... had a non-photography-related month-long project which got me to visit all 70+ Shell gas stations in Bulacan and Pampanga. At first it seemed like such an overwhelming, daunting and mind-numbing task to visit so many stations of the same kind -- but by the 5th station or so, I lost count of how many stations there were left for me to visit and I guess I started getting used to it. I soon discovered how unique each station was with every new town I visited. From sleepy remote barrios with stretches of ricefields that extended as far as my eyes could see, to the coastal villages of Paombong and Hagonoy where I would watch fisherfolk gas up their bancas, to the long, winding roads that led me to the mountaintops of Norzagaray and Angat...the project took me to places I probably never would have been interested to go to in the first place but which I am now thankful of for such an opportunity. I met an interesting mix of people along the way and the whole thing was definitely a fulfilling experience ...