San Juan, La Union. March, 2019

Kids taking a dive into the unsafe waters of Baseco Beach, Manila Bay.

Reports from earlier this year suggests that the waters of Manila Bay exceeded the safe levels of bacterial coliform count - 100mpn (most probably number)/100ml. Manila Bay was recorded to have 330million mpn/100ml. Coliform bacteria contains different groups of microorganisms which includes Feacal coliform - bacteria found in the gut and faeces of humans and animals such as E. coli, and other enterrococus bacteria which may cause gastrointestinal illnesses.

One of the boys said “mas masarap yung kulay blue” (the blue one tastes the best).

Kids at the Baseco Beach use slingshots to put down waterbirds flying around the dock. Upon asking what they’ll do with them, they replied “iihawin namin” (we’ll grill them). They target waterbirds commonly found in Manila Bay such as Little Egrets and Whiskered Terns.

Quiapo Church, Manila. August, 2019

In Himlayang Palanyag, a public cemetery in Parañaque, Manila, tombs were constructed in the form of “apartments”, reaching at least 8 levels of stacked coffin slots. This is about the height of a 3-storey building. Due to the structural height, a person who may want to visit a diseased loved one (especially during the All Souls Day) may need to use a ladder to come in contact with a tomb - to either put some flowers or light up some candles.

Ladders typically cost 20 Pesos ($ 0.86) for a brief usage or 50 Pesos ($2.14) for a “use as much as you want” basis.

By right, such ladders can only be rented from the official caretakers of the cemetery; however, some outsiders have brought their own to rent it out to the visitors.

Mang Kerby, a cemetery caretaker of 5 years said that he is fine with it. 

"Syempre, sakin eh...tao rin ako eh. Nararamdaman ko yung kulo ng sikmura nila eh, minsan na nga lang eh ipagdadamot pa... O’ sige bahala kayo, basta wag lang kayong mangbabastos, kung maghahagdanan kayo maghagdanan lang, kailangan konting respeto sa nadalaw”, Mang Kerby said.