Chachi + Jacqui's Engagement (Tagaytay Highlands, onboard an R44 Raven II Helicopter, Manila Bay Sunset)

Chachi and Jacqui are two of my closest friends, they recently got engaged in Tagaytay highlands (where Chachi proposed) and had an engagement party afterwards at Top of the Citi (Citibank Tower, Makati City) where most of our friends were there to support chachi (hahaha!) kidding Chach! the party also moved on to a place with no name but it was beside Barcino's and some other bar in Fort Bonifacio. I've never seen Jacqui so happy till then, She just couldn't wait any longer... (hahaha! kidding Jacqui!) But all this was planned of course by Chachi and his best buddies!

(FLASHBACK: 1st week of November 2008)

Iphone: ring... ring... ring... ring...

Chachi: TAN MAN!!!!

TanMan: Waddup Chach!?

Chachi: How are you man? got a minute?

TanMan: yeah man! I'm good, good, and you? whatsup?

Chachi: listen I would like to invite you to take photographs on a helicopter man, I'm planning to take Jacqui up to tagaytay then fly back on the helicopter back to manila on Novemeber 21 (Friday) I'm going to Propo....

TanMan: (blah blah blah excited and scared as hell to get invited to a helicopter flight)

Chachi: I'm going to propose to Jacqui already man!!!!

TanMan: WHAT???? WHHHHYYYY??? (hahahahaha :))))--kidding

TanMan: WOW! That's great news man! it's about time!!!

Chachi: Yeah Man! I'm thinking, I'm doing it na rin, might as well go all out!

TanMan: Yeah Man! I'll be honored to do your engagement photos :)

Chachi: Thanks Man! let's meet up soon to go over the details cuz I'm nervous as hell and you guys are gonna have to keep me sane...

TanMan: hahaha! don't worry about it man!

Chachi + Jacqui (Engagement After Party) from Jonathan Roco De Guzman on Vimeo.

My First Helicopter Flight (on board the R44 raven II)

I have never been anywhere close a real helicopter before, all I know is that it has no wings, and if the engine stops, it will drop like a flying shoe box. I wasn't a fan of flying in small cramped spaces--But this was before I got my chance last week (My first ever on a flying shoe box!!! haha:)) I have to say it was an awesome experience! it was scary and fun at the same time! but of course my story goes way before the engine started and the buzzing sound never ended...

This unexpected cool experience is because of my best friends (Christopher Salonga and his fiancee Jacqui Halili-co) getting engaged. I'm very happy and honored to be the official photographer for their engagement party. The plan was simple: I take the Helicopter to Tagaytay Highlands (30mins flight time), Chach proposes to Jacqui on the Helipad, CLICK CLICK CLICK--I take photographs, we head down to Manila to a sunset-clad Manila Bay CLICK CLICK CLICK, I take more Photographs, then we meet all of the couples' closest friends on Top of the Citi (Citiibank Tower, Makati) for Cocktails and Turkey dinner (delicious by the way!). Then we party till everyone was hammered. :)

CamSur through my Candy Colored Holga

After almost two years away from CamSur and anything wakeboarding, I finally got a chance to get back on the bindings and cables with a permanent ACL injury and see what's the fuss about wakeboarding again. IT WAS WORTH IT! after all the fears I had with this place (the reason why I got my ACL injury in the first place) I finally broke free from the usual "can I still wakeboard with my injury???" phobia. IT FELT GOOD! 

I'm also very happy I didn't get any other injuries during my visit, It felt good to be back, it was like finding something you've been looking for all these years. although I did not try any kickers or sliders, I must say i will next time I get a chance to...

Coming Soon: Chachi + Jacqui (Engagement Party)

La Liberty guidant le peuple chez Musée du Louvre (Paris, France)

Delacroix's most influential work came in 1830 with the painting which for choice of subject and technique highlights the differences between the romantic approach and the neoclassical style. Probably Delacroix's best known painting, it is an unforgettable image of Parisians, having taken up arms, marching forward under the banner of the tricolour representing liberty and freedom; Delacroix was inspired by contemporary events to invoke the romantic image of the spirit of liberty. The soldiers lying dead in the foreground offer poignant counterpoint to the symbolic female figure, who is illuminated triumphantly, as if in a spotlight.

The French government bought the painting but officials deemed its glorification of liberty too inflammatory and removed it from public view. Nonetheless, Delacroix still received many government commissions for murals and ceiling paintings. He seems to have been trying to represent the spirit and the character of the people, rather than glorify the actual event, a revolution against King Charles X which did little other than bring in a different king, Louis-Philippe, to power.

Following the Revolution of 1848 that saw the end of the reign of King Louis Philippe, Delacroix' painting, Liberty Leading the People, was finally put on display by the newly elected President, Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III.) Today, it is visible in the Louvre museum.

The boy holding a gun up on the right is sometimes thought to be an inspiration of the Gavroche character in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misrables.

British alternative rock band Coldplay used the painting as the cover for their album Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.