Shoot for Hope Photo Workshop for a Cause

Shoot for Hope Photo Workshop for a Cause

Shoot for Hope was organized in a matter of days,  just less than 2 weeks.  When Typhoon Sendong ravaged areas in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, Rhonson and I immediately gathered our very good friends to come up with a fundraising event.

In June 0f 2011, Rhonson and I were victims of a flashflood which prompted us to move out and relocate.  Help came from our good friends, and one with the most impact was the workshop that our kumpare Manny Librodo organized along with his good friends Bobby Wong and Aly Reyes.  Together with buddies and other top photographers who waived their professional fees in support of our situation, the workshop was able to raise funds which they sent to us (or rather, Rhonson flew to Manila to humbly accept it).  People we didn’t know greeted us on Facebook and told us they joined the workshop to help us.  It has warmed our hearts so much and helped us in our efforts to try to get back on our feet again.

In our small way of paying it forward (and inspired by those who helped us), we offered a workshop yesterday (Dec. 30, 2011) at the Marco Polo Hotel (readily offered its one of its function rooms for free).  Many sponsors came to help, others didn’t want to be announced but a lot came in to pitch help.

As early as 7am, participants were coming in to register.  Although some who registered online couldn’t make it, there were sudden walk-ins and others who just dropped by to pay and hang around to support.  Others came with donated photography gears, old and new. Choosing the date was a gamble, as it was nearing New Year and everyone was quite busy and have other events to attend.

Kudos to the workshop speakers who waived their professional fees for this cause.  It was a heartwarming occasion to see us all team up for a wonderful project, much less get together again after a long time.  Having gone separate ways because of busy schedules and doing individual workshops, it was a gathering of old friends and a day of constant teasing and supporting one another.

Rhonson Ng started the workshop with orientation on travel photography.  (He will announce our travel workshop in an exotic province soon).

Bob Mata continues to talk about portraiture. (He will announce his next workshop soon).

I then took over to give them an intro on my work as a photojournalist, while lunch was also being distributed, courtesy of  Chippens.  Pepsi Cola came to the rescue for cases of softdrinks.  Marco Polo was serving free coffee the whole day.

The afternoon commenced with Paul Borromeo doing fashion photography and was able to bring volunteer models, hair and makeup stylists who did good jobs.  The participants were able to do some fashion shoot and hands on training.

The next speaker, Roland Jumawan, gave valuable input on the work of a wedding photographer and the efforts involved in handling wedding clients. (His wedding photography workshop is on January 28).

Lastly and entertainingly, Epong Soliban blew the participants away with his concept of landscape photography. (His 2-day landscape photography workshop is on January 26-27).

In between these talks, items were given away courtesy of Canon, MX3 and others through raffle.  Tekpone sold shirts and gears, particularly Crumpler bags at a discounted price.

Canon lent its Selphy printer so we could print out souvenirs for everyone — a wacky group shot at the end of the day.  The event finished at around 6pm.

Special thanks to the speakers who graced the event, our core team who assisted the whole day, the Camera Club of Davao members who arrived to give support, those who dropped by for moral boost, and the sponsors who made our project possible — we can’t thank you enough. We hope it was also a learning experience for the participants.

Rhonson and friends will be traveling to the CDO and Iligan to personally deliver our relief goods and medicines.

A very Happy New Year to all!

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