small gesture of gratitude I compiled a cross section of events and photos I’ve shot the past few weeks with the two new items George and Hazel helped me purchase.

Agatha Wong

The first photo at the top with Agatha Wong is from the awarding ceremony at the SEA Games December 3, 2019, World Trade Center, Pasay, Manila where she won her second gold in total. It’s in the forms category in Wushu, this time with a weapon. The Canon 430 EX IIII-RT, flash was used here to fill in the shadows and improve the color temperature. The light source is so high above that shadows are cast on their faces. Flash eliminates the shadows and helps because of the direction and the quality of light on the subject.

Pinoy Arnel Roa Mandal (in blue) body slams Laksamana Pandu Pratama of Indonesia in the Men’s 52kg weight class Sanda category of Wushu, 30th SEA Games, December 3, 2019 at the World Trade Center in Pasay city. Metro Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista

Arnel Roa Mandal

That same day I was also able to photograph Sanda as part of the sport of Wushu. Sanda is the combat sport aspect of Wushu, which to be honest I didn’t even know was part of SEAG. The reason I was so excited is Sanda combines, punching, kicking and takedowns, a little bit of wrestling. I think that’s one of the reasons why TEAM LAKAY is the Philippines’ top mixed martial arts gyms is so successful, because they are wushu based.

The skills learned and used in Sanda translates well into MMA. In this second photo above Filipino Sanda fighter Arnel Roa Mandal lifts his opponent: Laksamana Pandu Pratama of Indonesia in the Men’s 52kg weight class and literally slams him to the ground. He did this at least 3 times. The body slam or takedown is considered as higher (2pts) than a strike.

Arnel Roa Mandal wins gold Laksamana Pandu Pratama of Indonesia (silver) in the Men’s 52kg weight class Sanda category of Wushu, 30th SEA Games, December 3, 2019 at the World Trade Center in Pasay city, Metro Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista

Since the Tamron has a large 2.8 aperture, it allows me to capture fast action like this with a higher shutter speed. This is why the Tamron 70-200mm 2.8 Di VC USD G2 (A025) is considered as a pro grade lens.

(center) Dudz Teraña as (Comedy Bar Singer); UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC. Photo by Jude Bautista

UNDER MY SKIN

UNDER MY SKIN is a moving play about the uncontrollable rise of AIDS cases in the Philippines, going towards crisis proportions. Starring Cherry Pie Picache, Dudz Teraña, Eko Baquial, Gio Gahol and many more. Written by Rody Vera and directed by Melvin Lee, this is a play from the PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association). Two important organizations have partnered with PETA: LOVE YOURSELF INC.  and THE RED WHISTLE. While the play is also supported by UNAIDS and UNILAB. UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC.

Cherry Pie Picache (Dr. Gemma Almonte); UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC. Photo by Jude Bautista

SYNOPSIS: Under My Skin is an anthology of multiple stories about Filipinos living with HIV gathered from their friends and relatives, HIV advocates, existing studies on HIV doctors and health practitioners. The story revolves around Dr. Gemma Almonte, who is an epidimiologist at the department of Health. She was studying the spread of HIV in the Philippines. She re-worded the existence of ‘gay’ people into ‘men who have sex with men’ as the local government had been subtly denying the existence of their sexuality.

Sarah Alejandro ( Fairy Godmother), (center seated) Monica Gana (Cinderella); Ballet Philippines’ CINDERELLA will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Main theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

BP’s CINDERELLA

In the photo above, Monica Gana (Cinderella) is seated and meets her fairy God Mother for the first time played by Sarah Alejandro. This is where the new Tamron lens shines, there’s subtle lighting and yet in ballet there’s so much fast action. So the large aperture becomes necessary to freeze the movements with less available light.

