Bangui | Windmills

Which is which?


Bangui, Ilocos Norte. Full of promises. From undeveloped coastal area to vast verdant farmlands. Simple and happy folks inhabited the humble locality. Until, fifteen windmills were constructed along the seashore of the rich Bangui bay. Then five more were added recently.

But do we really have something to owe with these gigantic fans? No profound one. Not anything deep but superficial famousness. A big change. Urban dudes are now talking about Beng-gi. Well, that’s how would they pronounced the pungent Bang-gi. Gross! But denser than this includes lot of complaints.

Reports show that the building of these windmills had cut the coins of the fishermen. That windmill must be that sharp, steel cutter huh! Seriously, the catches of fishermen significantly dropped. Scientifically, I don’t know the explanation of this. But it is believed that the movement of the enormous fans of the windmills drives away the fishes. Too sad.

In as much as the work of these fishermen is concerned, these windmills at least welcomed some jobs. Don’t rejoice, it’s only a job. A job with no opportunity at all. No future. Coming up with cafeterias, coffee shops and restaurants nearby is one. Wait. Are you thinking? How would these businesses profit much? Tourists only come and go. They don’t stay at the place for hours. They are only after the pictures. Documentations.

How about the selling of souvenirs? Still not a good idea. One shop would be enough. People cannot just have a stand in a certain area and just wait and wait. In one week, you could only sell five? To ten stuffs, I'm pretty sure. Not productive.

Indeed potentials and other attributes of the town are overpowered or worst, disbanded by these fans. There’s a portion of the bay before that is patronized because of the magical stones, I mean stunning pebbles, that is opulently distributed in the place. But now? All gone. Like bubbles that burst in a matter of time.

Bangui does have a lot to offer. Natural resources such as falls, rivers and spring had been overlooked. The not established names of these just got worst, as I have said, had been overshadowed by these big fat fans.

Benefits. People think. People thought. That. That there are benefits of the folks living in the town, but actually… nothing. No thing. Even a lowered electric bill? No. Cannot be felt at all. And what’s the purpose of having a good source of electricity if wires and lines in the municipality are not organized, not managed well. When typhoon comes, it takes about 3 days that they can put back the current. No good service.

Woooh! A lot. Of complaints.

The above photos showcase the two sides of Bangui. When you are at the Bangui Viewdeck, a sort of a lookout of the whole town, you can view these majestic fans. Indeed, they are eye-catching. From toddlers peeping at the window of cars to foreigners holding a Canon to shot that picturesque scene. These Windmills are what they are into. This view on the left is always preferred by lot. Yes, a lot. But there are few who opt for the right view. You're right. It's on the right and it is right. Correctooooow! Magnificentooooow! And I am one of these few who chooses the very natural in this world. Ricefields. Mountains. Greeneries.

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White Blossom

A post-Valentine post.

"I'VE FALLEN FOR YOU"

Ok, I see. Love is peculiar to every individual. That love is unleashed out of the blue. It is spontaneous, a force that unduly stir one's sentiment. You may look crazy. Selfless. Desperate. Who cares? Who knows our feelings? Who had just tasted a bit of bliss? Only us. Right Eyan? 

Yay! Just got a consent from my friend Eyan to narrate her story of fondness to a guy, sort to have a family, living miles away. Let's just call the, lucky boy, RN. The two met in a not so nice world. I mean in a world of spams, of deceptions, of game-addicts, of pleasure seekers, of superficials, of boredom escapees, of business, of all the assortment in life, Facebook.

 

First question, who made the friend request? It's RN. My friend accepted it in one major reason, the guy looks like Adonis.

"A hell gift from above," as described by Eyan.

My friend was flattered 'cause she couldn't expect that a guy like him would befriend a simple, healthy, dark lady.


They get to know each other. Chat. Text. But never a call. RN has a girlfriend and a less-than-1-year-old son. The two are not yet married. RN is a R.N. A registered nurse. An O.R. nurse. They customarily talk about nursing -what my friend Eyan is also taking. The following days, Eyan's feelings blossomed. Yes, like a flower.

