Jala-Jala, Rizal's Wildlife

Last Black Saturday, I accompanied my Uncle to his farm in Jala-Jala, Rizal. I've always wanted to go there but haven't had the time to visit. He says I'm always welcome to do a shoot just as long as the models are nude. Hahaha. Anyway, I've been through the Rizal-Laguna route plenty of times but it was my first time to pass through Jala-Jala. The scenery can be a really nice background for a prenup pictorial. Anybody interested? Hehe

On his farm, I chanced upon a book entitled "A Frenchman in the Philippines". It basically is about the true adventures of a French physician as he colonized Jala-Jala around the 1820's. I scanned the more fascinating parts of the book and found interest in the modes of transporation back then. To reach Jala-Jala they basically set sail from Manila via the Pasig River and cross the Laguna Bay. It makes me wonder if this is faster than taking a car from Manila to Jala-Jala nowadays with the terrible traffic and all.

I also found interesting the stories about the wildlife around the area. You see the perks of being the only European in the area was all the game he could shoot. Animals range from wild pigeons, wild boar, deer, eagles, monitor lizards and giant bats. The more dangerous animals include man-eating crocodiles and the wild buffalos. He recounts an incident wherein he accompanied a European guest to go hunting for wild buffalos. He adviced the fellow to climb a tree when they spot a wild buffalo as they attack. Apparently his guest didn't heed his warning, the guest fired two shots to the charging buffalo, missed both and was gored to death by the animal.

Sadly, I don't think much of the wildlife he described in the book can still be found in the vicinity. The good news is the paragraphs above are just a segueway to the photographs I did manage to shoot at the farm. Jala-Jala's wildlife, the macro kind that is. Hehe.





This is the first time I've used my new macro lens for insect work and boy it won't be the last. This area of photography can really be addicting!