“Best Place, Best Shots” photo contest winners recognized

Lingayen – Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. has congratulated the winners of the “Best Place, Best Shots” photo contest of the provincial government who produced impressive shots depicting the Espino administration’s vision– “Pangasinan: the best place to invest, work, live and raise a family” in three categories – natural wonders, man-made attractions and people and events.

          The photo contest gathered about 259 photo entries from amateur and professional photographers in the province, some parts of Luzon and Metro Manila.

          Governor Espino was joined by Provincial Administrator Rafael Howard F. Baraan; Provincial Budget Officer Hilaria Claveria, Pangasinan Pistay Dayat 2014 Chairperson; and Provincial Information Officer Orpheus Velasco, Photo Contest Chairperson in awarding the certificates of recognition and cash prizes to the winners after the regular flag-raising ceremony of the provincial government held May 19 at the Capitol Plaza.

          Robert John Leyva Cabagnot of Antipolo City, Rizal bagged the “Best Photo award,” the top plum of the photo contest, with his photo showing Patar Beach in Bolinao featuring a father and children harvesting crabs at the crack of dawn.

          “Maganda ang Pangasinan at marami ka ditong interesting na pwedeng kunan lalo na sa Western part,” Cabagnot told the media as he thanked the provincial government for giving photographers the opportunity to showcase their best photos of the province’s tourism assets.   

          Winners in category 1 – Natural Wonders were: Eric Gilos Merced (Rock Formation in Patar, Bolinao), 1^st place; Corlito Ignacio, Jr. (Kadampat, Labrador), 2^nd place; and Kathlea Sebastian (Rock Formation in Bolinao), 3^rd place.

          For category 2 – Man-made Attractions, winners were: Dan Lozano Regalado Reyes (Salt Farm in Anda), 1^st place; Maria Francesca Avila (Cape Bolinao Lighthouse), 2^nd place; and Don IV Reside Rosete (Nuestra Sra. Purification Church in Binmaley), 3^rd place.

          Jaime Sumugat Singlador (Salt Farmer in Dasol), Maria Francesca Avila  (Smile, a photo taken in Dasol); Joeffrey Reyes (Banca Parada 2014) occupied the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd spots in category 3 – People and Events.

          The best photo winner received Php30,000 cash prize while winners in the three categories each got Php15,000 (1^st place), Php10,000 (2^ndplace), and Php5,000 (3^rd place).

Honorable mentions per category were cited as well; each will receive Php500, a certificate of recognition, and a t-shirt.

The photo contest was organized by the Provincial Information Office in collaboration with Pangasinan top photojournalists Jojo Riñoza (Manila Bulletin), Willie Lomibao (Philippine Daily Inquirer) and Cezar Ramirez (Philippine Star).

Experienced photojournalists of national daily newspapers – Valentino Rodriguez, Chief Photographer of Philippine Star; Jim Guiao Punzalan, Senior Photojournalist of Manila Bulletin; and Richard Reyes, Philippine Daily Inquirer photojournalist – judged the photo entries last May 10 at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PDTC).

The provincial government invites the public to have a glimpse of the winning photos that are now included in the photo exhibit at the PDTC and posted at the official facebook fanpage of the province:facebook.com/pangasinan.gov.ph.

/MGNO