Semi Retired Foamer

For over four decades I have been a rail and bus photographer.

However, during this time I have aimed the lens at other subjects, be they different transportation, scenery, buildings and other bollocks.

Given these do not really fit the scope of my other sites, I felt compelled to set up a new site so as to inflict my other photographic garbage upon the world.
While primarily Philippine and Australian content, there will be the occasional forays into Fiji and Hong Kong. Perhaps other locations should the current pandemic ever allow it.

So sit back and enjoy, or hate, even be indifferent. That choice is purely up to you.

Official Home Of the 'Brad N Virls Adventure Series' - Images are copyright, so contact us if you would like to use any photos on your site/video! (We don't bite)

Sunday, 7 June 2026

MASBATE CITY: The Jewel of… Well, Masbate. - PART 1

Howdee ho,

We return once again to the beautiful island of Masbate in the Philippines.

This time, however, we ventured beyond our usual patch of paradise and headed across the island for a day trip into Masbate City itself.

And for a change, we did it aboard a tricycle.

Now, before anyone starts picturing a leisurely ride on something normally associated with toddlers, we're talking about the Philippine variety: a motorcycle with a sidecar attached. In my humble opinion, there are few better ways to travel.

From the back of the bike, you enjoy uninterrupted 360-degree views of the world rolling past around you. Some of those views were breathtaking. Others were simply fascinating. A few merely reinforced the fact that gravity appears to be optional when it comes to electrical wiring in the Philippines.

Our journey began amid the island's picturesque rural landscapes, with rolling green fields, distant hills, grazing livestock and the sort of scenery that makes you momentarily forget the existence of deadlines, alarm clocks and social media arguments.

As we drew closer to the city, the countryside gradually gave way to busier roads, roadside businesses and the increasing signs of urban life. Naturally, being me, our long-suffering tricycle driver quickly learned that "just one quick photo stop" rarely means just one quick photo stop. Numerous pauses were required for the mandatory collection of bus photographs, jeepney photographs, infrastructure photographs, and even photographs of what appeared to be a long-derelict ship (see below) that has spent several years quietly rusting away in a bay near the city while seemingly contemplating its life choices.

The result is a wonderfully random collection of shops, street scenes, food stalls, transport, scenery and everyday life. In other words, exactly the sort of content that appeals to people like us and leaves normal people wondering what on earth we're looking at.

So come along and join us for a little day out around Masbate City. It may not be a comprehensive guide, and it certainly won't appear in any luxury travel brochure, but it offers a small snapshot of life in this fascinating provincial city during our 2025 visit.

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Above and three below.

Representative of the stunning scenery to be seen along the road from Mandaon to Masbate City. Beautiful green fields and hills.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

Another stopover closer to the mandaon end of the trip.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Our chariot across Masbate Island.
Now my favourite mode of transport for taking it all in.

Obviously on the bike, not those horrid little cabs :-)

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

Another random jeepney find along the highway.

VEA-759

Photos: Brad Peadon

Had to attend to my tractor fetish when I saw this.

Alas, no identifying rego plate, however the brand looks to be TYM (South Korean Agricultural Machine Manufacturer).

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

Jeepney VAK-307 'Three Brothers' appears to be missing an eye.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

The township of Asid on Masbate Island.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

EVH-138 looking a wee bit decrepit alongside the Central Nautical Highway.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

Jazul Fuel truck has just arrived at their petrol station in Asid Masbate.

Photos: Brad Peadon

NPR-719 looks to have seen better days.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Lovely old 'Charlie Boyz Transport' bus on the approach to Masbate City.

Central Nautical Highway.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

One of Masbate City's more unusual tourist attractions for many years wasn't a church, a beach, or even a shopping mall—it was the long-suffering cargo ship Jake Vincent Seis.

Originally built to carry cargo around the Philippines, the vessel eventually found a far more demanding role: sitting absolutely motionless in the harbour for years while slowly transforming itself into a floating rust demonstration project.

