1st Philippine Airlines Photo Contest Crowns Best Photographers

Philippine Airlines proudly announces the winners of the First Philippine Airlines Photo Contest, following awarding ceremonies conducted November 10, 2007 at the SM Mall of Asia. Led by top photographer George Tapan, the judges and executives from Epson and Philippine Airlines presented the winners with their awards and over a million pesos in total prizes.

The winners of the Professional Division, which features photographers using any SLR,
DSLR or medium format camera, include Ronie N. Poblacion from Iloilo, recipient of The Beauty of the Philippine Scapes Award, with his entry, "Harvest Time." The Beauty of the Filipino Spirit Award went to Joseph R. Yamane of Manila, for his entry, "Princess," while Arnold C. Jumpay from Manila won The Beauty of Filipino Culture Award for his entry, "Wedding Day." Each of these winners will receive Php 50,000, an Epson printer, and a Philippine Airlines package tour to either Beijing, Bangkok or Hong Kong.

The Enthusiast Division allows the use of any point-and-shoot camera, as well as SLR or DSLR camera. This division's winners are The Beauty of Philippine Scapes Award-winner Victor V. Alvarez from Manila with his entry, "Huyup Wonder"; The Beauty of the Filipino Spirit Award-winner Jacob Borres of Iloilo with his entry, "Sipag at Tiyaga"; and The Beauty of Filipino Culture Awardee Maria Catalina G. Jumpay of Manila, with her entry, "Panata." Winners in this division will each receive Php 30,000, an Epson printer, and a Philippine Airlines package tour to either Boracay, Cebu or Laoag.

Winners from the Junior Division, open to photographers 13 years old and below using cellphone or any point-and-shoot cameras, include John Carl Dacula of Manila, whose entry "Mamamalakaya" bagged The Beauty of the Philippine Scapes Award; and Jacob A. Cheong from Manila, who won The Beauty of the Filipino Spirit Award for his entry, "Knitting for Money." Each of these winners will receive Php 15,000, an Epson printer, and a Philippine Airlines package tour to either Hong Kong Disneyland or El Nido.

The eight winners were chosen out of some 2,000 entries submitted by professional and
amateur photographers nationwide. The First Philippine Airlines Photo Contest is the first and most prestigious competition of its kind this year, as well as the first photography competition in Philippine history to be opened to junior division. The winning and finalists' entries will be on exhibit at the SM Mall Asia until Tuesday, November 13, 2007. The exhibit will then tour SM Cebu and SM Davao before making its final stop at SM Baguio. The winning photos may also be viewed online http://www.philphotography.net/ and http://www.palphotocontest.com/

The First Philippine Airlines Photo Contest aims to promote Philippine ecotourism, as well as encourage photographers of all ages and skill levels to develop their talents. The competition is for the benefit of Philippine Airlines Foundations ecotourism projects, and is co-organized by One Workshop, Inc. and Eastgate Publishing Corporation. The First Philippine Airlines Photo Contest is presented in partnership with EPSON and SM Supermalls. Sponsors include Exist, Mabuhay Magazine, I-MAG Photography, www.philphotography .net, 12th Graphic Expo 2007, OWG Creative Centre, Speed Magazine, Action & Fitness, Marithe Francois Girbaud, El Nido, EMBASSY and The Tides Boracay