http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/ <div><embed allowscriptaccess='never' src='http://widget-f8.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' quality='high' scale='noscale' salign='l' wmode='transparent' flashvars='cy=mp&il=1&channel=504403158280800760&site=widget-f8.slide.com' style='width: 426px; height: 320px;' name='flashticker' align='middle'/'><div style="width: 426px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=mp&amp;ad=0&amp;id=504403158280800760&amp;map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/p1/504403158280800760/mp_t041_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" ismap="ismap' /" border="0"></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=mp&amp;ad=0&amp;id=504403158280800760&amp;map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-f8.slide.com/p2/504403158280800760/mp_t041_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" ismap="ismap' /" border="0"></a></div></div>Welcome! Thanks for dropping by. Please visit my photoblog at http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com for more! Tue, 13 May 2008 10:23:04 -0000 Wed, 7 May 2008 11:04:12 -0000 http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/logo http://gdruiz73.multiply.com 100 100 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SCGMlAoKCCUAAEr4Kto1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SCGMlAoKCCUAAEr4Kto1/80504-Maya-W-1355.jpg?et=1eitZNE98CByGrfbVTbzhQ&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>On hot, summer days one may see birds, specially the Philippine Maya, wallowing around in bare, dusty, sandy patches in the yard.<br><br><a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/07/sand-bath/">More...</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/38/Sand_bath_anyone Wed, 7 May 2008 11:04:12 -0000 Deep into the forested heartland of Picop's timber concession in Bislig, Surigao del Sur, one will find the grandest and most majestic waterfalls I've ever seen in the Philippines. It's moniker "Little Niagara Falls of the Philippines" speaks for itself. Read more at <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/tinuy-an-falls-bislig-surigao-del-sur/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/tinuy-an-falls-bislig-surigao-del-sur/</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/10/Tinuy-an_Falls_Bislig_Surigao_del_Sur Sun, 4 May 2008 01:26:59 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SBkrHgoKCCUAABf1BDA1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SBkrHgoKCCUAABf1BDA1/80426-TinuyanFalls-W-0452.jpg?et=JJ0IvAFM5UdyNmRgI7SwgQ&amp;nmid=&amp;nmid=93802531" border="0"></a>It is but normal for one to be struck speechless and amazed when one sees for the first time the Tinuy-an Falls - definitely the grandest and most majestic waterfalls I've ever seen. It's not an overstatement, cetainly not an attempt to throw in hype to its monicker, which is the "Little Niagara Falls of the Philippines."</p> <p>Simply stunning and magnificent.</p><p>View more photos <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/tinuy-an-falls-bislig-surigao-del-sur/">here.</a><br></p> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/37/Tinuy-an_Falls_Bislig_Surigao_del_Sur Thu, 1 May 2008 02:31:07 -0000 <img class="alignright" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SAt6XQoKCCUAAHIe1dU1/villanueva_marianne.jpg?et=pWjeuRZUoGbUKSXrz8i31Q&amp;nmid=" border="0">R. Zamora Linmark of the Philippine Daily Inquirer (06/27/2006) has cited Marianne Villanueva as “one of the most important Filipino short-story writers working in the English language today.”<br><br>Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/21/photoblog-in-marianne-villaueva-interview-by-hyphen-mag/">more...</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/36/photoblog_at_Marianne_Villanueva_interview_by_Hyphen_Mag Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:18:16 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/SAYFxgoKCCUAADhjOb01"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SAYFxgoKCCUAADhjOb01/Balyuan%40night1-W.jpg?et=p1pxbmS1QcJleAggIDEyVA&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>Here’s the latest perspective drawing of the proposed Balyuan Amphitheater Roof Project, the soon-to-be latest landmark in Tacloban City, at night.<br><br>Read more <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/a-new-tacloban-landmark-proposed-new-balyuan/">here...</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/35/A_new_Tacloban_landmark_Proposed_New_Balyuan Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:58:02 -0000 Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez has announced plans to rehabilitate the Balyuan Amphitheater in time for its use as the center of activities for the forthcoming city fiesta.<br><br>Mayor Romualdez said work would start anytime this month.