JOJIE ALCANTARA is a semi-retired TV show host and a Davao-based journalist since 1995. She is also a multi-awarded photographer and artist whose works are featured in tourism promotional campaigns like DOT’s It’s More Fun in the Philippines and on covers and spreads of local and international airline magazines.
Her advocacy of positively promoting the islands to the world has brought her around the Philippines and Asian countries, but her loyalty to Davao and Mindanao remains at the forefront of her tourism support.
This proud Dabawenya is a dog lover, Coca-Cola addict and horror fanatic whose images and stories are featured in her lifestyle columns in a local (SunStar Davao since 1994), national (Manila Bulletin’s Travel Section and Picture Perfect, M Magazine), and contributions to international airline and travel publications (Mabuhay Magazine, Smile Magazine, 7,107 Islands Mag, Silkwinds, Inflight, etc.).
Often on solo adventures, she is constantly inspired by nature and diverse culture, while she documents remote areas of beautiful islands and seeks heartwarming stories of human interest.
She supports nonprofit organizations like Save the Children and Kids of Hope. For her birthday bash, she once brought gay hairstylists to give free haircut to women inmates in GK Ray of Hope Davao City Jail, gave portraits and art sessions with kids afflicted with cancer in Kids of Hope Foundation, and danced with the orphans in Field of Dreams.
In 2006, she had her 15 minutes of fame among Pinoys globally when her collection of funny signs during travel went viral in the cyberhighway, and national TV shows caught on (Probe, Mel & Joey, Boy & Kris, and Lucy Torres’ Gomez talk show). It caused her old website (witerary.com) to crash.
Though she prefers to keep to herself, or work from home and travel, she accepts commissioned projects and travel assignments. She gives photography workshops (in the past years under Canon, this year with Fujifilm), gives speaking engagements, and contributes materials for Philippine tourism. She maintains a few blogs, organizes events, hosts TV specials, teaches creative writing seminars, endorses a few products on print and television, and collects funny signs as therapy.
She has bagged awards and prizes in both national and international photo competitions, but is more frequently invited to be a judge and speaker. She is a Getty Image contributor, and a three time Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold Awards nominee in two categories, Travel Journalism and Heritage and Culture.
As an artist and painter, she’s also had a few art exhibits in the past featuring her caricatures. She’s had several photo exhibits solo and with groups, the most notable of which was “Bravo Filipino: Artisans at Work”, a photo exhibit held in Manila , sponsored by the Ayala Foundation and Filipinas Heritage Library, along with 6 other photographers which included Don Jaime Zobel and actor Piolo Pascual (2010).
Product endorsements include: Ace Choco Munch (a TV ad that ran for 3 years); Nokia N8 for Smart Communications print ad in Preview Magazine Dec. 2010; Crepelato Ice Cream for a billboard; Maggi Magic Sarap TV ads on October 2011, renewed in 2015; Island Souvenirs shirt; Aromacology Sensi products; and MX3 Products on print and TV from 2011 until 2015.
Her specialty is travel, photojournalism and aerial photography. Currently, she travels around the country and Southeast Asia for tourism, culture and adventure explorations. She also handles workshops on street photography.
Her aerial photo of Mount Mayon from a chopper has landed on the cover of Mabuhay Magazine’s May 2011 issue. Since then she has had several aerial photography assignments in the country and abroad.
Other cover photos on cover were of actor Sam Milby in M Magazine, Davao City former Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio, and recently, a cover photo of Tawi-Tawi in 7,107 Islands Magazine.
View more of her published works here.
On June 2013, she has received a Plaque of Recognition from the City Government of Davao for her significant contribution to the growth of business, arts and culture in the city under the Social Media Category, awarded by the City Mayor Sara Duterte.
Several of her works are on her Facebook Official Page which currently has more than 18,000 followers, and a thousand visitors per day on her online portfolio.
FEATURED IN MANILA BULLETIN’S PICTURE PERFECT ON February 16, 2010 – Photographer of the Week
To read more about her profile, visit her other inspirational travel photoblog called The Scene Stealer.
On a lighter note, this is her About Me info, including a slideshow of her works.
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Currently running TV ads:
Jojie Alcantara for MX3 Ad Version 2
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