By 2025, the old freighter looked as though it had personally fought every typhoon in the central Philippines and lost most of the arguments. Rust streaked down her sides, paint had become little more than a distant memory, and various bits of deck equipment appeared to be engaged in a slow-motion escape attempt.

Despite her condition, the Jake Vincent Seis remained stubbornly afloat, seemingly determined to outlast governments, shipping companies, redevelopment plans, and possibly civilisation itself. Generations of locals, visitors, and transport enthusiasts became accustomed to seeing the vessel sitting quietly off the waterfront, where she had achieved something most ships never do—becoming a permanent landmark without ever actually going anywhere.

At this point, she was less a cargo ship and more a floating retirement village for steel plates. Whether she was awaiting repairs, a court decision, a new owner, or simply the end of time itself was often difficult to determine.

Whatever her future may hold, the Jake Vincent Seis earned a place in Masbate folklore as perhaps the most famous ship in the city—a vessel that spent so long not moving that many people probably assumed she had been built there.

NOTE: It seemed to have gone by the time of my 2026 visit. Trackers seem to, quite surprisingly, show it in use/

Photos: Brad Peadon

The name Jake Vincent Seis translates from Spanish as "Jake Vincent Six", reflecting the naming convention used by Villa Shipping Lines, which operated vessels such as Jake Vincent Uno, Dos, Tres, Seis, and so on.

Some random Masbate City house taken for railway modelling purposes.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and below.

Revenue raising duties on the Central Nautical Highway in Masbate City.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

The corner of Medina and Danao Streets in Masbate City.

Photos: Brad Peadon

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Nhing, Tins & Esther.

Gerry & Betty

Ukmed the trike driver.

Sunset Villa - Lantangan

#semiretiredfoamer

'Artocillo Family & (Known) Friends' Group.

Group only for friends and family - random weirdos please stop applying as you shall be blocked and reported.

The questions need to be answered when applying so the aforementioned weirdos can be found. That's what the questions are there for (not rocket science).

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Barangay Lantangan - Fiesta Parade 2025

Island Hopping - 2007

Pio Duran 2022 - Part 1

Pio Duran 2022 - Part 2

Philippine Model Railway Club.

We have many sites and forums, check out our Link Tree below:
Your link to all the things we have to entertain you.

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Semi-Retired Foamer!
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Wednesday, 20 May 2026

2011: PHILIPPINE VIEWS - MIXED COLLECTION

Back in 2011, Metro Manila was already loud, chaotic, colourful and only slightly confusing — which means, really, that not much has changed at all. This little collection of photos is a wander through the city as it was then: a patchwork of places, people, side streets, shopping centres, random discoveries, and moments that only seem to happen when you’re not trying too hard to document anything.

These shots were taken long before everyone carried a high-resolution camera in their pocket and even longer before social media demanded perfectly framed lattes and moody sunsets. Instead, what you’ll find here are everyday scenes, accidental compositions, curious locals, and the kind of fun that comes from simply being out and about with no real plan — and occasionally no real idea where you are.

From busy streets to quieter corners, from famous spots to places that probably don’t even look the same anymore, this is Metro Manila in its natural state: messy, lively, endlessly entertaining, and never particularly concerned about your personal space. Think of it as a small time capsule from 2011 — back when the traffic was terrible, the humidity was unforgiving, and the city was already very good at being itself.

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Semi-Retired Foamer!

We are just a little bit different!

Follow our page to be kept updated on everything

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Join the fun here.

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Waiting on a PNR train did take some patience at times.

You will now be waiting years given the closure of the heavy rail system while they construct a new elevated system.

Guess it depends on your view as to whether or not this was a good choice.

Photo: Brad Peadon

The Guadalupe Bridge over the Pasig River that we jokingly refer to as Manila's 'Sydney Harbour Bridge'.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Pasig River from the MRT3 Guadalupe Station.

Photo: Brad Peadon

A little on the busy side at Blumentritt.

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

Some street shots taken while passing time around Makati dealing with immigration guff.

Photos: Brad Peadon

Above and two below.

