Goofing at the Azkals Tune up Game By: Owen S. Bayog

I need to stretch a bit too before shooting...hehehehe

(Mymy Alagaban Photo)

OSB + SKT

(Mymy Alagaban Photo)

Flozard of PIX Digital is so ready to shoot Soccer...

(Mymy Alagaban Photo)

JERICO - A BOY I MET AT BREDCO By: Owen S. Bayog

He is Jerico, 13 years old and lives at Purok Boulevard - 

A shot taken while the gloomy skies covered the colors of the sun setting down.

F2.8 -  S1/50 ISO 100

I JUST HATE SPORTS – THERE IS TOO MUCH POLITICS IN IT By: Owen S. Bayog

Teamwork, camaraderie and how one could blend with the others are the usual essentials why sports exist.  Competition on the other hand is how the game is played and how it could encourage individuals to do better.  Sports as a program unites people, it aims to bond them and later on educate and gain social awareness on how winning and losing matter.

Advanced countries that have a productive sports program commonly excel – the government spends much on education and sports while reaping the world’s respect during international competitions, Olympics and the like.  In third world countries such as the Philippines, sports are used as a secondary source of fund (prone to corruption) and sometimes guise as a program to promote the well being of its citizens.

Since when did the Philippines excel? What sport? I remember quite well when people Onyok Velasco nearly won an Olympic Gold Medal during the Atlanta Olympics, the people suddenly looked on the possibility of Filipinos to be good at Boxing.  The birth of Manny Pacquiao up to his stardom now earns the respect of the global community in terms of his prowess, courage and skill.

Then came out the slogan “pinoy pride”, “proud to be Filipino” and “ang mamatay ng dahil sayo” but was it easy for the government to claim that what Filipinos achieve abroad is due to its efficient sports program? I think not.  The government only came to recognize if an individual has made its own mark already.

Needless to say, they did not care while the athletes were just starting to train and compete.  Government support follows only when an individual or team has made it to the international scene or has reaped medals from abroad in a competition.  It is sad to note that there is no concrete program to promote sports in the country – a government spending more on military and debt servicing could only hope that an Olympic Gold is just around the corner.

The sad state of sports in the country remains to be backward and lack government support.  Politicians however make use of these acts when they plunge into their campaign and make it look like everything is well balanced.

The arrival of the Azkals Football team is a perfect example of how people inject politics into sports.  A separate press conference was held due to a minor misunderstanding of people on how a sporting event should be.  Contrary to what sports is aiming to, I saw the opposite of unity, the disinterest of people in government because of personal interests and lack of recognition were among the factors that made this worse.

The political rivalry between two opposing politicians had also gone up to the media while each quarter maintains an irreconcilable stance.  Promoting the sport is not bad – being held in the City of Bacolod is not bad either.  Leaders should shove away politics in order to give a welcoming atmosphere both to the players and the tourists that is rooting for the game come February 9, 2011 at the Panaad Park and Stadium.

In sports there is unity, in Bacolod, we just hope so.(end)#osb

BURGER TIME By: Owen S. Bayog

STREET FOOD By: Owen S. Bayog

OSB DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP: Owen S. Bayog

Thank you to all the participants - wave 2 coming soon...

FEAST OF ST. SEBASTIAN :Owen S. Bayog

FEAST OF ST. SEBASTIAN - A religious procession started from the 

San Sebastian Cathedral this afternoon to the main streets of Bacolod City.

STREET CHILDREN (An urban phenomenon) By: Owen S. Bayog

Homeless and living on the streets – their population is getting bigger by the day.  For some, it is considered eyesores in a livable City and for others, they call it fate.  Failing economies such as what we have in the Philippines is a reflection why people are forced to live on the streets.  A government that allocates fewer budgets to social service and education will likely push its people into poverty and lessen the chance of their survival.

Landlessness and squatter problems haunts the government while foreigners get to own properties and establish businesses in a foreign land.  Corruption and those who desperately cling to power in the guise of public service are the reason why the country remains to suffer an irreversible crisis.  Children often experience the effects of political, economic, and social crises within their countries more severely than adults, and many lack the adequate institutional support to address their special needs. Eventually, they end up on the streets.

Abandoned children due to intense poverty, children who walk away from home due to physical, mental or sexual abuse linger on the streets and soon become the problem of the society.  The government could only do as much – institutions that could help these children also face difficulty in funding and government support.

Homelessness has ill effects on children.  No medical care and inadequate living conditions and making them susceptible to diseases while they battle for survival.  The growth of children is affected by their nomadic lifestyles while authorities expel them from temporary shelters such as parks, doorways and sidewalks.

The attention of the government is being called as the population of the homeless and those who are in the poverty level continue to rise.  More action is needed and plans to address the problem will need more than just laws – it needs the action of the leaders in government – to provide the needs of the people to land, jobs and their right to education and social service.

BACOLOD CITY JANUARY 1, 2011 By: Owen S. Bayog

After the celebrating the New Year – the City streets of Bacolod particularly the downtown area is filled with business entrepreneurs selling clothes, shoes, bags and even toys.  Araneta Street which caters the major transport routes is clear of traffic congestion. 

People from all walks of life troop to the downtown area to shop in what they call “the people’s bazaar” where everything is sold is pretty much affordable.  

Bonifacio Street which is a traffic problem area on a regular day can be turned into a skating rink at the park.  People could just walk by the street with ease like strolling at the Public Plaza.  

Cigarette vendors at the sidewalk enjoys the afternoon with a drink – they get to do this almost everyday when you happen to pass by this side of the rotunda.

Stores which opted to open get most of the sales for those who avoided the holiday rush.  I just hope its double pay for their workers who obviously need a holiday break too.