The 2006 Asian-Europe Forum for Young Photographers
The future of photojournalism at the frontlines
By Rome Jorge
“If they don’t like you here, they shoot you,” says Dennis Sabangan, grizzled photojournalist and chairman of the Philippine Center for Photojournalism (PCP), to the young photographers from across the globe. He was talking about guns, not cameras. He delivers the line with a devilish smile, eliciting laughs and applauds. Then he adds, “Two Filipino photojournalists were killed last week. I’m not kidding.” Still they all smile and clap, none more heartily than the Filipinos among them, many of whom are like Sabangan himself—fresh from potentially hazardous assignments such as Mayon Volcano and the Guimaras oil spill.
There is no better place and no better time for 2006 Asian-Europe Forum (ASEF) for Young Photographers than the Philippines today, the deadliest place for journalists second only to Iraq (as adjudged by the press freedom advocacy group Reporters Sans Frontières) with its terror groups, volcanic eruptions, oil spills as well as its many societal and cultural issues. At the frontline in the fight to capture the image of truth, the country is the razor’s edge where young photographers can hone themselves. Underpaid, under assault and overly talented, veteran Filipino photojournalists have plenty to teach the next generation of fearless photographers.
From August 21 until today, 21 delegates from Belgium, Cambodia, China, Denmark, Estonia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Malaysia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam and the Philippine’s own Buck Harold Pago and Ruel Bimuyag have been covering various topics concerning the theme Urban Youth: from young millionaires to scavengers, from transvestites to fish port workers, from indie culture to religious practices to HIV/AIDS. This culminated in a photo presentation of their best images at the SM Mall of Asia on August 27.
The participants also benefit from workshops by Magdalena Herrera, art director and head of photography for National Geographic magazine; Hans-Jürgen Burkard, photographer for Stern and Geo magazine. Lecturing as well are war-hardened Filipino photojournalists Alex Baluyut and Romeo Gacad of Agence France-Presse. Among their many accomplishments: Gacad covered the invasion of Iraq as an imbibed photographer with the US Army 3rd Infantry Division and has received nominations for the Pulitzer Prize; Baluyut immersed himself with communist New People’s Army for the book Kasama [Comrade] and captured both police brutality and prison murder for the book Brotherhood, both garnering the National Book Award. Baluyut and Gacad’s persistent coverage of the Marcos dictatorship contributed to the regime’s downfall.
Sabangan explains that the forum facilitates the exchange of ideas, such as techniques and insights of veteran photographers, as well as discussions on issues particularly dear to Filipino photojournalists: job security and safety.
Sabangan recognizes Jimmy Domino, the previous chairman of PCP, for laying the groundwork for this year’s forum and for continuing to be the prime force moving the event forward. Organized by ASEF, PCP and the World Press Photo Foundation—the most prestigious prize for photojournalism—the 2006 Asian-Europe Forum (ASEF) for Young Photographers also garnered support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Japan Foundation-Manila Office, the European Commission to the Philippines, Asahi Shimbun, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Hogeschool Gent-Belgium), Instituto Politecnico do Porto of Portugal, the Konrad Adenauer Asian Center for Journalism, SM-Mall of Asia, Airborne Access, JT Photo World, Kodak Professional, Columbia Sportswear and Raw File Images. ASEF is a nonprofit Singapore-based foundation that mutual understanding between the peoples of Asia and Europe.
The 2006 Asian-Europe Forum for Young Photographers is the fifth since its inception in 2002 and has included many outstanding photographers, one of which was the Philippine’s own Gene Boyd Lumawa, delegate to 2003 forum in Amsterdam, who was gunned down while reporting in Jolo the year after. With dauntless idealism and good cheer despite an array of dangers, a new generation of photojournalists is rising to the challenge of capturing the truth armed with ideas and inspiration from today’s veteran photographer.
Article from: The Manila Times Internet Edition
