Ganito Sila sa Makati…Ganito Rin Ata sa Buong Pilipinas
March 25, 2010 by rickypascual · Leave a Comment
After last year’s bad experience in the hands of paranoid Filipinos, here comes another (not so) bad experience.
This happened a month ago at Makati Park and Gardens were we were approached by a security guard telling us that we are not allowed to take photographs without securing permit. I wanted to understand their ridiculous policy (I wonder if it is really their policy of not allowing individual who use D-SLR in taking photographs) but I just can’t understand why.
As far as I know Makati Park and Gardens is a public place, if it’s not, I would certainly ask permission first even if I will only use a point and shoot camera.
I had this experience with a security guard in a famous mall. I was taking a few shots of a cloud formation.
The guard said: Sir, bawal po mag picture (Sir, it is not allowed here to take photo).
I said: Bakit!, sa inyo ba yung ulap? (Why!, do you own the clouds?). Even a friend had experience it at baywalk when she was shooting sunset’s photo, sigh!?
I was apprehended (though I understand them that it’s for security reason) when I was shooting junk tanks in a military camp.
I wonder…what’s wrong with D-SLR camera?. Please join and sign the petition found here.
When Photography Is Dangerous to Your Life
March 17, 2010 by rickypascual · 2 Comments
Repost from my Travel Blog
Photography is Dangerous to your life, and I personally experienced it, funny but true…only in the Philippines?, I don’t know…
I went to attend a Financial Seminar held at AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo. Having a nice weather then, blue sky, nice clouds… I decided to take some photos, took my point and shoot camera, took a phoo of Aguinaldo’s Monument (Aguinaldo riding a Horse), Took a photo of the venue and a couple of images (total of 6 images). I was running after that short session because the seminar was about to begin in a few minutes and I might end up standing, when someone called me (an officer of Public Information Office).
Officer: (Running towards me) Excuse me, Ano kinunan mo?
Me: (Ipinakita ko yung mga pictures) Eto, Bakit bawal ba?
Officer: Pwedeng sumama ka muna sa akin?
Me: Ok, bawal ba?, burahin ko na lang (Here, I realized I was inside a camp and they are following a SOP regarding taking photographs)
Officer: Kanina ka pa namin inoobserbahan eh.
Down stair another officer was waiting for us, started to questioned me of were I live, were I worked, am I a commissioned officer and what will I do with the pictures, I was apologetic the whole time, if they have a problem with that I will erased the photos. All I wanted is to have a photo essay of the whole seminar.
Officer: Bakit mo kinunan yung tangke? Pati yung building?, yung PIO building kinunan mo? San mo gagamitin yan?
Me: (I am in big trouble) Kinunan ko lang for souvenir.
(I haven’t got any picture of AFP Theater and the Tank and the Monument, for 7 years I was in an out of the theater because our community held our monthly gathering there, before we transferred last year to another venue, questionings continued)
Officer: My ID ka ba?
Me: Eto sir (binalikan ko pa sa house yung wallet ko kasi baka kako hingan ako ng ID sa gate, yun pala dito ako hihingan).
Officer: May kakilala ka ba rito para mapatunayan ang Identity mo? Mga dalawa o tatlo
Me: Meron sir, marami (akyat uli kami sa 3rd floor)
I approached a sister, positively identified me that I am a simple citizen who is part of the community for a long time, explained to her what happened.
Officer: Kilala nyo ba ito?
Sister: Yes, He is a member of our community.
Officer: Taga saan ba s’ya?
Sister: What?!, taga Marikina, right? (looking at me, I nodded), What’s the problem?
Officer: Kasi ho, nakita po namin s’ya na kinukunan yung building, yung tangke eh,?
Sister: Sa’n mo ba gagamitin iyon?
Me: Wala lang po.
Officer: Kailangan po n’yang sumama sa amin, para po burahin yung mga picture?
Sister: Hinda ba pwedeng dito na lang, magsisimula na yung seminar, ma le-late s’ya.
Officer: Ma’am, sandali lang po, 2 minutes lang naman yun.
We went down again and go to the PIO, where another officer questioned me (friendly naman s’ya), took my ID, photocopied it for their file, erased the files (hindi na nya sana buburahin yung Monument kaso hindi pumayag yung isang officer na sumita sa akin).
Officer: Kung gusto mong mag picture dito (PIO) ka hihingi ng permiso
Me: Pasensya na sir, instinct lang na nakakita ako ng maganda kaya kinunan ko.
Officer: Pasensya na rin sa abala.
We talked for about 5 minutes more before I left the office. Believe me during the questioning or interrogation (ha ha ha), I thought of the strangest (or funniest) things in my head. That they would take me to another camp for further questioning. I was in a dark room with many soldiers cracking me down (kakapanood ng 24 series, LOL). I was trembling, and asked myself of what I have done. Believe me, I was still in shock and throughout the seminar I was still thinking of what had happened. That they might apprehend me when I got out of the building. I did not hold of my camera anymore and just listened to our speaker.
Thank God I am still alive (ha ha ha). I was laughing when I got back to my senses (that was a day after the incident).
I learned 2 lessons in life… One, never ever take photographs as if you own the place, ask this question first “Pwede bang kumuha ng pictures dito?”. I’ve heard a lot of weird stories, that photographers were not allowed to shoot in Ayala or in Luneta or even the sunset in front of Luneta but this one is different… Military Camps are highly secured place, there we need to follow whatever protocol they have.
Second, never ever watched 24 again (LOL)
Postcript:
I haven’t experienced this when I was in Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City, but still I looked around and ask myself if it’s okay to take photographs.
“Hindi lahat ng may camera ay terorista” -Anonymous
Recent Photos
