Marine biologist sweep 3 photo awards

MAITUM, Sarangani (March 6, 2009) – A marine biologist and university professor has won three of the six awards, including 1st Place, in the five-year old Maitum Safari Photo Contest.

Alfonso “Dong” Pading Jr., who is president of the Gensan Camera Club (GCC), obtained the judges’ highest scores with his entry “Pagpupunyagi ng Pamamalakayang Pamangsi” (1st Place).

Pading, a professor at Mindanao State University, also entered “Out of Sight” that placed 4th and “Hopeful Vision” (5th Place).

2nd Placer was GCC vice president and entrepreneur Ronald Velasquez (Layag ng Magandang Bukas), with Carlito Flores of Earth Island Institute (Sea Bounty) in 3rd and Fiel Angelie Cortez (Indak ng Pagasa), 6th.

The cash prizes are P10,000 for 1st, P8,000 – 2nd, P6,000 – 3rd, and P4,000 – 4th, donated by private individuals who support the peace and development efforts of the municipality.

Aside from cash prizes andplaques, the winners will receive gift items from Smart Communications.This year’s theme was “Hurdling turmoil, strengthening progress” which means that despite threats in the peace and security of Maitum, Maitumians should not cower. Instead, Maitumians work together to findlasting peace and progress in their community.

Suspected Moro Islamic Liberation Front rogues attacked three barangays last year. And recently three improvised explosive devicesrocked Maitum poblacion without fatalities. However, these terror attacks have galvanized civilians to be more vigilant.

Twenty-one participants from Camera Club of Davao, Gensan Camera Club,individuals and hobbyists joined the 5th Maitum Safari Photo Contest,known today as the “Most Prestigious Photo Contest in SOCSKSARGEN”(South Cotabato-Sultan Kudarat-Sarangani-General Santos).

The judges were American missionary Dan Lee Evans; veteran Mindanao journalist Rommel Rebollido; Sunstar Davao editor-in-chief Stella Estremera; bank executive Orman Manansala of General Santos City;Sarangani Chamber of Commerce president Bronx Hebrona; chief photographer Leonardo Sexcion of Sarangani Information Office; and youth leader Arnelito Ramirez.

Rebollido, who chaired the board of judges, recently completed a diploma course in photojournalism at the Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University. He is currently working on several collaborative photo projects – a Peace and Conflict Journalism Network-sponsored photo book and photo exhibition with other Mindanao photojournalists.

Awarding of winners will be during the Binuyugan Festival in May with a photo exhibit of all past Safari winners from 2004 to 2008. The 2009 pictures are on exhibit at the James L. Chiongbian Hall of the municipal building.

It was the late Mayor George Y. Yabes who brought up the idea of holding a photo contest in 2005 during the town fiesta and BinuyuganFestival. This was because the mayor knew exactly how interesting photography is, aside from the fact that he was a photographer in his younger days.Mayor Yabes knew too well the power of pictures in conveying ideas and what better way to showcase the richness and glorious past of Maitum than to have these captured by camera lens.

The 1st Safari Photo Contest with the theme “Faces of Maitum” was a big success. Maitumians working outside Maitum and abroad pitched in for the cash prizes. Photos were exhibited at the municipal hall andwere viewed by Maitumians who were mesmerized by the beautiful and interesting sceneries right at their doorstep. The exhibit also elicited positive comments from visitors.Basking on this success, the 2nd Safari Photo Contest was conducted in2006 with the theme, “Maitum–A snapshot of Wonders.”The 3rd Safari Photo Contest’s theme was “Maitum’s Landscape and Child-Friendly Environment,” which gave emphasis on the idea that aside from its natural beauty, Maitum is child-friendly and has been a consistent winner as Child-Friendly Municipality.The 4th Safari Photo Contest’s theme was, “Maitum: Linking progress to Prehistory” which speaks of Maitum’s colorful past as well as present and a glimpse of what it should be in the future. (MAITUM INFORMATIONOFFICE)