CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–A lone tree nestled on the rolling mountain ridges of Malitbog and the breathtaking view of the mountains of Impasugong, Bukidnon, were awarded as among the best photographs in the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation’s (PAGCOR) 2023 Photography Contest.
PAGCOR revealed the contest winners in a ceremony at the National Museum of Natural History in Manila, September 13.
Earl Ryan Janubas, a resident of Cagayan de Oro City and Damilag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon resident Alvin Cempron are two of the 12 grand prize winners in this year’s competition.
Janubas started photography in 2008, where he learned to hone his skill, craft, and artistry through the years, turning full-time in 2011 to photographing events.
His love for photography and travel is curated on his social media page, Wanderer from the North, on Facebook, where one can view stunning landscapes of Bukidnon and Mindanao.
Cempron, for his part, started capturing macro images in 2010 before hitting the wedding and events scene in 2012.
Winning captures
Janubas describes his winning photograph as one of the most stunning mountainscapes in Bukidnon, which stretches all the way from Impasugong to Malaybalay City.
“This particular spot is on the perimeter of Communal Ranch, located in Barangay Capitan Bayong, Impasugong. You will be greeted with breathtaking mountainscapes and ridges upon entering the ranch. If you go there early in the morning, there’s a great chance you get to experience the Sea of Clouds, which makes the place more magical,” said Janubas.
Cempron’s sets his frame on a pattern of ridges that are seemingly barren, broken by a lone element that captivates the majestic landscape of Malitbog, Bukidnon.
“It’s about hope, seeing the single tree in the chaos of patterns on the barren ridges,” said Cempron.
While Cempron’s capture process preserves what his eyes see at a particular moment in time, Janubas takes a more “slow-cook” approach and breathes in the experience of the places and cultures he travels to.
“I go places that few people know about; I immerse and stay for a few days to a week. If time constraints allow, I will keep coming back. Sometimes I don’t even bother taking a picture if I really like living in that moment,” said Janubas.
For Janubas, it is the experience and the connection with the place and the locals that matter most.
He said, “I’m passionate about it. Photography is just a byproduct of my rich experience in a place. It’s not just your experience and skills in photography that make a great image, but also how connected you are with your subject.”
Janubas and Cempron agree that the PAGCOR Photography Contest is among the most prestigious competitions in the country. Janubas, for his part, said that the prizes are enticing, and if one is lucky enough, “it’s really worth joining. It’s very rewarding if you receive an amount that you could use to purchase, add to, or upgrade your aging photography gear.”
Janubas also said that he can help people see and appreciate the beauty of the place in the hopes of helping promote and uplift local tourism.
Winning the moment
Janubas said he was nervous as the results were announced and that being chosen as one of the 12 grand winners of the PAGCOR Photography Contest was rewarding.
“It’s thrilling. It motivates you more to do the things you love,” said Janubas.
Cempron shares the winning moment with Janubas and says he is “gratefully fulfilled and successful with this God-given talent.”
He said that young photographers should always keep their eyes healthy and “respect the industry.”
Janubas, for his part, reminds the younger photographers to “just take it easy, always be humble, and enjoy the process of learning.”
He said that young learners may follow photographers they like, have a look at their style, and learn from them, but “most importantly, develop your own ways of capturing photos; it will be your identity, and it’s very important.”
The 12 winners of the PAGCOR Photography Contest conventional photography category each received P80,000 in cash prizes and a trophy, while the 12 winners in the mobile category received P35,000 each. (SAYU/PIA-10)
by Shaun Alejandrae Y. Uy
