JOJIE ALCANTARA'S EYE

I WANT TO PROMOTE MINDANAO TO THE WORLD.

I am a photojournalist for 14 years now and have been traveling around the country to document anything of human interest. As a writer, artist and photographer, I write, paint and capture experiences. I discover new and exciting places armed with my dental floss, cameras and asthma inhaler.

I used to be afraid to go out of my box, literally. One day after a rude awakening in my early years, I decided to live life on the edge and never looked back.

I rode on a helicopter and found myself headlong into freak storm clouds in the mountains of Banaue and crash landed on an earthworm-filled cabbage patch of the g-stringed Ifugaos. That was my first life happily wasted. I've got eight left.

I dove in the aquarium ocean of Bunaken, Indonesia without even learning how to swim. I rode in a two-seater banca in the raging waters of the Pacific to visit a remote island inhabited by an unknown cult who believes the UFOs are landing on their barren land.

I climbed Mount Apo in my highly strung state of asthma and lived to recover 10,311 ft. above sea level, wheezing from the chill. In my lifetime I've had more than 20 dogs, and now have four dogs who sleep with me.

I discovered little known places, lived and breathed with the locals, ate the most exotic dishes, and have my share of Oprah moments. I am an insomniac who loves to write in the wee hours of the morning, and scribble like there's no tomorrow.

I am an artist minus the temper tantrums...i sketch, paint and create moments from a vivid imagination. If I find you unusual, I create your caricature on the spot.

Currently, I contribute for several publications, and maintain a lifestyle and travel column in SunStar Davao newspaper since 1994. I also give workshops on cartooning, computer design and photojournalism. My split personality is hosting on tv and big events in the city, while my other non-sociable half prefers to visit unknown destinations together with my photography mentor and partner, Rhonson Ng.

I have had several art and photo exhibits, with my images published in newspapers, magazines, brochures, billboards, websites and coffee table books. I dream of having my own photo book of our beautiful island someday.

I am a nonconformist, obsessed with funny street signs and Asian horror movies and am pleasantly unpredictable. My "infamous" site is www.witerary.com, where I suddenly got my 15 minutes of cyber fame (or notoriety) to Pinoys around the world in 2006 because of this silly fetish for signs. Most of them still think I AM A MAN.

My favorite character is Spongebob Squarepants.


In the late 80s, I was a female breakdance choreographer in Ateneo.
I AM THE ULTIMATE 80S GURL.

MY PHOTOBLOG-A-DAY: The Mist

MORNING MIST IN LANIKAI.   A cool mist in Hijo Plantation, Tagum, Davao del Norte descended one early morning and fishermen on boats can barely maneuver through the thick fog. This white blanket covered... more

Previous blog entries:
Jul 1	-	MY PHOTOBLOG-A-DAY: The Dive!
Jun 30	-	MY PHOTOBLOG-A-DAY: Flower Power
Jun 29	-	MY PHOTOBLOG-A-DAY: The Iron Cricket