Bokod, Benguet
I remember having a location photo shoot with my photography colleagues at Bokod, Benguet near Ambuklao Dam, Benguet, Philippines. It's good it was cloudy that day otherwise, we were effin' sweating and sunburned.
After the quick visit at the dam's view deck, I found myself driving away a few mosquitoes as we navigated along the rocky part of the river banks of Bokod. It was a hot and humid afternoon and dipping in the cool river was perfect. To our surprise, we find some local kids enjoying the cool river.
I chanced upon an unknown kid along the Agno River with underwater eye goggles and was in too deep with his water "hunger games". I did not pay much attention to him at first then naturally, I found myself observing every detail of his activities. In my mind, I gave him a name, dubbed- "Kid Bokod."
I didn't want to interrupt the flow and get in the way of Kid Bokod's attention so, I just continuously took a few detailed candid photo shots using my camera's quiet mode. My mind kinda shortly drifted and immediately transported me to that time where I remember a scene where my mother holler out calling for our names when it was about to get dark to check if we were already home as compared to nowadays, parents remind and kinda make an effort to convince their children to go out and enjoy the outdoors. In my opinion, today's youth are more predisposed to indoor technology oriented device driven games and have attachments to their mobile phones.
Kid Bokod placed on a clean rock his prized fish catch whilst he was taking a short rest. I just can't believe that his determination and persistence for just a couple of hours got him an abundant fish catch which was contained in a homemade fishing net/pouch together with his homemade underwater spear. Homemade/home grown is proof enough that local traditions/customs are alive and kickin'. The wooden fishing spear defines the ingenuity as it was designed following the principles of a slingshot.
Kid Bokod is a very shy but approachable Cordilleran boy. I asked him in Ilokano dialect with a fake accent of a lowland Cordilleran native tongue if he would like to be photographed. He said wen- meaning yes in Ilokano dialect and voluntarily allowed me just a few pockets of his time to capture his portrait.
I can much relate to this youthful and down-to-earth clean fun kind of pastime where usually in the mountain communities of the provinces, river swimming and catching fish are among some of the outdoor adventures. This is my first time to shoot at this part of Bokod near Ambuklao dam where the Agno river flows.
Gurel, Bokod, Benguet
Another part of Gurel (Bokod Town), which is more or less 30 minutes from the Ambuklao Dam and also at the junction, a road which leads to Mt. Pulag about 8 kms to the Visitor Center Mount Pulag National Park. The image above shows an N.A. Liner, one of the buses which travel to Banaue, Ifugao making a quick stop over and pick-up passengers and allow fish sellers/hawkers to offer to bus passengers for sale their day's catch of fresh fishes.
Here at local woman pitches her fresh offer. Fish hawking/selling has become one of the local livelihood aside from farming and growing vegetables, rice, earthing tubers/yams, fruits, etc., at Gurel, Bokod.
A fish seller carefully and accurately weighing (certified weighing scales) fishes for sale and following guidelines throughout the country by the Dept. of Trade and Industry.
Fresh fish for sale.
- Ambuklao Dam
- Mount Amalkatan
- Badekbek Sulfur Springs
- Palansa Panoramic View
- Bila Mountain Saddle
- Ekip Mossy Forest
- Palpalan Waterfalls
- Adwagan River
- Bobbok Second Growth Pine Forests
- Mount Pulag
- Mount Purgatory
- Mount Patoktok
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