Where is Nico Sepe?

The canvas on which photographer Nico Sepe paints with light is the whole world. His recent works are vignettes of daily life in Sri Lanka where he has been based since 2007.

Sepe knows no boundaries when it comes to fulfilling his fulltime commitment to photography. He documents realities with piercing rawness as he has done since the late 70s in the Philippines.

Last May, he continued this commitment in yet another photo exhibition: “Sri Lanka: Past Times in Times Present.”

"This is really a continuation of my commitment to photography. It never stops...I’m still around, still shooting and continuing my dedication to inform thru pictures," he said.

While most of the world see Sri Lanka as nothing but a place caught in the conflict between the Tamil tigers and the government, Sepe offers what he has witnessed – that of Sri Lankans' ordinary, day-to-day struggle to survive.

Sepe’s black and white images captured the lives of people in different corners of this South Asian country including the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo, the ancient city of Anaradhapura in the northwest and the southwestern city of Moratuwa.

"I’ve never seen these angles before. It's different when it comes from a person who is not a Sri Lankan," he said.

This is not the end of it. Sepe is planning to hold another exhibit soon. He doesn’t know for certain where his next stop would be but for now his home is Sri Lanka where he lives with his wife and two children.

Back here in the Philippines, he has documented the lives in the underground movement during the latter years of the Marcos dictatorship in the Philippines in the 1980s.

Since then Sepe has contributed significantly to documenting the social and political changes. Most assignments were commissioned by non-government organizations but his desire to photograph realities led him to fund some of the documentaries himself. Co-founder of the Center for Documentary Photography now known as the Philippine Center for Photojournalists and former senior staff of different newspapers and magazines in the Philippines, he has worked on various worthy book projects.

These include Philippines: A Journey through the Archipelago, the Philippine Navy's Tides of Change, the University of the Philippines' Sipat, the Ateneo de Manila University's Chinese-Filipino book and the coffeetable book Portraits of a Tangled Relationship.

His works have been widely recognized by fellow photographers and various global institutions.



(The fisherfolks of Galle, doing the traditional net pulling from the shore. Catch will be later distributed to everyone.2007.)

globetrotting in the time of influenza

I would normally jump on any invite for a trip abroad, whether it's business or pleasure. That's me, bitten by the travel bug since I was a child. However, when I was given this assignment, I hesitated.

But assignments are assignments. There's no reason to say no unless you have absolutely no choice.

So, I'm hoping I didn't catch THE flu. These days, however, maybe that's almost like asking for the moon. At the Centennial airport, it's a crowded Sunday morning. There's no escaping the virus if it's there. Everywhere you go, there's a crowd, a line or a gathering of people.

Some are wearing masks, some seemingly isolating themselves from the crowd while others couldn't care less.

As for me, I didn't have the time to worry. I was late for my flight and could hear my name already being called on the P.A. system by the airlines. My plane is about to leave.

On the plane, I wanted to sit alone. I wanted to stay safe for the sake of my two-year old daughter back home. Unfortunately, the airbus was crowded.

At the hotel where I and another journalist was billeted, there were some precautionary measures. There were lots of signs on what to do and what not to do to prevent the flu from spreading.

A friend in the area wanted to meet up with me. She told me to meet her at this coffee shop. On the way there, she said, I should avoid the crowded streets. Whew!

Oh, and that I should avoid touching my ears, eyes and nose.

At the airport, on my way back to Manila, I saw the girlfriend of a former housemate. She was wearing a mask. A big one. It was good to see her but we had to avoid the usual beso-beso.

On the plane, the French guy seated beside me was trying to strike a conversation. Photography, diving, Paris and Bordeux...he wanted to talk about these things. Oh but he kept on sneezing!

A few hours later, I'm back in Manila. I went to a dear friend's office to wash and change clothes -- my futile attempt to keep clean.

It's been less than ten days. I don't have the symptoms so far. But who knows what tomorrow will bring.

the single mother's story (part two)

I was barely awake when my phone rang. The voice on the other line was trembling. "Maam, may picture po ba kayo ni Borek? Nawawala po kasi siya..." It was M, the mother I interviewed recently for a book project.

Her son Borek, diagnosed with Down syndrome, went missing. He left the house, went biking around the area and soon, he was nowhere to be found.

She was crying and crying. I didn't know what to say. "Yes, I have photos. I will ask the photographer, too. I will send them now," I answered. Was that the only thing I could do? Sigh.

I called Jes Aznar to break the sad news and to ask for the photos He was in Mindanao for a coverage. He was so shocked to hear the news.

We were just playing with Borek a few weekends ago. I barely finished my stories for that day. I was shocked, bothered and frustrated.

I thought of M's ordeal. You really can't protect your child from the world 24/7. Sometimes, bad things just happen.

Six hours later, I get a text message from M.

"God bless, nakita na po si Borek maam. Maraming salamat!"

And her story continues...

Michael Jackson

"Gone Too Soon"

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

covering Katrina Halili

Yes...she did look like someone with a sex video seen by the whole world. To me, she seemed stoic and sad. If it's part of the whole post-scandal image re-building scheme I really wouldn't know.

(photo by Joe Torres at the launch of the Cosmetic Surgery Institute)

Manong Julius writes 30

Such a kind-hearted soul. He was like a father to the younger generation of journalists. He was always willing to listen, to give you a pat on the shoulder, dish out some tips to hone your craft or to simply laugh with you. I read his columns whenever I have the chance. He was such a prolific writer. Well-respected, too.

Whenever I would go to his press conferences at the Sulu Hotel in Quezon City, he always seemed so warm and hospitable.

This is the Manong Julius that I know. I don't know other stuff about him but I'm certain that this roller-coaster ride called Philippine journalism will miss him a great deal.

Paalam manong Julius! Gone so soon. Gone so soon...

dito, sa aking mundo

Sa wakas, nakakahinga na ako muli. Halos tatlong taon din akong hindi naka-apak sa aking mundo. Maraming dahilan pero hindi na importante yun ngayon dahil nakabalik na ako.

Kasama ko na muli ang mga kapwa mamahayag at kaibigan sa magdamagang huntahan, kwentuhan, tawanan at higit sa lahat, sa paghahanap ng mga makabuluhang kwento sa malawak na daigdig na ito.

Isang halimbawa ay ang aking byahe kahapon. Kasama ang isang kapwa mamahayag, inabot kami sa malayong lupain ng Ascoville para sa kwento ng isang mag-ina.

Napakasarap makinig. Napakasarap magsulat ng makabuluhang kwento. Napakasarap matuto. Napakasarap makabalik sa mundong ito.

Napakasarap makahinga muli.

the single mother's story

I was fighting back tears as I walked out of the building. Her story ripped my heart. How, I wonder, does she manage being a single mother to four children including one with Down Syndrome?

Her husband, their father, just walked away one day in the dead of night, leaving all the burden to her. One day, after so many years, he just showed up again. And then he left again. And then the cycle continued.

He breaks her heart again and again. And their children's hearts, too.

"It has become a joke among my children," she said during the interview.

"'Hey daddy is here. Let's cook dinner. Let's celebrate' My children would say in jest," she said.

Left with no choice, she had to give up two of her three daughters for adoption. She had to focus on taking care of the little one with Down.

Why did I cry?

Because I wonder how she could take it all. Her wrinkles and white hair could not conceal her pain. Yet she manages to smile. The strength of the human spirit is indeed unbelievable.

Music Is Language

All roads lead to the Metrowalk on Saturday, June 20, for this year's Fete dela Musique. I'm excited! I've an assignment to cover one band. I'm keeping my fingers crossed :) See you all!