I took this photo from the cemetery in our province, Bailen, Cavite, maybe sometime after the Day of the Dead, though I’m not entirely sure. Before we left to go back to Manila, I remember us relighting the candles and saying our goodbyes to our late great-grandparents. Then, as I looked around, I saw the moon shining brightly, illuminating the place and the sky. Although the camera angle was off, it was the combination of the candlelight, the night sky, and the moon’s glow that made the scene stand out for me. So that is why I would say that this photo is one of my best.

I took this photo last year when we traveled to Bicol to fulfill my late great-grandfather's wish. Before he fell ill and passed away, he had wanted to visit Bicol and witness the beauty of Mayon Volcano. During our trip, we made a stop at the Daraga Church, which offers a stunning view of the Mayon volcano. However, at that moment, we were waiting for the clouds to clear so we could capture the volcano itself. But the clouds just wouldn’t go away, stubbornly covering the tip of Mayon—as if the volcano didn’t want to be seen or was feeling shy. Since we had limited time and other places to visit, I took a couple of shots, and this one turned out to be the best. 

On the same evening, we witnessed the eruption of Mayon Volcano. At first, we saw a tiny red light emerging from the tip of the volcano. But as minutes passed, the tiny dot grew into glowing lines that seemed to be drooling down its slopes. Even from afar, we witnessed how the lava slowly lost its glow, cooling and solidifying into igneous rock. The dark sky surrounding it made the eruption feel even more ominous as if nature itself was warning of something terrible. The striking details in this photo left me both in awe and slightly terrified. This was a great capture, but I had to place it last because of its poor quality. Still, I’m grateful that I was able to capture this amazing yet terrifying moment.