TimeFreeze

24/09/2026

It started with a fascination for coffee and turned into a business. Nel Beato is a Boronganon photographer, mountaineer, travel enthusiast, and business owner, and is the proud owner of Dirty Grinder, a local coffee shop in Borongan City.

Nel loves to travel and often does so for months at a time, living a life that, for many of us, is only a dream. He calls these travels "expeditions," where he goes to unfamiliar places (where most of the time he doesn't know anyone), trekking mountains, exploring nature, experiencing different traditions, and meeting people along the way. For him, this is freedom, his definition of life itself. From these expeditions, he also visits coffee farms, learning more about his passion for coffee and personally experiencing traditional coffee-making practices in different parts of the Philippines.

In 2021, Dirty Grinder served its first coffee to its customers, and the rest is history. This October 2026, Dirty Grinder will be celebrating its 5th anniversary. What started with a love for coffee has grown into one of the successful and recognized coffee shops in Borongan City.

Nel's story is not simply about pouring coffee for his customers. It is a story of perseverance, continuous learning, and love for the craft.
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Dirty Grinder is located at Rawis Detour Road, Brgy. Alang-alang, Borongan City, Eastern Samar, Philippines, 6800. It is open daily from 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM.

23/09/2026

Lechoneros in Borongan City are busy turning bamboo spits for hours, roasting pigs under intense heat to achieve that perfect crispy lechon "balat" while the meat stays juicy and savory. This is the famous Borongan lechon that everyone loves. It was even dubbed the best lechon in the country by P-Noy and Kris Aquino in 2010.

On September 6, 2011, Borongan City, under then Mayor Ma. Fe R. Abunda, held its first Lechon Festival, where 14 competing lechons were paraded and tasted by the judges. Joel Pilarca emerged as the winner, becoming the festival’s first champion.

The cash prizes for the winners and consolation prizes were personally donated by Kris Aquino, showing just how much she loved and appreciated Borongan lechon.

This is only one of the many reasons you should visit Borongan City. From breathtaking scenery to mouthwatering food, we have it all in one place.

Who do you think has the best tasting lechon in the city today?

22/09/2026

Sharing with you all my winning entries from the Padulong Festival Photo Contest from 2018 to 2026.

This year marks my 10th year of documenting the Padulong Festival.

It all started in 2016. I was still a beginner at that time, and it was my first time joining the competition. It was also one of the biggest competitions I had ever seen, with almost a hundred photographers competing, and, if I remember correctly, one of the largest prize pools in the history of the contest.

Imagine nearly a hundred photographers flocking to one place, all trying to capture their “money shot.” It was chaotic, but it was also fun. In fact, it remains one of the most enjoyable experiences I've had throughout my Padulong Festival journey. I didn't win that year, but looking back, I realized that winning wasn't the most important part. The experience itself was already something worth remembering.

Honestly, during my earlier years, my goal was always to win the major award. But as I began to understand photography on a deeper level, something slowly changed.

Today, covering the Padulong Festival, from the dawn procession to the street parades, is no longer just about the competition. It has become part of my devotion to Mama Mary, and a way for me to use my skills in photography to help document and promote Padul-ong Festival and Borongan City.

Thank you to all the people who appreciate my work and recognize the skills and effort I put into every photograph. You don’t know how much it means to me. I’ll continue sharing my work and create meaningful stroies through my photographs.

2026 - Honorable Mention
2025 - Honorable Mention
2024 - Honorable Mention
2023 - Honorable Mention
2022 - Honorable Mention
2021 - No competition held (Pandemic)
2020 - No competition held (Pandemic)
2019 - No competition held
2018 - Honorable Mention

08/09/2026

This year’s photo contest, I challenged myself to shoot in full manual (manual mode + manual focusing). I’ve been shooting in full manual mode since day one, but manual focusing is something I rarely do. I usually only switch to manual focus when shooting portraits or doing street photography.

This is actually my second time competing while shooting fully manual. The first time was years ago, and honestly, it was a mess. I struggled with focusing, missed shots, and eventually stopped doing it altogether. Years later, I decided to give it another shot. And honestly, I think this time I did way better.

08/09/2026

Mass was held at Punta Maria on September 7 in honor of the Nativity of Our Lady, marking the beginning of the Padulong.

Following the Mass, the image of Our Lady was carried across the sea from Punta Maria Port to Rawis Port, continuing the traditional journey as part of the celebration.

07/09/2026

06/09/2026

Couldn't fully focus on today's marching band parade/competition since I had a much more important task to take care of. Still managed to sneak a few snaps whenever I had a chance. Anyway, congratulations to Sta. Fe National HS and Taboc Elementary School for winning this year's marching band competition.

Maupay nga Patron Borongan City.

03/09/2026

Maupay nga aga Siyudad han Borongan!

03/09/2026

Another week, another set of photographs. A lot is happening around the city as the fiesta draws nearer. The roads are filled with vehicles and pedestrians, resulting in heavier traffic, especially along the highways and barangay roads near the Sawang area.

Bandiritas now cover the streets, casting shadows and offering some shade from the scorching afternoon sun. The Baybay area feels more chaotic and lively than on ordinary days. It seems to have become the go- to place for both Boronganons and visitors, with pop-up stalls appearing almost everywhere, selling everything from food and snacks to cellphone cases and other goods. Borongan City feels different as fiesta season approaches. Busier. Louder. More crowded. More alive. The perfect setup for street photographers to capture random, candid moments.

30/08/2026

Since I was a little kid, I’ve always seen him around the church, decorating the altar, arranging flowers, and helping wherever he was needed.

A few nights ago, I saw him changing the clothes of the statues of St. Anne and Mary. I took the chance to talk to him.

His name is Mano Rene Bertos, a Boronganon who has devoted almost his entire life to caring for the statues of St. Anne and Mary.

The statue under his care is, if not the original, considered one of the oldest in Borongan. It is even older than him, he says. Years ago, it was the same statue carried during the Padulong Festival. But after decades of being moved and exposed to the elements, the statue eventually suffered damage. It was later retired from processions and placed on the altar, where Mano Rene continues to look after it.

He also decorates the altar and arranges flowers for processions, feast days of other saints, and other activities in the church.

He started doing this in the 70s, when he was still in high school.

As a teenager, he would follow the people who took care of the religious images. At first, he was simply an errand boy, helping wherever he was needed. Over time, he learned the work and eventually became a caretaker himself.

Almost five decades later, he is still here.

At 63, Mano Rene continues to climb, clean, arrange, carry, and prepare statues and altars whenever he is needed. While he is paid by the Hermana Mayors for his flower arranging skills, caring for the images of St. Anne and Mary remains something he does as an unpaid volunteer.

For him, the blessings he receives in return are enough, especially when it comes to his health.

And watching him work, it is easy to understand why he feels that way.

At 63, he can still climb to high places to clean and prepare the statues. He still works inside the church and attends to his clients with the same energy and dedication, sometimes until late at night. And to be honest, he doesn’t even look 63, by the way.

As we were about to part ways, I asked him one last question.

“What is your wish for Mama Mary?”

He paused.

Then, with teary eyes, he gave me a simple answer:

“Karuyag ko gadla nga pirmi may bukad it iya altar (St. Anne). Dire man kada adlaw, basta mababalyuan la.”

Not a wish for himself.

Not for money or recognition.

Just flowers on an altar.

A simple wish from a man who has spent almost 50 years quietly caring for something he believes is worth caring for.