<br><br>Here's a peek on what could possibly be the new look for the Balyuan Amphitheater. Read/view here:<br><a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/13/new-look-for-tacloban-balyuan-amphitheater/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/13/new-look-for-tacloban-balyuan-amphitheater/</a><br><br>Cheers!!!<br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/34/New_look_for_Balyuan_Amphitheater Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:30:31 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R--NyQoKCCUAAEf6Udo1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R--NyQoKCCUAAEf6Udo1/80301-TacAerial-W-3114.jpg?et=tnEoTLxeDSjSgVIBQn2Vrw&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>Even for a native Taclobanon, viewing Tacloban City above for the first time can be a bit disorienting.<br><br>View more aerial shots of <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/tacloban-city-the-view-from-above/">Tacloban City.</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/33/Tacloban_City_The_View_from_Above Fri, 11 Apr 2008 20:46:57 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R-ioXQoKCCUAADRB@gw1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R-ioXQoKCCUAADRB@gw1/80302-MacArthur-W-3700.jpg?et=jBBW9k7gTLVplxp5BHT01w&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>Driving 56km south of Tacloban City for about an hour’s time, one reaches the quiet and rural barangay of Villa Imelda and the famous Lake Bito.</p>There used to be crocodiles in the lake.<br><br>Read/view <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/06/lake-bito-macarthur-leyte/">more photos...</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/32/Lake_Bito_MacArthur_Leyte Sun, 6 Apr 2008 10:41:43 -0000 And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. “Do Not Go Gentle” by Dylan Thomas (1951 or 1952) Photos taken March 29, 2008 along the Mactan Channel in Cebu on board a fastcraft on our way home to Tacloban City via Ormoc http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/9/Rage_rage_against_the_dying_of_the_light Tue, 1 Apr 2008 08:39:49 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R-E1MgoKCCUAAGxvnjo1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R-E1MgoKCCUAAGxvnjo1/80327-Gullas-W-6161.jpg?et=Svz7PTRrmkMjfZ7lgW3wFg&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>We went up last week to the hills of Brgy. Cadulawan, Minglanilla - some 15 kilometers, 30-minute ride south of Cebu City via the new SRP Road - to the soon-to-open mountain resort of Rep. Eddie Gullas with a panoramic view of Talisay City, Minglanilla and Naga, Cebu.<br><br>Read/view <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/04/01/up-in-the-hills-at-brgy-cadulawan-minglanilla-cebu/">more...</a><br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Up_in_the_hills_of_Minglanilla_Cebu Mon, 31 Mar 2008 19:03:21 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R@90bAoKCCUAACUfJAs1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R@90bAoKCCUAACUfJAs1/80302-SilagoLVR-W-7199.jpg?et=OCj7eLRsXmkneuza3cNeOA&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>It used to be the farthest, most remote, end-of-the-road town of the southern part of the island of Leyte. Billboards along the highway face south towards Hinunangan, Southern Leyte where the main traffic used to come from for decades.</p> <p>But with the construction of the Abuyog-Silago road, things suddenly turned around 180 degrees. What used to be a 7 to 9 hour trip from Tacloban City has been cut down to 2 hours! And billboards being put up along the highway now face towards north to welcome motorists from Tacloban.</p><p>Read/view <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/30/silago-southern-leyte/">more...</a><br></p> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/30/Silago_Southern_Leyte Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:08:56 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R@f9MwoKCCUAAFSKGas1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R@f9MwoKCCUAAFSKGas1/80322-SanPedro-W-6092.jpg?et=jND3xZlGmNFbFGVTo0GLWw&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>I'd like to think most of us have our own private Shangri-las — vacation memories that carry us through our daily grind in life.</p> <p>Well, we found our newest one at San Pedro Island in Hinunangan, So. Leyte.<br></p> <p>The island now holds a piece of my soul.