Pinoy lensmen win top prizes in APEC photo tilt

Filipino photographers topped a Pacific-wide photo contest sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the organizers announced in Honolulu on November 8.

According to an APEC press statement, Reynaldo C. Mondez of the Philippines stood out with his photo “Solar Energy Panels" and won the APEC Judges’ grand prize. The second and third prizes went to Romeo B. Doneza, also from the Philippines, with his photo “World-Wide," and Wong Chi Keung from Hong Kong, China with his photo “No-Boundary Network," respectively. According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Mondez is a retired photographer from the National Housing Authority. He now runs a small wedding photography business with his son in Metro Manila. Mondez's picture was chosen from among 204 photos submitted by 95 photographers from 17 APEC member-economies to best reflect its 2011 priorities of strengthening regional economic integration, advancing regulatory cooperation and promoting green growth. The DFA said two other Filipino photographers — Ellen de Leon and Robert Anton Pimentel — were also in the Top 10 with their entries "Winds of Change" and "Economic Harmony" respectively. Mondez's picture featured children playing basketball next to a hut and a solar energy panel, which was taken in a rural village in Rizal province. The DFA quoted Mondez as saying, "I am very happy and truly humbled by this experience," Mondez said his photo is "a symbol of hope for a sustainable future, even in the most remote parts of the Philippines." "What I'm trying to convey to the world is to make renewable energy more accessible to everyone by first lowering the cost of the technology. Through my photo, I hope to reach out to the decision-makers who are involved in renewable energy," he added. 'Take Your Best Shot' According to the DFA, the entries were judged according to the quality of the photograph, composition, overall impact, and artistic merit, and how well they represented the three themes. The members of the panel of international judges included:

AFP Photo Editor-in-Chief (Worldwide) Eric Baradat

AFP Photo Editor-in-Chief (North America) Mladen Antonov

Reportage by Getty Images Photographer Palani Mohan

APEC Secretariat Executive Director Ambassador Muhamad Noor

US APEC Senior Official Ambassador Kurt Tong. To engage the community throughout the Asia-Pacific, the top 10 photos were posted on the APEC Facebook page for comments and votes. More than 10,000 votes were cast during the two-week voting period, where Mondez received over 4,600 "Likes" for his photo, also winning him the APEC Popular Choice Award. The winning photographs of the APEC Photo Contest 2011, as well as the top 10 photos, are available for viewing online at the APEC. - VVP, GMA News