Sinaglarawan 3: Capturing life’s fleeting moments

Picture this: All was calm with not a ripple in the sea when suddenly, the fisherfolk of the sleepy town of Angono woke up to find their quiet lives stirred up and changed forever. Told and retold with undiminished fervor, the story goes that a fisherman named Justino Villaluz caught on his net a bust image of a male saint later identified as San Clemente. Dressed in papal vestments, St. Clement of Rome is highly revered as the protector and supplier of food and business in the fishing town of Angono. Thus, to thank the miraculous San Clemente for yet another year of bountiful catch, Angono holds a parade of giants (Higantes) on Nov. 22, a day before the town fiesta.

There to keep his date with a time-cherished tradition, armed only with his good old trusty camera, was 23-year-old Kurt Austin Garcia who took home the coveted grand prize of P150,000 for his “Patron Saint of the Mariners” at this year’s SinagLarawan Photo Contest on the theme “Isa sa Isla” (One on the Island) that focused on water and how it not only provides sustenance but also connects communities.

Focus on homegrown photographers 

SinagLarawan Photo Contest is a standout initiative by JTI Philippines Community Investment, Inc. that engages homegrown photographers and photography communities from different parts of the country with its yearly themes that highlight Filipino values and traditions.

“It happened so fast, sobrang bilis, one of the dancers caught my eye as he passed by,” relates this young shutterbug whose love affair with the camera started at age 19. “Only when I got home did I see the shots I took,” Kurt discloses.

Little wonder that Kurt developed an early passion for photography, growing up as he did surrounded by vibrant street murals and sculptures (Angono is inarguably the Art Capital of the Philippines, where you can trace the footsteps of well-loved national artists Botong Francisco and Lucio San Pedro).

“Initially, I was just taking candid moments while still studying photography with my mobile phone as I couldn’t afford to buy a camera,” he recounts.

A psychology graduate of Our Lady of Fatima University, Antipolo, what inspired Kurt about photography is its capability to express something without saying anything. “In a way, it became my therapy whenever I would feel sad or even when I’m happy. Into it I’d pour all my emotions.”

His evocative entry on a scene from the Angono town fiesta shows that sometimes, you have to stir the water, figuratively speaking.

Art and soul 

Amid the storm of problems facing the country today, Kurt declares, “Photography can be an avenue to express what we feel, to have a profound effect on the viewers to make a positive change.”

At the photo exhibit held before the awarding at Estancia Mall, Capitol Commons, our eyes were likewise riveted to the entry of Nathaniel Carampatana of Putowalkers, “Buckets of Salvation,” one of the Circle of Excellence winners. We felt the fire in his soul as he captured a fire breaking out and strangers falling in line to pass buckets of water, hand to hand, as if they knew each other. Side by side, they fought together to put out the fire, demonstrating the bayanihan spirit that burned bright even in the face of disaster.

Participating (“a bit,” he said) in the judging, Guilherme Silva, general manager of JTI Philippines, happily noted in his welcome remarks, “This year, we saw a significant increase in the number of photographers joining the contest, as well as a good representation from photo clubs and communities all over the country.”