The C-Spot: A Photography, Travel and Culture Journal

The year 2020 is one that will truly go down in history as the year when the world practically shutdown. Many activities, specially those that involve a gathering of people, were actually prohibited including church services and other religious activities such as the age-old tradition of families visiting and praying for the dead loved-ones in cemeteries. An "unintended victim" of this are the dead themselves, or rather the souls of the dead (if you believe in the soul). In a story told to me by my mother, the Day of the Dead is also a very special day in the spirit world and for the dead loved-ones themselves. It is said that the soul of those who passed away await the arrivial and visit of their living kins at the cemetery's gate. To them it is also a joyous day and a time for celebration. The cemetery is considered hallowed ground and the cemetery gates set the limit as to where the souls can stay and wait. They are supposedly prohibited from going out to the realm of ...

Olango is an island east of Cebu in central Philippines. Olango island is part of a six-island group east of the main island of Cebu. It is accessible via a motorized boat ride from the city. It's one of the "must-visit" places in Cebu because it is the location of the largest bird sanctuary in the Philipiines. When I visited the place it was for the specific purpose of observing and taking photos of the birds which are known to have come from as far as northern China and parts of Siberia. At the start of the cold season in the northern hemisphere, the birds start their migration to the warmer climate in the southern hemisphere  such as Australia. The Philippines seem to be a half point in their journey and this is where they seek sanctuary for nourisment and to gain strength which they will need to continue their journey. They take the same route on their way back to return to where they originally started. They come for the 1,030 hectares of mangrove forest, coral reefs...