Chasing Sunsets: Ang Dambana ng Kagitingan 2026 Edition

chiwitchronicles
3 hours ago
2 min read

The Bataan Cross Sunset shot has been gaining popularity in the last few years. The goal of the shoot is to get a photo of the Mt Samat Cross in the foreground and in the middle of the setting sun. Clouds, haze, distance, the wrong shooting spot, all make it a hit and miss shoot, which makes getting the ideal shot all the more exciting. I first attempted it in 2021, failed. But was somewhat successful in 2022. Our (mis)adventures for those two years are documented here: https://chiwitchronicles.wixsite.com/website/post/chasing-sunsets-ang-dambana-ng-kagitingan

Work did not really give me much opportunities in the next three years. Last Thursday, April 2nd, I saw a post by Bert Briones, a fellow birder, taken the previous day, April 1. I messaged Ed Santos in our Pantyhose Gang GC, asking where the vantage point for April 2 is. He replied that it will be near the Aloha Hotel along Roxas Blvd and sunset will be at 6:08pm. To cut the long story short, Homer Pialda and I decided to try our luck that afternoon. I flew in from Coron via Clark that morning and arrived home in San Juan at around 2pm. Unpack, change clothes, get gear ready, then visit the church for Way of the Cross. Met up with Homer and Ivy at 415pm along Ortigas and was at Roxas Blvd around 520pm. There were already several photographers in place and we quickly set up our gear. It had been sometime since I last did this shoot that I ahd to ask Ed for some pointers. And also googled a couple of settings while waiting. Took several test shots and silently prayed for clear skies. I will let the photos tell the rest of the story:

6:10pm... looking good...