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Bawat Pilipino Bayani


Bawat Pilipino Bayani
Photo Information
Copyright: alex felipe (RandomCameraGuy) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 769 W: 185 N: 345] (3046)
Genre: People
Medium: Black & White
Date Taken: 2005-03-09
Categories: Daily Life
Camera: Canon 20D, Canon EF-S 10 - 22 mm F3.5 - F4.5, @ ISO 800
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2005-04-11 4:32
Viewed: 1407
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 13
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
"Bawat Pilipino Bayani" means "Every Filipino is a Hero."

These people have lost their homes in last year's mudslides (see my previous pic, Path of a Storm, for more information), lost family members, lost their worldly possessions, and are currently living in shanty towns of canvass and bamboo under the roofs of public structures like marketplaces and basketball courts. Over a thousand in this province alone have been living here since early December 2004.

I went to visit with Gawad Kalinga to inspect the homes currently being built for them. As of today around 20 have been finished out of the first 100. GK has 200 units planned, that's all they have room for in the land that's been donated thus far.

The people you see here with the GK representative are not one of the lucky 20, they're not even one of the lucky 100. They want to know what's taking so long and whether they'll get houses too. They're also angry that local officials have approved and completed the building of a local sabong arena (for cock fighting) since the disaster when they are still living in these conditions.

How would you respond?

Post-pro: convert to BW, slight crop, curves, sharpening.
verge, Homerhomer has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • verge Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 464 W: 79 N: 188] (1233)
  • [2005-04-11 8:20]

Wow, excellent use of B&W. i like the atmosphere and the emotion. the message is so inspiring. well done...rgds

verge

Hi Alex, welcome back, hope to see alot of your postings from your trip.
This is a good one, if there was no note (which is fantastic and I really appreciate it), I would still be able to see the tension, concern, meeting perhaps going over a recovery plan. This is good, looks like everyone is involved, from olders, to children, men and women, I can see a true community spirit.
Very well done Alex, top notch pj.
Looks like politicians are $#%@ up everywhere, to have a arena for cock fighting built before poeple are placed is really something... Still trying to find difference between politicans and hookers, and everytime I find a difference the hooker wins hands down.
Peter

Very nice perspective! I love how you've captured the bored expression of the listeners, and the swaggering stance of the youngster. Good tones

good one. i like the title; knowing what his shirt says really adds to my enjoyment of the picture. i like the composition. as a standalone, this photo lacks a bit of drama, i find, although it would have more resonance as part of a series.

  • Great 
  • flip89 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 602 W: 174 N: 599] (3433)
  • [2005-04-12 10:39]

Hey Alex, I'm so glad you are making a lot of wonderful work (NGO and photography) back there. This is quite a good piece of journalism, emotional and funny at the same time (the old man with canvas shoes is so out of place ... but that's the Philippines for you).

At a different scale this reminds me the construction of the 10 new super modern soccer stadiums to the euro 2004 cup in Portugal, while the need for new hospitals is getting in some cases at an urgent level. And like hospitals, school and other important basic infra-structures…

The wide lens distortion works well here by increasing the drama feeling of the scene. The placement of the man in white is nice and I particularly like the intense expression of the one at the left border. In fact my eyes stick there after “discovering” him.

I just find the framing a bit too tight in the mans head but I believe it would be hard to do otherwise due top the small space.

bro...

congratulations for an "emotionally charged" picture. maski walang salita, in the mind you can make a mental story out of this one. the varying expression at the peoples faces reflect a varied response to the guy who is in the foreground. even your plastic "trapal" adds the sense of deprivation from the persons present in your picture...

saludo ako sa yo bro.

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