I Am Tiramisu

The trip consisted of endless meetings, downloading, printing, running errands, phone calls, photo ops...Starbucks, Starbucks and Starbucks!!! hehehe...and of course, I loved every second of it!!!
That's me after the first pre-production meeting. I was keeping someone company in the ladies room, I hope she didn't hear me take a click! That would be weird for her. hehehe

Slept beyond late the night before and woke up the next day by 3.45. By 4.30am we were on the road, excitedly eating our take out breakfast in the car.
Excited as I may have seemed, I was actually pretty nervous.
My very first time to cover the new president. New venue, new people.
I had been checking and rechecking my camera, batteries, bags and such for the hundredth time. Practicing my touch system in getting stuff from my trusty belt bag. Making 200% sure that the lens wipe was at the very first pocket. Making sure I could reach it in a split second. Checking if my black pants would still fit me after 2 days of having meetings at Starbucks all over the place!!!
We got to the venue before the 6am call time.
And the ball started rolling...

It rained a bit. Ordinarily it would have destroyed everything. But guess what, I kinda liked the wet and glossy ground on some photos.


Yep they were quite insistent about the NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY. They have emphasized it since the pre-production meetings. They have limited such restrictions during the speech and dedication ceremony and during the tour some photographers were flashing away. But I decided to keep mine turned off when I saw the lights all over the place.

I was one of the close-in photographers. They just usually allow 2 or 3. It meant we were allowed to be the only ones outside when the President arrived, walked with him into the building and allowed to crouch in between aisles or seats meters in front of the cordoned media. It meant some freedom. Meant photos with more human interest feel. It meant I could play with the light available. Being a close-in allowed me to go to rooms and meetings where any other photographer would otherwise be restricted from.

But still you would have the police and presidential guards to deal with. They would acknowledge the fact that you are allowed to get close to your subject but only to some extent. I have made it a habit to get as close as I can until a PSG gently pulls my shirt away...HAHAHAHA! They would not give me special treatment like letting me pass thru. Afterall, the President's safety is their number one priority and not that I get the best angles. hahahaha!
What hurts in my body? Usually my head. Then my leg muscles, from running after the entourage, skipping and suddenly screeching to a halt or from suddenly turning to another direction when I see an open space for a good shot. But my head, first and foremost. I get squished in between the tall guards so I have to raise my camera above my head (this would also make the PSG inspection sticker visible to them). But running in that position is not always easy. The camera with the big lens, bulky battery grip gets heavy and bangs on my head several times. HAHAHAHAHA!
But it's cool, coz I love what I do.

Poofed!!! Yep, me, on the floor. Just waking up from the much needed 30 minutes of sleep. The airconditioner was blasting away as I drifted off to dreamland. Our creative director was sleeping beside me but has already stood up when this pic was taken by production house lady, Tracy.


Meet the production team:
(Cebu and Manila teams)


After years of taking peoples' photographs, I still get edgy and nervous the night before. I love people! I love events! I love the team I work with. They can literally make the world go 'round!!!



Thank You Boss.
Thank You for the chance to cover the event.
Thank You for the strength, good judgement and energy.
Thank You for good friends and colleagues.
Thank You for the good weather.
Thank You for the success.