</p><p>Read/view more at:<br></p><a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/far-from-the-madding-crowd/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/25/far-from-the-madding-crowd/</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/29/Far_from_the_Madding_Crowd Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:14:34 -0000 When we took our bunso, Kitchie with us to San Pedro Island in Hinunangan, Southern Leyte during the Holy Week break, she naturally took to the water like fish! :) Read more and view more photos at <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/kitchie-how-to-beat-the-summer-heat-part-ii/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/kitchie-how-to-beat-the-summer-heat-part-ii/</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/8/Kitchie_How_to_Beat_the_Summer_Heat_-_Part_II Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:22:10 -0000 Here's how to beat the summer heat. View more photos at <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/how-to-beat-the-summer-heat/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/how-to-beat-the-summer-heat/</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/7/How_to_beat_the_summer_heat Wed, 19 Mar 2008 06:42:07 -0000 Photos taken during a brief visit to the cities of Beijing & Tian Jin, China on Feb. 19-22, http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/6/Glimpses_of_Beijing_Tian_Jin_China Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:27:07 -0000 http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/links/item/6/Upsilon_Sigma_Phi_1918_University_of_the_Philippines Sun, 9 Mar 2008 02:59:06 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R87EUgoKCCUAAC7SJf01"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R87EUgoKCCUAAC7SJf01/TacAirport-Aerial-W-1B.jpg?et=M%2BRSgN%2CQQFup96Db9QDX6g&amp;nmid=&amp;nmid=84961903" border="0"></a>It seems this much-awaited development is finally going to happen.<br><br>After being on the drawing board for about 10 years now, the rehabilitation of the DZR Airport now seems to be preparing for final take off!<br><br>So, without further ado, here’s a peek on the preliminary studies of the proposed new Tacloban DZR Airport Terminal Building. Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/a-peek-on-the-proposed-new-dzr-airport/">more...&nbsp;</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/28/A_peek_on_the_proposed_new_Tacloban_Airport Wed, 5 Mar 2008 16:06:05 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R8476QoKCCUAAC@otPA1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R8476QoKCCUAAC@otPA1/70910-TacBusTerminal-7844.jpg?et=BRs632q4VBWeXp2cmDBsjQ&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>My post on the current Robinson’s Mall development as well as on Gaisano Tacloban’s&nbsp; plans has generated a lot of interest from this blog’s readers. Naturally, our <i>kababayans</i>, specially those currently based in faraway places are just too eager to hear “development” news from home.</p> <p>I also learned that there are still those who are unaware of the operation of the new Tacloban Bus Terminal&nbsp; located at Brgy. Abucay, Tacloban City which has rerouted city-bound public transpo traffic coming from all over the region. Read/view <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/05/taclobans-new-bus-terminal/">more...</a><br></p> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/27/Taclobans_new_Bus_Terminal Wed, 5 Mar 2008 06:22:10 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R8u8CwoKCCUAAEPSbyM1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R8u8CwoKCCUAAEPSbyM1/80301-TacAerial-W-3266.jpg?et=951KiGWhVuhh87GA%2BWYtIg&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>Here's my update on Tacloban's mall aspiration. Pix taken Sat, March 01, 2008. Click <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/taclobans-mall-aspiration-update/">here</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/26/Taclobans_mall_aspiration_Update Mon, 3 Mar 2008 08:52:27 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R8bYhwoKCCUAAF8uSQk1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R8bYhwoKCCUAAF8uSQk1/80219-BeijingD1-W-0066.jpg?et=ZedF%2BF4D9EeX8nj9qjfL8Q&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>When we went to Beijing, China last week for a brief visit, my wife and I were ready to be captivated. What we got was more than we expected - we were enamored effortlessly! Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/28/beijing-the-old-and-new/">more &gt;&gt;&gt;</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/25/Beijing_The_Old_and_the_New Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:51:50 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R8LvhAoKCCUAAE8yZaE1"><img style="width: 197px; height: 341px;" class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R8LvhAoKCCUAAE8yZaE1/IMG_W-0922.jpg?et=6Grby11mgcZiD6rdG%2BjNYA&amp;nmid=&amp;nmid=83649850&amp;nmid=83649850" border="0"></a>As promised, I'd like to share with you guys some glimpses of Beijing. For starters, here are samplers of Beijing's winter countryside. Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/26/beijings-winter-countryside/">more...