Winning a Photo Contest in South Korea

13 September 2010

Dinner at the Philippine Embassy in Seoul with Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos and Photo Contest Awarding Ceremony

I was invited to the dinner as I participated in the Photo Contest organized by the Philippine Embassy in South Korea. When I joined the contest, I was hopeful to win but when I already was informed about the dinner, I was not expecting anything anymore. The photographers of the Top 10 photos were invited to join the dinner. When I arrived the Hall where they exhibited the Top 30 or 50 photos, I saw a lot of beautiful and dramatic photos submitted by others. I almost was not able to see mine until a friend pointed it to me.

Below was my entry that got into the Top list of Photos out of 200+ entries. This was also used for a Press Release by Department of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines and Philippine Embassy in South Korea and later on reposted by other publication groups including the highly read newspaper in the Philippines, Inquirer:

The friends in the photo are my batchmates here in The Catholic University of Korea. There are 16 of us who came here this February 2010 to pursue our Masters Degree under the university's scholarship program. This was our 1st snow experience in Korea and have just finished our meeting with the President of the University.

Postings:

1. http://www.philembassy-seoul.com/news_details.asp?id=341

2. http://dfa.gov.ph/main/index.php/news-from-rp-embassies/1591-filipino-scholars-in-korea-quadruple-in-five-years

3. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20100718-281805/4-times-more-Filipino-students-in-Korea-than-in-2005

4. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/196398/pinoy-students-in-south-korea-up-400-since-05

5. http://ph.news.yahoo.com/gma/20100718/tph-pinoy-students-in-south-korea-up-400-ac8c905.html

6. http://www.philippinenews.com/8783-article.html

Photo taken by Levy Aragon in the event

Photos taken by Levy Aragon with our Photos Exhibited.

Standing with me is JC, from Bacolod, who won the Grand Prize in the Photo Contest.

Winners of the Photo Contest, standing from left to right: Pete Rahon (2nd Runner Up), JC Jesena (Winner), Karina Chua (1st Runner Up), Samuel Grado (3rd Runner Up)

Awarded 1st Runner Up by Former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos and Philippine Ambassador to Korea, Ambassador Luis Cruz

I was really surprised and happy to see my photo to win 1st Runner Up because I did not expected anymore as there were others who joined and are professional photographers already. But thank God for the blessings coming! =) The contest was judged by a photo journalist working in Inquirer Philippines.

THANK YOU Philippine Embassy for the opportunity!!! =)

2:36am

26 September 2010

Korea Tima