The city of Catbalogan on the island of Samar in the Philippines is not known as a tourist destination. Sure, Samar is peppered with hundreds of caves and is an up-and-coming destination for spelunkers, amateur and professional. But the island is a far cry from the more popular places in the country such as Boracay, Cebu, Mindoro or most of Luzon. However, for a street photographer, Catbalogan is a fantastic destination, not just because of the active street live, but also because of Barangay Seawall – an embankment neighbourhood that is basically a local street and from which you can not only see interesting scenes and subjects as you walk around but witness majestic sunsets on a daily basis providing it’s not raining. Friendly locals, especially children, never miss a chance to pose for pictures, and the many roosters on the street provide great silhouettes against the setting sun.
