By: Lt Aaron Andro V. Ching
In celebration of the relationship between Japan and the Philippines, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) launched the 1st JICA Philippines Photography Competition last July 2017 with the theme “JICA and the Filipinos: Images of a Better Tomorrow.” The competition aimed to showcase to the Filipino community JICA’s activities and projects by gathering photographs depicting the theme and awarding prizes to the best 12 photographs.
The winners of the JICA Philippines Photography Contest with
JICA Chief Representative Mr. Susumu Ito. From L to R: Robert Alvarez (runner-up),
Macbeth Omega (2nd Place), Jaime Singlador (1st Place), Mr. Ito & LCdr Carter Luma-ang (runner-up)
The results were released through the JICA and Rappler websites on November 2017. According to JICA, there were more than 250 entries from across the Philippines, taken by individuals from different professions, mostly millennials.
'SURVERYING FOR A SAFER FUTURE' by Carter Luma-ang
LCdr Carter Luma-ang joined the contest by submitting two photographs. Both of the photographs made it to the Top 12 - besting more than two hundred other entries. One of the entries of LCdr Luma-ang shows two NAMRIA enlisted personnel conducting survey at Samal Island using a JICA-donated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) instrument. The entry was titled “Surveying for a Safer and Progressive Future.” Among the Top 12 photographs, the best three photos were selected and the photographers were each awarded a Japanese brand digital camera. The rest of the Top 12 were each awarded a 2TB external hard disk.
The awarding ceremony was held on 17 January 2018 at the JICA Philippines office in Makati City.
In 2016, LCdr Luma-ang also won the top prize in the 2nd Philippine Coffee Conference Photography Contest. Other NAMRIA commissioned officers who have won in other photography contests include Ltsg Gilbert A Alviola and P/Ens Roland James Orbeta.
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