TriNoma (short for Triangle North of Manila) is a large, modern shopping mall in Quezon City that sits right beside North Avenue MRT station (actually the depot is located underneath), making it one of those dangerously convenient places you can “just pop into” and lose half a day. Opened in 2007 and developed by Ayala Land, it mixes the usual big-name shops, cinemas and restaurants with airy open spaces, gardens and terraces that make it feel less boxed-in than many Metro Manila malls. It’s also closely linked to nearby transport hubs and office developments, so it attracts everyone from commuters killing time to families on full-scale weekend mall missions — a solid example of Metro Manila mall culture doing what it does best.

Photos: Brad Peadon

This MMDA sculpture was a horrid looking thing, indeed the first time I saw it I thought something had collapsed.

But apparently it is meant to look like this, however I am reliable informed that is no longer there.

Photo: Brad Peadon

EDSA LRT1 station.

Photo: Brad Peadon

A lovely sales lady we got talking to in the Tutuban Mall.

Of interest about this mall is that it located on the site of the former Tutuban Railway Station.

The historic station entrance still forms the entrance to the mall, while the many green support poles inside originally were the supports for the platform awnings.

Photo: Brad Peadon

New friends inside a Jollibee near Manila Airport IIRC.

Photo: Brad Peadon

MrX and Kuya Pia partaking in more Jollibee during a break from shopping at Greenhills.

Photo: Brad Peadon

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Greenhills Shopping Mall

Greenhills is basically shopping as a contact sport. Centred around Greenhills Shopping Center in San Juan, it’s a sprawling maze of malls, arcades and market lanes packed with thousands of little shops selling just about everything imaginable — and quite a few things you didn’t know you needed.

You’ll find clothes, shoes, bags, pearls, jewellery, gadgets, phone repairs, souvenirs and mystery items whose purpose may never be fully explained. The tiangge-style stalls are where the real fun is: bargaining is expected, wandering is compulsory, and getting mildly lost is part of the experience. If you walk in with a shopping list, expect to leave with five extra things instead.

Greenhills is also famously… flexible when it comes to branding, which gives it a reputation that’s half legendary, half whispered warning. Add plenty of food stops and cafés for recovery breaks, and you’ve got a place that’s less a mall and more an urban treasure hunt — chaotic, entertaining, and oddly addictive.

Being that MrX and I are, well were I guess, Aussie Holden fans, we were more than a little excited at the sight of a Gemini in the Greehills carpark.

As always, the security guard had a bit of a freakout over our interest, trying his best to stop us from our terrible photo taking.
But despite the pathetic lighting, and overzealous guard, we managed to get some images.

Photo: Brad Peadon

The 'Hello Kitty' car was more amusing than anything else. :-)

Photo: Brad Peadon

Above and four below.

A look around the Greenhills mall.

Photos: Brad Peadon

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Barangay Multinational

Multinational Avenue is one of those very local Parañaque roads that knows exactly what it is and doesn’t try to be anything grander. Tucked away in Barangay Moonwalk, it runs through Multinational Village, a quiet residential subdivision where the traffic is mostly neighbours, delivery riders, and the occasional lost visitor wondering if they’ve taken a wrong turn. This isn’t a shortcut to anywhere important, and that’s very much by design.

For a long time, though, the street enjoyed a bit of unexpected fame among aviation photographers. Thanks to its proximity to NAIA, it offered some excellent views of aircraft on approach and departure, making it a favourite spot for plane-spotters armed with long lenses and infinite patience. That patience was often tested by enthusiastic (and occasionally overzealous) security guards, but the photos usually made it worthwhile.

Sadly, like many good things, it didn’t last. The airport authorities eventually decided to “improve” matters by adding a second fence, neatly blocking those once-great sightlines and effectively ending Multinational Avenue’s brief but fondly remembered career as an aviation photography hotspot. These days, the avenue has returned to its natural state: a perfectly unglamorous neighbourhood road, quietly doing its job while Metro Manila roars on elsewhere.

One thing is for sure, the locals were incredibly kind and welcoming to our small group of photographers.