#126 The World Within

Do you see what I see?


We were at the Katunggan It Ibajay (Mangroves of Ibajay), a protected mangrove park in the town of Ibajay in Aklan. Nothing we've seen or read about this place prepared us for what we saw. It's primarily a protected national treasure where 80% of indigenous mangroves are found. And we all know the role mangroves play in the health of our reefs and marine life.


But the surprise is that the inside of a well-preserved mangrove forest can be such a photographer's haven! Walking through an elevated bamboo walkway, we were quickly surrounded by mangrove trunks and branches. The forest floor is flooded and the fast moving water from the rising tide turns the multitude of reflections into an avalanche of quivering patterns and colors. We were stunned. This week's postcard features a living mangrove tree and the reflections around its base. Do you see what I see? Yes, within a mangrove forest, beauty is everywhere. Enjoy.


(Pixel-peepers: The best time to photograph inside a mangrove forest is when the sun is bright and when the tide is rushing. The combination of bright light and moving water creates lots to shoot. I used a tripod to help me slow down and visualize my composition. And when I'm ready, I take a deep breath and hope everyone else around me stops shaking the bamboo walkway. )

Where in the world is the Ibajay in Aklan?

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For those who've inquired about buying prints of my postcards, you may purchase them directly from master printmaker Arnel Murillo (murilloarnel@yahoo.com), one of the country's foremost fine-art printmakers.  Arnel uses archival inks and museum-grade paper to ensure his prints will not fade. You will not be disappointed. (All my images are provided gratis to help showcase the beauty of our country. But if you feel generous, help me uplift the lives of the Children of Payatas.  No donation is too big or too small. Get in touch with Fr. Aldrin Suan at aldrinsuan@yahoo.com of the Vincentian Missionaries in the Philippines. As always, thanks and enjoy.)