OFF THE BEATEN PATH

When I heeded the call of the unfamiliar, the compass of my curiosity pointed me to Scarborough Shoal. Fully aware of our precarious situation there, I ventured forward nevertheless. This remote speck in the West Philippine Sea, a point of contention primarily because it is a cradle of marine life, draws a promise of an unforgettable experience. Beyond the adventure itself, a desire to capture and share this journey with others took root. 

This piece delves into the meticulous selection of equipment I used to capture the essence of Scarborough Shoal – a testament to the importance of preparation in translating fleeting moments into enduring memories, the kind which not only satisfies a traveler but may also be telling of the political forecast we need to prepare for as a nation. As a Filipino who does not yield and will not give up even one square inch of our territory, I share this account with the unwavering spirit of our people. Let my experience be a single frame, a single voice, contributing to our own lens, our narrative. This is Scarborough Shoal, seen through Filipino eyes.

On this trip, the requirements were different.  I not only needed equipment to adequately document the trip, but also needed equipment to provide communication.

With regards the equipment needed to document the journey, I brought the following: Sony A6700, Nikon P900, GoPro 9, GoPro 10, GoPro 360, Insta360 X3, DJI Pocket, DJI drone.

Our main camera was the Sony A6700 on taking videos and photos of everyday life at the shoal.  However, having the Nikon proved to be very useful.  I got to use the 83x optical zoom lens that ranges from a 35mm-equivalent 24mm to 2000mm zoom range.  It allowed me to take pictures of vessels, including vessels we spotted about 30 nautical miles after we departed from the shoal, on the way back to Masinloc.

For data storage, I packed eight Micro SD cards, and six SD cards.  With a mix for 64GB, 128GB and a couple of 256GB cards, depending on the requirement.  I also brought two 1TB external hard drives with me.  I brought two external hard drives and saved the videos and pictures in both, as redundancy, in case something would happen, I had back-up.  I’d save the files every night on to the hard drives before resting.

With regards batteries, for the Sony camera, I brought about six batteries.   I packed three batteries for the Nikon.  I had eight batteries for the GoPros, three batteries for the Insta360, and three batteries for the drone.  Each one had its own charger, and I brought double the number of cables needed for the charging, in case something happens to the cables.

For the communication equipment, we brought a Starlink and as a back-up, I had a satellite phone, since I was not sure whether Starlink would work in the shoal.  During the 17-hour boat ride to the shoal, I kept trying to connect to the web, but since we were travelling over 15kms an hour, it was very difficult.  However, when in the shoal and we were stationary, it was a breeze connecting to the web.  I’d do a speedtest every so often, and getting 200mbps download was the average connection. I never got to use the satellite phone, but it was very reassuring to have one, just in case we could not connect to the web.

As Scarborough Shoal’s beauty and vulnerability unfolded before me, I realized the profound impact of the tools I brought. The crisp underwater footages, the evocative soundscapes, the detailed photographs – these elements not only describe my experience but clearly document the status quo of the precious marine life and the fisherfolk community. 

The journey was historic because this was the first time in history that a live video interview was conducted from the shoal. This happened on May 7, and the crew and fishermen were interviewed while we were anchored beside the shoal. I was also fortunate to take drone videos of the shoal, including a video of daybreak at the shoal. I had to be careful when taking the video, making sure there were no vessels in the distance. 

So, dear reader, as you embark on your own adventure, remember that the right equipment is not just about capturing a moment; it is about preserving the very essence of your journey, allowing you to relive it and share its substance, with the world. Alternatively, for purposes of documentation, the equipment need not be as sophisticated as those described above. The indispensable requirement is an ear that listens to the plight of our countrymen along with a steely resolve to do something about it.