The photo competition was launched to acknowledge the role of photojournalists and photo hobbyists in generating awareness about the partnership between the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines and the Philippines.

            The competition is a project of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines in partnership with Canon Marketing Philippines, The Podium and the Philippine Center for Photojournalism, Inc.

            The grand prize winner is Vicente Jaime Villafranca from Pasig with his entry of “Moving Backward…Moving Forward” taken in Cotabato City last September 2005. Other winners are: Second Placer Dave Leprozo, Jr. from Baguio City, “Jotad” taken in Ifugao last November 2004, Third Placer Gerard Carreon, from Quezon City, “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” taken in Quezon in April 2005;   Honorable Mentions Bobby Timonera from  Iligan City, “Thanks for the Water” taken in Lanao del Norte, September 2005; and Gerard Carreon from Quezon City, “Waiting in Line” taken in Infanta, Quezon, January 2005.

            Special Prizes went to Bobby Timonera, “Seedling Production” taken in Lanao del Norte in September 2004; Luis Liwanag, “Cultural Synergy” from Quezon City taken in Makati City in September 2004; Augustin Cloribel, “Pagtutulungan” taken in Magsaysay Camp Site in August 2005; Gerard Carreon, “Beach Landing” taken in Quezon in February 2005 and Romeo Mariano from Valenzuela, “Assalamu Alaikom European Union”.

            The winners will receive the following prizes from Canon Marketing Philippines: Grand Prize, EOS 350D; Second Prize, Powershot G5; Third Prize, Powershot A510, Honorable Mentions, Pixma IP 3000 and Special Prizes, Pixma IP 1000. In addition, trophies and other special prizes will be awarded to the winners.

Mr. Luc Vandebon, Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines and  a representative from  Canon Marketing Philippines together with Mr. Jimmy Domingo, President, Philippine Center for Photojournalism, Inc. and Mr. Sin Wai Meng, Country Manager, Keppel Philippines will hand over the awards on 3 November 2005 in The Podium.

A total of 123 photo entries were received by the awards committee.

The  Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines is a fully-fledged diplomatic mission which plays a critical role in supervising the implementation of development and economic co-operation programmes in the Philippines. It has signed in 2004 a memorandum of agreement providing for the National Indicative Programmes taking into account the Philippine Government’s policy agenda and the political and socio-economic context as set out in the Mid-Term Philippine Development Plan. Its programmes focus on assistance to the poorest sectors of society, assistance to trade and investment and good governance.