The activity was the last contest for the inter-club PhotoWorld Cup to complete the monthly photo contests this year. Some 75 photographers from different photo clubs responded to the activity. Points from the OTS were very important because they could seat or unseat a competing photographer for the top rank. To the not–so-serious participants, Tagaytay is the nearest escape from the dust and heat of Metro Manila. The scenic place is barely an hour and a quarter by private car from Makati and a little less than two hours by public bus from Metro Manila. Starting with its scenic landscapes, its paved gliding roads are lined on either side with fruit and vegetable stalls complemented with busy buyers and vendors trying to earn a day’s living. Their poignant street dramas create strong stories for a clicker’s composition.

A car mutely screeched by the gutter near the Olivares Rotonda. "Gasgas na ‘yan." From the slit of his car window, photographer Jun Rapanan remarked when he saw me aiming my lens at the roadside poinsettias. The insulting remark creeped into my pride. It’s true, gasgas na. What can I do? Flowers are irresistible indeed. Whether cultured or wild. Anyway, no subject is ever gasgas to the eye of a lensman. There is always a new angle, a different perspective, a new composition, a strong message to capture.

Tagaytay Picnic Grove for photographers is not a place to eat. Better. . . it is a place to shoot. And yes, these people would rather shoot than eat. Every click they view on the LCD gives them renewed energy .

People’s Park is really for the people especially for photographers. Climbing yonder is the dilapidated Palace in the Sky. It pains my heart to see landmarks disintegrating with time and unconcerned people. Along its floor length terrace offers the panoramic view of the quiet Taal Lake . Climbing its crater, one will experience hot emitting smoke from the earth’s crevices tickling the skin. You jerk a little sometimes, not conscious of Mother Earth’s message.

Taal Volcano forever lies beneath the surface of the earth because it is classified a flat volcano. It is a direct contrast to Mt. Mayon that displays its perfect contour to the world. I can’t help this bias after Mayon hid from my camera three times.

Clickers got better challenges in the city market and Mahogany together with a couple of tiangges under the tents.

Dangerous is the photo trip to the exclusive Tagaytay Highlands. Unless you are a member or you have a friend member of the place, simply view it na lang from a hill outside the place. Here, roads turn at acute curves or slope down and up at the driver’s risk. Gears are on first always, left foot on brake pedal, two hands on the steering wheel, eyes glued on the road, mouth shut firmly. A wrong twist invites imminent danger. Also exclusive for valid visitors inside the Highlands is a mini-zoo complete with almost all the species of wild marine and jungle animals plus colorful birds perched freely (literally no strings holding them) on branch stands to greet each visitor at the entrance with their acrobatic show. Or take a cable car ride to reach unreachable views on foot.

For the religious photographers, there are more than enough compositions at the Tagaytay churches: Ina ng Lagging Saklolo, Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, Angels’ Hills, Pink Sisters.

Enter Taal Vista Hotel. There is no need to register. You pass the hallway, smile at the lodge personnel and politely motion that you are going to the rear terrace where you get a perfect view of Taal Lake (if it is not covered with fog).

Other landmarks to shoot: 41ST Division, 11th Airborne, Praying Hands, Tagaytay International Convention Center , International Convention Center , DAP, food chain facades. Include that of Casino.

At Figaro, Magallanes Square, tied to the chair was the secretariat. Chairwoman Edi Huang was there to greet everyone who dropped by and to supervise the flow of the project, so was project director Lito Beltran and George Yu.

We missed FPPF friend, Mayor OJ Ambagan of Amadeo, who dropped by and left like a lightning, but we had a good chat with his mother, Mrs. Ambagan. We would like to thank the Mayor of Tagaytay who donated the trophies for the OTS contest, Leilanie D. Diesta (head of the Public Information Office), Engineer Gregorio M. Monreal (city administrator), Columbia Sportswear and YKL, Joy Plana of Altavas, Aklan, for her company.

Shutters tired, legs more tired. But very happy was the heart, for it had fulfilled once again the joy of a lifetime – passion for photography. Happier still was the feeling of being offered a free ride home by passionate photographer, Jun Rapanan, who arrived early enough to catch the elusive Tagaytay sunrise.