"Because he's nice," my friend explained when the group asked her why. 

One day, they delve into a conversation, texting each other. Jokes. Laughs. Anything.

Eyan, still conscious and coherent, texted, "I have a crush on you."

RN replied. "Wrong send?"

Eyan, "No, I'm not."

She waited. For the reply.

Jake, another friend said, "If he's really on to you, he should replied the soonest."

RN replied. After 2 hours. Saying, "Hi!"

He already changed the topic.


They still text each other but now, not that often. Not that long. Not that expressive. No "Haha" and "Lol." It all became formal. Usual conversations ended abruptly. Then came a week that RN didn't replied anymore to Eyan. RN didn't logged in Facebook. After Eyan told her feelings, is dead air, dead line, all the dead! Emptiness was felt by Eyan.

"Friendship could have been an option," Eyan.

The above photos were taken while I was walking around the community, getting some fresh air. A piece of white blossom fell in my head.  I documented it because I have my camera on hand then. I also took a photo of the branch of tree where it came from, viewing the refreshing blue sky. The flower, aside from purity, doesn't have anymore to suggest. Later on, I just let it drift along the ground.

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Valentine Birds

Love is supreme.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 

Does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 

Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 

Bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 

Love never fails. But wether there are prophecies, they will fail; wether there are tongues, they will cease; wether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 

For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 

When I was achild, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

The above photo shows a couple of long-tailed shrike. I am certain they are not Love Birds, but can I call them Valentine Birds? 'Cause I think they are in a relationship, only they are amidst their spat in the photo. Just giving a little bit of drama.  Well, that's how wild my imagination. Isn't it cute? Two birds doing some sort of human acts? Indeed, love is supreme. It is beyond the sky. Love is everywhere!

Well, I don't need to define, describe love further. The Bible had spoken. Just my warm greetings to one and all. Happy Valentines Day!

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Long-Tailed Shrike

Temporariness and momentariness.

"EVERYDAYS"

Everyday, I walk. Everyday, I smile. Everyday, I get inspired. Everyday, I am entertained with the things around. Everyday, I am with nature. Everyday, I appreciate life. Everyday, I thank God. But these "everydays" count. One week? Months? Years? We don't know. This is how short life is.

In these "everydays", I often encounter fellow life forms - singing, dancing, flying... all busy with their own stuff. Because of them, I am not alone. With them, my eyes spark, my lips move along with my cheeks. Birds, butterflies, spiders - they just touch my heart. I don't know where all of these are coming from. Maybe they are harmless. Maybe they don't bark me like the dogs. Maybe they can't scratch me like the cats. Maybe they don't and can't scare me like the frogs.

One morning, I was with friends. We were walking on the side of the road, of the highway, national. Then Jake, "Ok, let's cross."

It was an ordinary day. The sun rising from east. The road starting to be busy. Sounds of cars. Sounds of birds.

And I crossed the highway, following Jake. Silent. Just watching around.

There were two birds. Noisy birds. Flirting? I don't know. Arguing? Perhaps. They were following each other. Goes up. Goes down.

Then came a fierce Fortuner. "Blaaaaaag!" No, that wasn't the sound. Because my friends didn't even noticed it.

After the car passed are blood. Blood!

"Jake, the bird!"

Jake said, "How come you see it?"

"Because I always observe."

"I feel sorry for this creature..."

 

 

No matter what we are, we should celebrate life. Enjoy it! Because when the time comes, it comes. And we can't rewind all the "everydays" anymore. 

The above photos flaunt a long-tailed shrike. These were shot one afternoon, last week, while I was walking, going home from school. As always, as usual, it made me smile again.

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Mushroom

Things like that happen.

"A CHANCE"

Deep eyes. Exhausted legs. These, all we feel after an 11-7 shift in a ward. We have no time to rest, sleep.

