PFF U22: Iligan denies One Surigao 2-1

Surigao City - Upset concious One Surigao team was poised to give Iligan a loss when the latter did a dramatic comeback in the second half in the opening game of the Smart PFF U22 championships which kicked off at 1:30 p.m. here. 

Bouyed by a homecourt advantage and familiarity of the pitch, One Surigao team engaged the more fancied Iligan side in a toe for toe match in the early minutes of the game. 

One Surigao's persistent attack paid off in the closing minutes of the first half when left wing Jethro Sumadilla latched on a lob by a team mate. He then raced towards the box against three Iligan defenders. In a mad scramble for the ball, Sumadilla was able to fire a looping kick onto an empty net as the Iligan keeper rush towards the One Surigao attacker. 

The goal send the One Surigao bench and high school student's of Surigao National High School in jubilation as it smelled an upset. 

But that celebration was shortlived when Iligan came back fiercely in the second half by forcing a handball on One Surigao defender. The penalty was completed and the score was tied at 1-1. 

The day turned sour on the hosts as in a few minutes, Iligan again scored a spectacular goal.  The Iligan striker made an excellent chest stop as he leaves his marker. Goalkeeper Reneil Tare of One Surigao was helpless at the volley. 

One Surigao team missed an opportunity to get an important win against a very strong and consistent Iligan side. 

The PFF Under 22 Championships will resume today at the Surigao del Norte Sports Complex at 1:30 p.m. One Surigao will resume its campaign against Bukidnon FA in the second game at 3:00 p.m.  

The year that was - Higalaay Festival 2015

As the year 2015, came down to a close, I am writing a series of posts about the photo contests I joined the past months. 
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August 2015. I have a new camera, a second hand mirrorless Sony A6000 I bought from a friend photog from Butuan City. I was hungry. I was on fire. I was in the hunt for photo contests.  Fresh from joining Adlaw Hong Butuan Photo challenge weeks before, my eyes is transfixed on conquering new lands. The nearest was Higalaay Festival Photo Contest in City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro City. 

There is always a bond between me and this city, though its more like me a vain lover who gets unrequited love for a city that I adore much. But this would need another article to elaborate this kind of relationship. 

Back to Higalaay. I arrived at early morning on the 27th of August in Cagayan de Oro, the eve of the city fiesta. I was feeling light headed after a long trip from Surigao City, obviously from being sleep deprived. I went to my cousin's house somewhere in Kauswagan to freshen up. 

While I was nibbling some breakfast, the television already flashed clips of the parade at Velez Street. OMG. The parade has started! My plan to start at the Rotunda fizzled out. 

I hurried out into the street. Compounding my woes, jeepneys coming from Bonbon and Bayabas areas were fully loaded. I got no choice but to walk towards Kauswagan Highway near Savemore and clambered a ride. I got off near Capistrano Street and then walked a few meters to the parade route at nearby Velez St. 

Finally, I was into action! I was in the middle of it. I was so excited. 

There was stream of High School bands and parade Every contingent that passed was a missed opportunity. Higante's later appeared but it was intermittent and far between. 

Then, the floats appeared. The only challenges were the banderitas (flaglets) above. There is really nothing I can do about it.  I  overheard other competing photographers grumbled about it. 

As the parade was winding up, I decided to change location. I proceeded to C.M. Recto Ave., fronting Centrio Mall. I was thinking, there, wires and flaglets are minimal. I was right. Clearer sky. But the problem, my lens would not match. But that's life. 

By 11:00, the parade was over and CM Recto become deserted immediately. Where those people gone in 5 minutes? I retreated in one of carinderias at the side of Centrio Mall and gulped bottles of ice cold Sparkle Up. 

Day One of my quest ended rather insignificantly. But I reassured myself, there is still tomorrow. 

Next day, I woke up early and took position at Gaston Park. As the fluvial procession took time to arrive near the Cathedral, there were plenty of opportunities for street photography. 

  And selfie too...

It was a long wait for the fluvial procession. But the long wait was worth it. When it came, it came fast and short. As I browse my pictures after, I know my chance was slim. 

In the meantime, fiesta in Cagayan de Oro is not complete without venerating the City's patron saint, Saint Augustine of Hippo. I attended the High Mass at 11:00 am which was by the way celebrated under the Filipino Rite. It was long and full of singing, and presided by Monsignor Florencio Salvador, who is an expert when it comes to the life of Saint Augustine. 

Tired and spent after the Mass, I went back to my cousin's house at Kauswagan, where a sumptuous fiesta meal awaited for me. And some booze too. 

Higalaay Festival was done. It was a contest and I came here to compete. But I have no excuses whatsoever. I bombed out in the competition, the moment I joined. I accepted it. This contest was not for me. It didn't work for me sad to say. Yet, I don't want the opportunity of being a part of Higalaay contest to pass. 

Ultimately, I simply want to be here.  I love the place, I reminisce my past and I like to revisit my personal Catholic conversion in this city. It's all about family, faith, hope and the memories.   

Higalaay. Personally, its simply my friendship with the place. 

