Web Development: Learning the Hard Way

Sometime in 2001, I created my first website for my church using Microsoft FrontPage. I learned about web development and how to make a website through self-study. Back then, I had so much passion in learning how to make websites and thankfully, through persistence and diligent self-study, I eventually learned how to do it. I was already about 45 years old when I began to study about website design haha! Yes, I did not go through college and earn a degree on Information Technology. Rather, I learned it through the “school-of-hard-knocks!” And I was a full-time pastor at that time. I am proof that one can still learn in his old age haha!

Content Management Systems

Microsoft FrontPage was eventually phased out by Microsoft but thankfully, I also learned about Dreamweaver, another program used in making websites. That helped me a lot as I studied more and more about web development.

I also learned about Joomla! quite well—a content management system (CMS) as web developers call it. I built several websites using this CMS. I also learned another CMS called Drupal but I found it too cumbersome for me to use. I never created a site using this tool but did encounter a few times where I had been asked to fix a Drupal site.

Nowadays, I stick with WordPress which started out as a website making tool in blog format but has now developed to become a great CMS. I have moved all my Joomla! sites to WordPress because it’s easier to use and more user-friendly — as I see it. Others may disagree of course haha!

On Creating Websites

From time to time, somebody would ask me to make a website for them. I normally would use WordPress to make one for them especially since I have become more familiar with it over the years and I deal mostly with WordPress websites on a daily basis. This personal blog site was made using WordPress. I originally created this site using Joomla!  but moved it to WordPress after a number of years.

Web Evangelism, Cybermissions

Currently, I am still maintaining a handful of websites and one of those is a non-profit church-related organization. My sister who is a painter recently asked me to make an artist’s website for her and hopefully I will be able to do that sometime soon as time permits. I also used to maintain the website of the Philippine Missions Association, a non-profit missions organization — which I originally created — but not anymore. I do not earn anything from these non-profit organizations.

Since about 1995 and up to now, I continue to believe that the internet is a good avenue to share the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the whole world. Internet evangelism — it seems to me — will always be my passion for the Lord. Or rather, it is the passion of my heart that God has given to me. So I get involved and participate right there — where the Lord has placed me. So, I keep on blogging as time permits and as the Lord leads me.

Updated: 8/29/17

Photoshoot for a Cause

portrait photography
An attempt at portrait photography

Back during my younger days, I loved photography but the cost of film, camera lenses and other camera accessories prevented me from making it a full-time hobby. I enjoyed my Nikon EM film camera (a gift from my sister) while it lasted. Then I shifted to ordinary point-and-shoot cameras which was what I can afford to buy. We used to call it as instamatic cameras — now it’s point-and-shoot (P & S). I did enjoy several P & S cameras over a span of many years and I was happy shooting photos of just about anything that interested me. I still enjoy shooting up to now.

But a year or so ago, my daughter gave me a second hand Panasonic Lumix GF1 camera. That sparked my interest again to study further about camera settings and all that stuff. The GF1 is a mirrorless camera different from a DSLR camera. It’s smaller and lighter—a compact camera. It’s technically called a micro four thirds camera. It is not a P & S camera too.

Photoshoot for a Cause

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In the photo above, I took a shot of my wife when she was still in college back in 1978. She was my favorite photo subject back then and up to now haha! We were still singles back then. I used my Nikon EM film camera with a 50mm lens. In the second photo, I used my GF1 digital camera but I attached the same old 50mm Nikon lens to it to take a shot of my wife during a “Photoshoot for a Cause” recently at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. Without planning to, she became an instant model haha!

Joining that “Photoshoot for a Cause: Yolanda Project” has caused me to study again photography and learn some more about photo post processing. In the first photo above, I tried to revive the old photo and remove scratches and blemishes. It’s kind of tough to edit a scanned photo I realize. I still need to learn a lot. I’m kind of enjoying my hobby right now.

Photo Editing

photo editing
Model: Gummi Fiona (Click to zoom)

It used to be that photos were made using film. And this film needs to be developed using chemicals and is done by those who know the tricks inside a dark room. That was how pictures were “post processed” or “developed” back then. Gone are those days. Today, it’s all digital photography. Post processing and tweaking, improving, deleting, adding, photo editing or enhancing photos are done by those who know certain programs like Photoshop or Lightroom.

photo editing
Model: Gummi Fiona (Click to zoom)

The first photoshoot that I ever joined encouraged me to get back once again and learn more about a built-in program in my laptop which at first I did not really took notice of. Now, I’m trying to learn more about photography and photo editing once again. It’s called Photoshop Elements 9. In this photo above (right), the model’s face is in full color while the rest of the photo is in black and white. The second photo is the original one and is in full color which I also tweaked increasing its color’s intensity. How about that? The marvels of digital photography!

First Photoshoot Experience

first photoshoot experience
Model: Gummi Fiona (Click to zoom)

Responding to a call to help raise funds for the Typhoon Yolanda victims, my wife and I joined a “photoshoot for a cause” organized by a friend at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center in Quezon City. We spent the whole afternoon learning from professional photographers who freely shared their knowledge and skills in photography. There were several models and professional hair and make-up artists who were there too. I did enjoy observing what was going on eager to learn. This was my first time ever to join a photoshoot event where I was also involved as a newby “photog”—I learned that term, “photog” (short for photographer) yesterday haha!

First photoshoot experience
Model: K De Leon Zummel (Click to zoom)

I brought along my Panasonic Lumix GF-1 camera (a micro four-thirds camera) with my three lenses: an old 50mm Nikon lens which I had since the 80s, a 14-45mm Panasonic zoom lens and a 30mm Sigma fixed lens. I kept on changing lenses trying to figure out which was the best lens to use in each situation and I’m glad to see that one of the pros kept on changing lenses too. He gave me some tips about which lens to use in each situation. It was a time of fun and learning. The sad part is that after looking at all my shots at home, I can only select a very few which I feel are really good shots. Oh dear haha! The whole afternoon and nothing to show for it. I need to learn more on how to really take good shots. Oh well, until the next photoshoot.

I did have a hard time focusing the old Nikon lens since it had no auto-focus capability—an old camera lens. It was not a waste of time though. We gained new friends who are also lovers of photography as an art expression just like me. I did learn new things about photography, about models and about make-up artists. And we were able to join a worthy cause to help victims of the Typhoon Yolanda calamity. It was a great day!

Philippine Partisan Politics

I am really grieved that Philippine partisan politics is very much alive even in the midst of a great disaster like this recent one brought about by Typhoon Yolanda, the strongest typhoon ever recorded in history. According to Sec. Voltaire Gazmin, the secretary of the Dept. of National Defense, a barangay captain did not give relief goods to his constituents who did not vote for him during the recently-held barangay elections. This is really quite frustrating for me to hear — that is, if this is true of course. If it were really true, then it’s  a sad state of affairs.

Partisan Politics

Even in social media and mass media in general (radio, TV and print), it would seem to me that commentaries or posts are tainted with political overtones. There are accusations and blame hurled on each side of whatever political leaning one may have. There is a great and bitter divide in this country. There seems to be no unity. There is only chaos and confusion. Each side blaming each other.

A Ray of Hope

On a positive note, I am glad to see that some government officials have admitted to some inadequacies in their handling of the relief goods distribution. It’s also good to hear that some accepted the criticisms positively. I am also glad to note that on this 7th day after the typhoon, both the government and private sectors are beginning to get more organized and mobilized to bring the relief goods to the intended recipients. As the saying goes, “in unity, there is strength.” “United we stand, divided we fall.” May we all be united in Jesus Christ.

God bless the Philippines!