February 9 marked the start of our second week duty at Bangui District Hospital. We had three shifts with 8 hours rest in between. It really sucks! An 8 hours duty, 8 hours rest then 8 hours duty again, and rest for 8 hours and then duty again? "Are you kidding?" That was my initial blurt when I first knew our schedule. We got nothing to do. We are marketing our souls for, for? For our future. Yes, sad to say we are becoming slaves and conformists just for it, the word future.


After our first shift, the 11-7, the group headed to our place - dorm, staff house, whatever it is called! Some immediately grabbed their pillows. Secured. Some are still uneasy. Sounds of quarrelling spoons and forks, angry doors and my big voice talking some shit, I mean complaining of the food, filled the house. So I have to go outside, find an eatery for my breakfast. Two other groupmates went with me.

While on the uncemented road, near ricefields and kilometer away mountains... 

Vhincci: WTH! Imagine we still have to write a letter just to go out? 

Arnold: Yeah, right! (Unexplained face.) 

Warden: Our food fees are going elsewhere! We don't deserve all of this. (The duty schedule and food served to us.)

We were all silent for a moment...

Then,

Vhincci: Shit! (My usual expression after a bad trip and lose situations.) 

Warden: What? Why? 

Vhincci: I just missed capturing the beautiful butterfly that landed in the mushroom.

Warden: Where? 

Vhincci: Here! And I left my camera in the house.

Warden: Sayang! That was a photographic scene! A nice macro shot. 

Vhincci: I know. (Sad face, very.)

             

The above photos were taken afterwards. After eating our breakfast, we went back to our place. I took the camera. Hurried. Excited. Even I missed a chance of capturing a major, dramatic, photographic scene with the butterfly, I am happy of what I glimpsed, of what I beheld. I enjoyed capturing, at least, this mushrooms though the sun was raging and sharp. It is a promise that I will not drain myself looking around, to the environment, sensing nature, appreciating little things.

I am pretty sure that chances are still there.

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Beta

It is still the beginning.

            

    

Applications. Programs. Softwares. They have all beta versions. How about blogs? Sounds cool! 

Beta, as a technical term, refers to a phase where software programs are released to the public. It is used to test softwares for bugs, crashes, errors, inconsistencies and other problems which expires after a period of time. 

The above photos include the photographs which I posted earlier in this blog, in the beta version.

You heard it right! I am now upgrading this blog to World of Vhincci 1.0. More photos for a single post. More upcoming ideas. Venturing to collages, collections, stories and everything. Just keep updated fellas!

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Speck of China

For happiness, wealth and longevity!

China exalts its meaning because of its people. We call them the businessmen, the smart and wise individuals. They got a lot of contribution to the world. Philippines alone is a living proof - from tycoons to Binondo to porcelain to Chowking! Great speck! And the greatest would be Rizal, our national hero.

This February marks the celebration of the Chinese New Year! Shimmering reds and vibrant dragons are again here to bring us luck, charm, love and prosperity. Gong Xi Fa Chai everyone!

The above photo, although it was taken at the start of the year,  flashes my cousin, a happy kid having a speck of Chinese blood. I just find some connection in it with the celebration everyone is talking about.


Gong Xi Fa Chai is the Mandarin greetings for the Chinese New Year. From the Urban dictionary, Gong Xi means blessings, Fa means enlarge and Chai means wealth.

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The Cross and the Horn

Why is life so unfair?

The cow, bearing horn, in a tree shed, is relaxed on grasses. The church, with the holy cross, amidst the scorching sun, is inclined in agony. These, in reality, all happen, making us to question God, lose our faith, cry and shout, “Life sucks!”

Personalities, groups, organizations and corporations, either Atheist or anti-Christ, are all living a life an ordinary person could impossibly reach. While those poor, innocent ones, praying every moment of their lives, where hope is the only thing in hand, could not be granted with their aspirations.

The above photo was not even a scripted shot. I was just walking around the community when I suddenly observed this view. Interest popped in my eye because what I’m seeing then is a reflection of a controversial issue in our society. It got a lot of symbol. It got a lot of message. Anything in mind?

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