</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/24/Beijings_winter_countryside Mon, 25 Feb 2008 16:41:30 -0000 <p><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R7h4BQoKCCUAAFnxWqM1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R7h4BQoKCCUAAFnxWqM1/IMG_0164-W.jpg?et=LtlpsPZjI9kPDQRn12rmzA&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>I’ve been able to edit additional photos taken of Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, specifically those taken at Tahusan Beach and, yes, at San Pablo and San Pedro Islands. So here's <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/scenic-hinunangan-part-ii/">Part II of Scenic Hinunangan...</a><br></p><p>Please bear with me if I’m unable to post any update here for the next couple of days.</p> <p>But I promise when I come back, I’ll have some surprise photos for everyone - glimpses of Beijing! <img src="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="wp-smiley"> </p> <p>Hang in there!</p> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/23/Scenic_Hinunangan_Part_II Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:10:59 -0000 First I have to openly say this: I am not a maller; neither am I a shopaholic. But I can emphatize, however, with one of the aspirations most Taclobanon’s have had for ages - for the city to have even just one modern, decent shopping center. Or even just a small mall. It will definitely cut down on the inconvenience of having to go to Manila or Cebu just to do some serious shopping.<br><br>So here's what's happening in our town. Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/taclobans-mall-aspiration/">more</a>...<br> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/22/Taclobans_mall_aspiration Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:10:15 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R67nXQoKCCUAAFJuFiw1"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R67nXQoKCCUAAFJuFiw1/IMG-W_0886.jpg?et=Cq2jYFXx99zddoT0SSjHRQ&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>When we covered the Calicoan Surfing Crown '07 last October, I had several apprehensions - among them, whether my camera zoom lens would be able to get up close to the surfers, the risks involved in shooting while facing the mighty Pacific Ocean winds, and how fast I'd be able to post-process the photos taken.<br><br>The three-day affair generated more than 5,000 photos which easily managed to eat up more than 15GB of my laptop's storage space. Post-processing involved selecting/discarding photos and narrowing down the selection to 160 photos for the final web gallery. <br><br>It was mind-boggling and nauseating, to say the least.<br><br>View the full <a href="http://callezaragosa.com/CalicoanSurfCrown07-LRGallery/index.html">web gallery</a> (160 photos)<br>Read more at my <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-best-of-calicoan-surfing-crown-07/">gerryruiz photoblog entry</a><br><br>&nbsp; http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/21/The_Best_of_Calicoan_Surfing_Crown_07 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:04:44 -0000 Here are the updated photos we took of the Odyssey Waves: The 4th Eastern Samar Surfing Crown ‘07 held October 8-10, 2007 in Calicoan Island, Guiuan, Eastern Samar. Calicoan Island - avidly being promoted as the next surfing capital of the Philippines - had its “most important event” of the year which drew local surfing enthusiasts from as far as Baler, Quezon and La Union and, of course, saw the participation of the best surfers from Eastern Samar. More photos at <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-best-of-calicoan-surfing-crown-07/">http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/02/10/the-best-of-calicoan-surfing-crown-07/</a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/album/5/Calicoan_Surfing_Crown_07 Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:55:37 -0000 <a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R6EkpQoKCCUAAEBJyD41"></a><a href="/photos/hi-res/upload/R6EkpQoKCCUAAEBJyD41"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R6EkpQoKCCUAAEBJyD41/IyusanRiceTerraces-1W.jpg?et=5PpdBzOatDPY3%2C5xwBswCw&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a>About 45 minutes by car from Naval, the capital of Biliran province, one reaches the Iyusan Rice Terraces in the town of Almeria, Biliran which brings to mind the more famous Banaue Rice Terraces - rice production knowledge handed down for generations. Read <a href="http://gerryruiz.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/iyusan-rice-terraces/">more...</a><a href="http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R6EkpQoKCCUAAEBJyD41"></a><a href="http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/R6EkxAoKCCUAAEVi3Y81"><img class="alignleft" src="http://images.gdruiz73.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/R6EkxAoKCCUAAEVi3Y81/IyusanRiceTerraces-3W.jpg?et=gvuxRfGrZJEKBLH68iKvgg&amp;nmid=" border="0"></a> http://gdruiz73.multiply.com/journal/item/20/The_Iyusan_Rice_Terraces Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:32:13 -0000