The photo shows what I love about ballet, the whole body is used to tell the story down to the hands and fingers. You could see how facial expression is also used by the ballerinas to convey emotion, without having to say a word. The Ballet Philippines’ production will run starting December 6 -15 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater) Cultural Center of the Philippines. Even at my age, CINDERELLA made me into a kid again. It’s an unforgettable show for the whole family.

from left: Jemima Reyes, Monica Gana and Denise Parungao. Ballet Philippines’ CINDERELLA will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Main theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

TP’s Lam Ang

Talk about dramatic lighting (photo directly below), there were only shafts of light illuminating actors JC Santos (Lam Ang) and Paw Castillo (Sumarang). Tamron’s large 2.8 aperture helps make an equally dramatic photo possible. You can also see how much detail and resolution is rendered even at low light. There’s a surprising amount of contrast and great color.  The lens performs quite well considering its about 40% cheaper than the Canon equivalent. Canon is the camera system I use and shot all these photos with the Canon 80D.

from left: JC Santos (Lam Ang) and Paw Castillo (Sumarang); Tanghalang Pilipino’s LAM ANG AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

LAM ANG is based on an Ilocano mythical figure, warrior from pre colonial era. Tanghalang Pilipino has done an incredible job bringing it to life with a stellar production. LAM ANG  AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL runs from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Joshua Cabiladas (Gumakas); Tanghalang Pilipino’s LAM ANG AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

From Program: REVIVING OUR ROOTS THROUGH LAM-ANG

Lam-Ang is an ethno epic musical that re-imagines and re-interprets Biag Ni Lam Ang, the oldest among the folk epics of Luzon. This play which aims to rediscover a significant portion of Philippine culture and heritage, is inspired by the published Ilocano version of Isabelo Delos Reyes and Tagalog translations of Angel Aracio and Ariel Tabag.

The musical takes us back to the times when we were our own selves by ourselves in our own little worlds. It chronicles the conquests the conquests of Lam Ang from the land of Nalbuan while envisioning local traditions that are being lost, that are being forgotten and vestiges of our affluent past that are in danger of disappearing forever.

from left: Tex Ordoñez De Leon (Baglan) and JC Santos (Lam Ang); Tanghalang Pilipino’s LAM ANG AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista (10)

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Josie Gabuco PHI wins UD over Thi Diem Ki Trinh VIE, Women’s 48 kg boxing, 30th SEA Games, PICC Forum, Pasay City, Metro Manila December 6, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista

Marcial Eumir Felix PHI KO’s Che Azmi Mohd Aswan MAS, Men’s middleweight 75kg boxing, 30th SEA Games, PICC Forum, Pasay City, Metro Manila December 6, 2019. Photo by Jude Bautista (12)

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Cherry Pie Picache (Dr. Gemma Almonte); UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC. Photo by Jude Bautista

Dudz Teraña as (Comedy Bar Singer); UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC. Photo by Jude Bautista (14)

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Denise Parungao; Ballet Philippines’ CINDERELLA will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Main theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

Monica Gana and Earl John Arisola; Ballet Philippines’ CINDERELLA will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Main theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista (16)

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Francisco Solis PHI won gold vs Yusuf Widiyanto INA (silver) in the Men’s 56kg wight class Sanda category of Wushu, 30th SEA Games, December 3, 2019 at the World Trade Center in Pasay city, Metro Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista

Jessie Mandigal Aligaga PHI won gold at the Mens 48kg in Sanda, 30th SEA Games, December 3, 2019 at the World Trade Center in Pasay Metro Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista (18)

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UNDER MY SKIN cast and creative team with LOVE YOURSELF INC. and THE RED WHISTLE founders. UNDER MY SKIN will run from February 7 to March 22, 2020 at the PETA Theater Center Eymard Drive, QC. Photo by Jude Bautista (19)

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JC Santos (Lam Ang); Tanghalang Pilipino’s LAM ANG AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Ybes Bagadiong (Tangguob), JC Santos (Lam Ang) and Lance Reblando (Taraok). Tanghalang Pilipino’s LAM ANG AN ETHNO EPIC MUSICAL will run from December 6-15, 2019 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Little Theater, Cultural Center of the Philippines. Photo by Jude Bautista (21)

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