Philippines

© nacho hernandez

I have created a new gallery in my website called (for the moment) Philippines. That gallery will be the drawing board for what with time will become, I hope, a photography book on this country. I will add and eliminate photos as I go along, so visit frequently if you are interested and feel free to send me your comments or ideas. Thanks.

"Sometimes you have to play a long time

to be able to play like yourself." - Miles Davis

© nacho hernandez

The Wall Street Journal: Preacher Power

Photo: Nacho Hernandez for The Wall Street Journal

The WSJ published this weekend a piece I recently shot on assignment for them. You can see a slideshow on-line. One of my photos also made it to the cover of their Weekend Journal in print.

The (at times incestuous) relationship between religion, power and politics in the Philippines is very well captured by those two words: Preacher Power. The article by Emma-Kate Symons is a good read.

Philippines election

Photo: Nacho Hernandez for The International Herald Tribune

This coming Monday we have elections in the Philippines. Who will win? seems to be wondering candidate Joseph Estrada, above.

The latest polls give a considerable advantage to "Noynoy" Aquino, standard-bearer of the Aquino dynasty after the recent death of his mother, former (and beloved) President Corazon "Cory" Aquino. His father was Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, opposition leader against dictator Ferdinand Marcos murdered upon his return from exile at the airport that today carries his name.

Tied in the second place are tycoon Manny Villar, favorite until Aquino entered the race, and populist candidate Joseph Estrada, deposed former President sentenced to life in prison and later pardoned by exiting President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The Aquino camp has hinted that if the presidency is snatched from him via rigged elections (very common in the Philippines) the People Power should take EDSA once more. If Estrada wins there would also be an interesting "debate", as many believe that legally he should not be allowed to become President again.

To make things more uncertain this is the first time that the election will be fully automated. A mock election to test the machines that will count the votes electronically was a total failure only a few days ago.

The week promises to be interesting in Manila ...


Update: "Noynoy" Aquino had a landslide victory, Estrada was second millions of votes behind. Good luck to the new President.

Palawan

© nacho hernandez

Some places are so beautiful they almost look fake. I had that feeling when photographing Prague. The old city looks like a Walt Disney park or a movie set. As if those who built the Charles Bridge over the River Moldau were thinking of the "picture perfect postcards" that the droves of tourists would be able to take more than six hundred years later.

I recently had a similar feeling in Palawan. Some of the beaches at the Bacuit archipelago are so perfect that they look designed by someone with a very clear idea of what a "tropical beach" should look like. The powdery sand, the white surf, the jade, blue and black water, the cyan sky with a few clouds and the limestone islands in the background. The swinging coconut palms are behind the photographer. Even the local boat tries to match all the hues in view, like a giant chameleon.

Although I am not too fond of "picture perfect postcards" I couldn't resist this one. I will post more photos from Palawan soon.

From the archive: Lisbon

© nacho hernandez

While listening to the extraordinary Madredeus today I suddenly had a longing for Portugal and spent the best part of an hour revisiting the photos from Lisbon from my archive. The photo above is from Belem, a parish of Lisbon and home to, among other things, the best pastry in the world.

I really miss that city. I am not Portuguese but I think I have a strong attack of what they would call saudade. The music of Madredeus doesn't help ...