FORTUNE ISLAND: PARADISE IN THE PHILIPPINES

I have been covering aerial photography of anything including beautiful islands in the Philippines for clients at my helicopter company, Airgurus Ltd. Co. Most often, I don't get the credits for my shots and I couldn't release them because understandably, if I go along the helicopter trips with clients, my work belongs to them.    However, last end of June was particularly different. The captain of Airgurus, Capt. Harry Lero called us for Project FI. I didn't know it would be Fortune Island near Batangas, Philippines... an extremely beautiful island with pristine white sand and an acropolis with Grecian pillars and statues on the edge of the island overlooking the blue sea.

The island is long-owned by Jose Antonio Leviste, a former governor of the Province of Batangas who build a resort in 1995 that was shut down in 2006. Fortune Island is an island in the Philippines with about 27-hectares (66.7 acres) and lies about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) off the coast of Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines.

The island is within the boundaries of the Batangas province. It was near this island (approximately 900 meters / 2,953 ft. northwest of the island) that the galleon San Diego was sunk on December 14, 1600 by the Dutch warship Mauritius under the command of Admiral Oliver Van Noort. The shipwreck was discovered in 1992 by French underwater archeologist Franck Goddio. Fortune island has also been the site of modern day shipwrecks.

Nowadays, the island has no available basic amenities... no potable water for drinking, no electricity. Permission to visit the island for some hours is strictly required nowadays as the management wants to avoid littering by public. There are boats that offer trips but they can't stay long as the sea going to Fortune Island can be rough. 

Airgurus offers helicopter charter to Fortune Island. You can go have a picnic, a romp on the beach, have a photo shoot, see the magnificent sites of the island, etc... either the captain waits for you or he comes back for you. Going to and from Fortune Island is just a full one hour trip via helicopter from Manila. Airgurus can arrange for your longer stay and exploration in the island.

For an island tour to Fortune Island via helicopters, it would cost about Php65,000-80,000 range depending on helicopter types with Airgurus... the best company for helicopter island tours in the Philippines

For serious inquiries only, contact +632 6248274 | +632 2749758 | +639 925 889 2987 | +63 917 885 7911or email them at info@airgurus.ph. For fast quotation, please visit the website www.airgurus.ph.

SHE IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...

Halloween is not too far ahead but yesterday, I was already into the spirit. I never really liked horror movies but I would watch them if I'm with friends... definitely, never alone.

I joined my photographer friends in their recent out-of-town fun shoot at Port St. Michel, Batangas, Philippines (thanks to Allan Tom) to help direct and coordinate photography themes and concepts aside from being the stylist for the models. At the end of the day, as photographer Vincent Garrucho sets up his camera and stuff, I decided to play the role. Donning a white dress, went on barefoot and stood right in front of Vincent... beckoning him to take a photo of me as Sadako. Creepy...



Throughout my experience with horror movies, I totally bow down to the Queen of Japanese Horror... Sadako. Watching "The Ring" scared out the wits of most of us. Tried to give a little twist to Vincent's work, I jumped straight for him twice as if Sadako was elevated. Creepy...



I think that Sadako is the best horror villain we are afraid of the most and we actually quite like the most. We just can’t get enough of her, it seems thus; explaining the successful sequels.

Who would ever forget Sadako? My photos as her will never give justice to how the movies actually showed her but it is my pride and glory to have done the role even for just 2 good shots.

Thank you Vincent Garrucho for the wonderful photos. The real Sadako is for sure, proud.