Working so hard can be disconcerting and there are times when you want to be away, experience tranquility, and just shut everything out.

These days, there is the longing for a quiet place where we could enjoy the Power of the Now.

One island comes to mind: Isla Naburot in Guimaras Island. The island-resort is on a privately-owned island in Jordan, a 20-minute boat ride from Iloilo.

Isla Naburot is not your usual commercial, run-of-the-mill beach resort. In fact, the owners prefer that it remains exclusive and only caters to the high-end market. The beach houses are a tapestry of salvaged materials from pre-war houses and old churches, which are tastefully assembled into relaxing cottages. If you are looking for peace, this place will offer you exactly that and then some. There is no electicity in the island, only kerosene lamps at night, and that makes it unique among its counterparts.

We didn’t stay overnight on this island so I couldn’t really comment on the food. However, according to people who have gone there, it’s great.

This is the best Olympics opening by far. We love the lighting of the torch. Watch and be amazed.

The long-awaited Apple iPhone 3G is coming to the Philippines on August 22, 2008 courtesy of Globe Telecom. For more details click here.

It’s been five days since we came back from our 10-day worthwhile vacation in Singapore. Come to think of it, 10 days will never be enough to explore the so-many interesting crevices of this wonderful city-state. But, this was our second visit in two month’s time so we had plenty of time to dilly-dally and go over each place with a fine-tooth comb.

We didn’t take PAL this time, because of some hotel confirmation issues. We flew Singapore Airlines instead and signed up for KrisFlyer, SIA’s version of PAL’s Mabuhay Miles. I’ll write a separate entry about this most-revered airline later.

We traveled light—I allotted half of the space in my luggage for swags, and for clean clothes, we depended mostly on hotel laundry. Nobody cared about our getup anyway.

We arrived at the hotel at 6:30 PM. The Copthorne Orchid Hotel along Dunearn Road was comfortable but ridiculously expensive. For the same rates, it was shabby compared to Shangri-La Makati. The rooms were fully booked so we had no choice but be assigned to a smoking room. Good thing they were kind enough to spray Shout! in all corners of the room.

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We had the pleasure of being invited by one of our photographers to join a photography group called Panay Digital Shooters (PDS). Thanks to Nikon D300, Nikon D70, and *coughs* Canon Ixus 90 IS. That’s still digital, right?

A week ago, we went to the group’s first monthly EB. It was an opportunity to shoot budding models at the studio. There was a congregation of designers, models, makeup artists and gawkers, as soon as we arrived. This must be serious, I told myself. But, to be honest, I was more excited to mingle with people than to snap away photos. After all, I haven’t really spent a hundred hours taking photographs seriously. Perhaps when I already have a powerful lense. Read more »