El Nido, Philippines: An Island Hopping Couple Shoot Before the Pandemic Lockdowns

...and, just like that, the world was never the same.

These photos were taken a little over a week before the Manila/Palawan community quarantines took place. (Damn you COVID-19!).

Las Cabanas was still busy when we did our sunset session there. Its west-facing beach bars were still packed, and I was happy to bump into the entire entourage of Ryan and ZJ - still stoked from their El Nido Resorts wedding in Miniloc that we filmed just two days prior.

Four days later, I returned to that same spot: the crowds have noticeably dwindled down to less than half, something you wouldn't normally see during the summer months in the Philippines. I've been shooting in El Nido almost weekly during peak season for the past three years. The sparsity was quite unreal.

Looking back, I took things for granted, thinking that I'll be back there anyway next week. And the week after that. Now, I honestly don't know when this will end, and when things will get back to normal. All our March and April shoots in El Nido have been postponed indefinitely.

In the twinkling of an eye, everything - changed. But I still consider myself blessed (without the hashtag) that I was able to do these shoots in El Nido.

Yes, I'm a road warrior, but I'm so happy to be HOME right now.