Today, Laguna de Bay covers almost one half of the total surface area of all existing lakes in the Philippines and ranks as one of the largest inland bodies of water in Southeast Asia. Based on the study conducted by the National Institute for Geological Sciences, the present surface area of the lake is 949 km2 and the average depth is now at 2 meters.
Laguna de Bay is trilobate with three corporate bays: The West Bay, Central Bay and East Bay that converge towards the South carving out what resembles a large bird or dinosaur. The West and Central Bays are separated by Talim Island, the largest and most populated of the nine islands within the lake.
(Source: Living Lakes)
I've seen all your photos here. Some are stunning! Impressive work.
Posted by: BrossanovA | October 05, 2006 at 05:00 PM
Another amazing picture of people's lives. I notice one youngster standing in the water. I would hav supposed it to be deeper. These look great in black and white...the starkness helps with the message.
Posted by: don | September 27, 2006 at 08:22 PM
a simple life they have, but i guess they are also making good money in fishing. do they?
Posted by: | September 27, 2006 at 12:57 AM
I've been here a few times now and I think you are a living encyclopidia of the Philippines! That's the best way to describe you.
robin
Posted by: robin | September 27, 2006 at 12:41 AM
Nice lesson on geography and just love the 2nd shot, keep them coming!
Posted by: Ashish Sidapara | September 27, 2006 at 12:02 AM
Hi Sidney. Thanks for visiting my blog and taking some time to drop some lines.
Nice pictures. Laguna de Bay seems to be overwhelmed by fish ponds. I hope that overcrowded fish ponds do not have any negative effect to the balance of the lake.
I wonder how caretakers manage to live in such a small hut. It must be a tough job to be on guard esp. if it's a very large fish pond. Must be tougher during bouts of thunderstorms. But it's a noble job to be proud of.
Rach
Posted by: rach | September 26, 2006 at 11:56 PM
Belles mais un peu tristes images !
La vie doit etre difficile !
Posted by: Jean | September 26, 2006 at 11:55 PM
Hi Sidney, i think that you'll be a very good teacher of geography.
I'm longing to know what is the life around this laguna.
when i look at the yesterday's map, i think the laguna looks like a very large bird wich landed there for ages.
Posted by: Christian | September 26, 2006 at 11:22 PM
Dear Mr. Snoeck,
I've searched an e-mail address on your site but... I have to use the "comment" area, and I apologize for it!
I'm working on a new idea, summarized in the URL reported above. If you are interested, could you please contact me?
(Please note that I’m still working on the site).
Thanks.
Giovanni B.
Posted by: Giovanni B. | September 26, 2006 at 10:48 PM
I love the grey atmosphere of these B&W photos. Also very graphic! Especially the poles in the water. What a find, Sid!
And, again thanx for the background info.
Posted by: Wim van der Meij | September 26, 2006 at 10:29 PM
A very interesting series with fascinating comment. I liked the map which helped make you comment even more meaningful.
Looks great in this monochromatic processing.
Posted by: don | September 26, 2006 at 09:31 PM
bamboo, a thousand and one uses, but if it takes hold in your backyard, it is impossible to dig out
Posted by: john | September 26, 2006 at 09:01 PM
Ahh the chicken series is over :) I am loving the bottom shot, the way the house is framed through the babboo I really loke, I may have stopped at just making this monochrome and not added the sepia tone. Good shot any way.
Suby
Posted by: Suby | September 26, 2006 at 08:36 PM
There's some sort of emphasis on the house in the distance. Great picture.
Posted by: Kevin Anonymous | September 26, 2006 at 08:02 PM
landscape of dream .
Posted by: jlc | September 26, 2006 at 06:08 PM
Nice shots! Great home for ducks! :)
Posted by: anton | September 26, 2006 at 04:39 PM
a house for someone who values their privacy! excellent pair of images!
Posted by: david | September 26, 2006 at 03:37 PM
I love your site, the colors and layout... Yo must be from India, :)
Sari Sari stories bohoth ahchahey :)
I guess i know a little bit of hindi words after looking at some hindi movies...
Nice to meet you and Will try to visit you more often... Cheers
Posted by: SSH | September 26, 2006 at 02:42 PM
To Ces:
Ces, it's a lake. So there isn't any tide. Excess water flows through the Pasig river towards Manila Bay.
There are not many people on the lake. Only fishermen and the caretakers of the fishponds. Every fishpond has one cottage/house with guards/caretakers who protect (day & night)the fishponds against poachers.
Laguna the bay is full of small and big fishponds.
Yes, those are fishponds. You can't see the nets but only the bamboo poles.
First picture is a typical house/cottage of the caretakers/guards.
Posted by: Sidney | September 26, 2006 at 02:42 PM
Tena koe ehoa
Informative piece Sidney. From the look of the images neighbours are few and far between. I have a likeness for the bottom image.
Posted by: ndiginiz | September 26, 2006 at 12:06 PM
Great B&W shots Sidney!
Posted by: Dave Mac | September 26, 2006 at 09:57 AM
love the vertical line of the bamboo posts...nice bw shots:-))
Posted by: outdoorexposure | September 26, 2006 at 09:31 AM
Great info and photos, "know what you see" :-) A laguna : mighty interesting : lots of fish, probably lots of birds too ? , and then the combination with people, how do they deal with it,...
Posted by: Hildegarde | September 26, 2006 at 07:17 AM
Superb quality shots. Good choice B&W!
Posted by: pieterbie | September 26, 2006 at 05:39 AM
Hi Sydney, Love the picture on top (the Jim Jarmush tribute :) ...très belle composition !!
Posted by: JM | September 26, 2006 at 05:38 AM