Happy Obituary Documentaries » Documentaries

Bus Ride

Brian Sahagun — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:22:14 +0000

Riding the MRT is a tad too stressful already. For a change, I took the bus going home. It’s always a slow motion in these big ruckuses crawling their way past Robinson’s Galleria — a good time to steal some break in the rush.

Inside was an Asian movie playing, vendors transiting, folks filling the seats; outside were travelers anticipating the proper bus, lampposts’ lights trailing. A whole lot was coming and going and this is just what makes the trip worthwhile.

MRT. There is a construction behind.

Bus Stop. People waiting at the bus stop.

MRT Zipping By. The train goes by from end to end in thirty minutes or so.

Petals of Junk Food. Beware of fake brands.

Rush Hour. A couple waiting for a ride.

Keep Ticket for Tearing. I slid the ticket under my wristwatch.

Watching the World Go By. Stranger than fiction?

Under Ortigas Flyover. Somewhere in the dark is an MMDA traffic enforcer watching your every move.

Conductor. Displaying his proficiency in money-handling.

Magallanes to Cubao EDSA Challenge

Brian Sahagun — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:00:03 +0000

How will you take home a bike you bought in Magallanes? Drive it.

Bike Shopping

Halfway to Ayala MRT.

Practicing on the Sidewalk.

Dusit Thani.

Stopover at Petron.

Buendia MRT Station.

MMDA Fortress.

OH Juicy.

Guadalupe MRT Station.

Jaycelle at Caramoan

Brian Sahagun — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:00:31 +0000

Snapshots of a girl loving the sun.

Bright Above You. Sunbathing at Bugtong beach.

Sand Reflection. What do you see?

Sea of Sand. Searching for a parking space.

Heart-face. The sun, my enemy.

Caramoan, Camarines Sur – Day 1

Brian Sahagun — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:45 +0000

Right before four in the afternoon as we got back from island hopping, Manlawi island dried up. It left us a desert of wet sand.

We set up our tents under the diminishing heat of the day. Sunset was just a commercial; it was a quick descent.

Loading. First stopover.

Freezing in the Bus. You need a jacket and a blanket.

M/B Captain. Popeye’s got an earring.

Anticipation. From Sabang port, a little more while till Caramoan.

M/B Harry III. To and fro.

Ushers. Watching guests come and go.

Diving Kids. Just showing off.

Stand By. Folks at the port using some shade.

No. 1 Tourist Destination. Welcome to CamSur.

Shadow Cast

Brian Sahagun — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:48:43 +0000

I grabbed a Gatorade from the fridge and smashed it onto my head. The scalp was begging for some hard massage. The carton box flung as I punched it, hoping to drill a hole through and through. Two thuds from my left and right foot rung the entire second floor. There was no shadow in the room; early afternoon shadowboxing with the plywood door. I wanted to hit myself in the mirror – right in the kisser.

I never wanted to wake up halfway from a full-length afternoon nap.

Docking. Ferryboat, you are the best.

Secure. There is a new dock for the ferryboat in Cavite City; no more bamboo contraptions.

Glide. Seagulls just gliding around.

Crystalline. The sun cast stark light.

Jeepney Side Mirror. 350D is back.

Riding In Front. Fishball vendor turning towards the busy part of the city.

Takatak Boy. After lighting the jeepney driver’s cigarette, he noticed the camera and asked for a copy of the picture.

Crossing the Street. The wet road doubled the illumination of the afternoon sun.

Looking Glass

Brian Sahagun — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:31:15 +0000

Rannie Taxi, 9:50 AM – I was running late as usual. The weather was almost humid; hotter than the other days.

As I stepped out of the gate, it emerged as a getaway vehicle. The first thing I noticed was the water-stained window. It is all right to see through the looking glass in a tainted manner.

To Pasig. 9:51 AM.

Waiting in Line. 9:52 AM.

Lucky Star. 9:52 AM.

Breakfast Window. 9:58 AM.

Breakfast Stop. 9:58 AM.

Host Graffiti. 10:03 AM.

Meat. 10:07 AM.

To Work. 10:08 AM.

Another Night

Brian Sahagun — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 05:00:55 +0000

Disregarding the fact that it is my cousin’s birthday, I remember how we once celebrated All Saints’ Day. Grandma dangled all the doorknobs in my auntie’s house with rosaries. It kept all the spirits from entering the rooms, she said. She offered food for the departed. A sole plate full of the same birthday meal caught my eye. I asked mom if I could take a pinch off that lechon. No.

. . .

After resting for a while (going around the house, talking to dogs, and doing nothing), I started cleaning up, taking off that pungent smell of puke on my hair. And I was ready to head towards the cemetery along with the multitude.

The weather hushed and made way for this day.

Entrance. I arrived at the cemetery past five in the afternoon.

Glow In the Dark. There were hundreds of vendors in the middle of the stretch, creating streets – left and right.

Waiting. There will be a family reunion.

Cotton Candy. I remember this vendor from grade school.

I Want It So Bad. I am not sure if those were mini light sabers.

Passing. There were puddles from Santi’s passing.

Dusk. By the time it got dark, I headed back to our family memorial site.

Kwek-Kwek. These are breaded quail eggs.

Popcorn. Popcorns and church on Sundays – inseparable.

Coming Home

Brian Sahagun — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:00:05 +0000

First day of November, All Saints’ Day. It is mandatory to come home. There is a family reunion whether you’re alive or not. And the carnival – who would want to miss the awesome carnival in the evening?

I hitched from Quezon City to Cavite City in my brother’s car. With the booze from last night still kicking in, I snapped away even with the glass window coating in between the camera and the moving world.

Aguinaldo’s House. A jeepney driver fixes his vehicle.

Glory to God. Amen.

Baptist Church / Jeep. I notice only two Baptist Churches in Cavite City.

Family 100. Jampacked pedicab.

Ladislao Diwa Elementary School. Everything is green in this public school.

Dalahican. A jeepney route label.

Sidewalk Shop. There are thousands of shoe repairmen lined in front of Good Morning store. OK, just five or six but one would wonder why it is the most saturated spot.

Santos. I see Santa Claus. Lots of “PX” goods in Good Morning store.

God is Good. Another shoe repairman sporting a bible passage on his shirt.

Gupit Caviteño. When I was eleven, I ordered the “Gupit Binata” and ended up looking like Andrew E.

Baby Bus. A hybrid of an ordinary bus and a jeepney, the ubiquitous baby bus.

Vulcanizing Shop. I passed by this lowly shop as I walked to the cemetery.

Lor – Jareta Nuptial

Brian Sahagun — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 04:00:50 +0000

I was invited by my friend, Catherine, to be on the “look-out” on her wedding day. She did not care whether I set my camera to black and white all the while. “Just do what you do,” she said.

To Be Free. Clench. Fly? Flew.

Held. A soft gentle pull. A soft gentle union.

The Bride. Nearest look.

David and Catherine. Guided home.

Yours. Lately, I have seen a cake with bride and groom and blood.

Mind Game Dancing? Are we over this?

Seek. She finds the most boring treasure.

Going On. Both are seeing a world through a glass.

Prim. Goody eight-shoes.

Anticipation. Who is next in line?