All set for PFF Under 22 Group tournament in Surigao City

There's a silver lining every time there is a power interruption. It forces me to go out and photo walk. 

Yesterday, I was led into the Surigao del Norte Grandstand to look into the preparations for the forthcoming Philippine Football Federation Under 22 Group Competitions which will be hosted by Surigao City from November 24-29, 2015. 

So far, so good. The pitch was prepared and the boys are doing their final practices and training before the competitions.  I also had a chance to talk to Atty. Jerry Centro, a ranking Surigao del Norte FA official and a footballer himself.  

Lawnmower men are preparing the pitch for the competitions

Atty Centro revealed to Midlifescape that everything is set for the competitions this coming Tuesday, November 24.  A sad development however is that Cagayan de Oro-Misamis Oriental FA or CMOFA have backed out from the competitions due to its difficulty assembling a team. According to his counterpart in CMOFA, most of its Under 22 players are now plying their skills either in Cebu or Metro Manila. 

On the other hand, the Butuan-Agusan del Norte FA is also doubtful as its representative, no less than Congressman Lawrence Fortun, failed to show up during the PFF convention in Manila early this month. Still, Atty. Centro is hopeful that Butuan-Agusan del Norte will make it in time for the competitions. 

Should Butuan-Agusan del Norte FA could not make it, that will only leave three teams competing, the Iligan FA, the Bukidnon FA and the Surigao del Norte FA. 

On the other hand, Centro said that as for the Surigao del Norte FA, it tapped also players from Tandag, Surigao del Sur. Surigao del Sur has no FA and usually, its players join Agusan del Sur FA in the Davao Region group. Since the Surigao del Sur players were not included in the Agusan del Sur lineup in the current competition, it became prudent for the Surigao del Norte FA to tap players from Surigao del Sur. As a result, half of the players who will be suiting up for Surigao del Norte FA will be coming from Tandag, Surigao del Sur. That makes imperative for Atty. Centro and the rest of the Surigao del Norte FA to dub the current team as "One Surigao." 

Surigao FA players made their final trainings and practices

Atty. Centro also disclosed that the planned National Football League is on track come 2017, as proposed and envisioned by Azkal Manager and Leyte FA President Dan Palami. It will be a nationwide, province based league which aims to develop and promote grassroots football program in the country. It also intended to bring football closer to the masses, where basketball has become a religion in this country. 

The Number 1 in the PFF group stage will proceed to Bacolod City to compete the last 8 to determine the national PFF Under 22 Champions come February 2016. 

As Surigaonons, let us watch the tournament and support our "One Surigao" football team. 

Kaamulan, a photo obsession fulfilled

Talaandig Tribe in Kaamulan 2015

Kaamulan...a festival about the gathering of the 7 hill tribes in Bukidnon, a picturesque and cool province in Northern Mindanao. Even before I got a midlife hook in Photography, this is the one festival I was dreaming to shoot. Reason: Colorful Costumes and its peculiar dance steps. And so when the Province of Bukidnon announced that they will be holding the Kaamulan on October 24, 2015, I made it a point to clear my schedule on that day.

And so last October 23, 2015, I traveled from Surigao City to Cagayan de Oro to catch the festival the following day. There was no photo contest but that doesn't matter to me. All that I was thinking is that I can finally have this long awaited opportunity completed. After spending the night at my cousin's house in Cagayan de Oro, I woke up early to catch a bus for Malaybalay, the capital city of Bukidnon. 

I boarded a Davao City bound bus, the new one complete with a restroom. The fare is at P150.00, which is 60 pesos more than the regular fate of 90 pesos. But its ok. No problem. 

Bumper to bumper traffic at Mangima Canyon in Manolo Fortich town because of ongoing road repairs 

It's normally two and a half hour ride which I just doze off.  I was awakened when the bus stopped at one of the curves around Mangima Canyon due to an ongoing road repair. The bus stopped twice. I arrived at around 8:00 in the morning when the street dancing was about to begin. I took a very hurried breakfast at a Jolibee at Sayre Highway, the venue for the Street Dancing. Even before I could finish it, the first contingent passed by and I grabbed my gears and head on to the street.

I was shaking in excitement on my first few shots. I was jittery. Then as I found my groove, it was happiness all over. 

Midlifescape, the blog.

Nueva Port, Taft, Surigao City

Good evening world. 

I am a middle aged guy who had just found late love of photography. In this blog, I will share to you my journey as photography enthusiast.  Though, blogs have become a lesser form of medium nowadays with the advent of social media like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram,  I find blogs to be more relaxed and more personal way of communicating one's thoughts without torturing a friend with lengthy write ups. 

Besides, there is something nostalgic about blogs that draw me to patronize it again. 

The photo above is taken at those houses on tilts along Nueva port in Surigao City, where I am based. Those houses are mostly occupied by Badjao people, seafaring people coming from Sulu Archipelago.  On the other hand, Nueva Port is a port for motorized banca plying between Surigao City and its island barangays located along Hikdop, Sibale and Hanigad Islands.  Nueva Port is my favorite spot for street photography because it is busy and teeming with human activity. 

Again, journey with me as we go along.