By Jonalyn Fortuno
To strengthen the country’s stature as one of the top underwater macro photography destinations in Asia, the Department of Tourism (DOT) has once again teamed up with the Underwater Macro Photographers Group (UWMPG) for the Third Anilao Underwater Photo Competition Festival held from November 25 to 29 at Acacia Resort and Dive Center in Mabini, Batangas.
The event drew 122 underwater photographers and dive fanatics from 15 countries namely Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Turkey, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, China, Brazil, Canada, Korea, Hong Kong, Germany and the US, the highest turnout in three years.
“Our objective is not just to promote the Philippines as a dive site in general. We have chosen a niche that caters to both dive beginners and underwater photographers within the diving world. Anilao’s close proximity to Manila is also a factor that makes it a diver’s haven,” DOT Dive-Market Development Group Chief Tourism Operations Officer Glen Agustin said.
Winning entries
For this year’s competition, the total of number of entries reached 488 for the five categories: Macro/Supermacro Photography; Marine Behavior; Nudibranch Portrait; Crustacean Portrait; and DOT Photographer of the Year (Portfolio), in which the winner will be judged based on the photos submitted to the first four categories. The competition is also divided into the Open Class and Compact Class.
Open Class grand winners are Ponnie Janjarasskul (Macro/Supemacro), Irwin Ang (Marine Behavior), Jojo Lau (Nudibranch Portrait) and Insoo Park (Crustacean Portrait). Winning shots from the Compact Class were bagged by Penn de los Santos (Macro/Supermacro), David Chan (Marine Behavior), Baby Fajardo (Nudibranch Portrait) and Ivan Manzanares (Crustacean Portrait).
This year’s DOT Photographer of the Year awardees are Insoo Park for Open Class and Ivan Manzanares for Compact Class.
The winning photos were chosen by judges Yorko Summer, a dive travel journalist; Lia Barrett, photo editor of Dive Photo Guide web site; Ken Thongpila, founder and editor of UWMPG; Yusuke Yoshino, grandmaster of underwater photography and author of the best-selling The Most Beautiful Marine Creatures photo book; and Cem Gazivekili, winner of the first and second Anilao underwater photo competition and recipient of the DOT Photographer of the Year award.
“We combined elements of behavior, artistic, and technical abilities, and whether the animals were interesting or not. There were various factors that went into our decisions, and it was really tough because there were so many great images, but we have to choose the ones that showed all those elements put together. And I’m very happy with the results,” Barrett said.
Since 2013, the event has gained much support from both local and foreign photographers and accolades from prominent international dive publications including Scuba Diving’s annual Top 100 Readers’ Choice Awards and Sports Diver Magazine. This recognition is what the department’s Dive-Market Development group endeavors to sustain as it continues to “showcase the country as an excellent destination for underwater macro photographers and entice them to engage their hobby in the Philippines.”
“We are very happy to see that this event has evolved into a fun environment for local and international divers, as well as for underwater photographers, both amateur and professional. We are committed to continue developing this event and work with dive establishments and stakeholders to create an even better experience for divers, photographers and visitors,” DOT Undersecretary Benito “Bong” Bengzon Jr. said.
Gold standard
With Anilao fast becoming a household name for the dive community, DOT Director Verna Buensuceso shared that top underwater photographers remarked how the Philippines has become their “gold standard” for diving sites.
“As a nation of 7,107 islands, the Philippines, of course, is one of the most diverse diving spots in the planet. We are proud to say that we have it all, from the smallest to the biggest underwater sights in diving,” she added.
Grandmaster underwater photographer Yusuke Yoshino, who had already taken underwater photos from at least 80 countries in the past 40 years, was amazed by what Anilao has to offer.
“It is my first time to dive here but it is truly one of the world’s best,” he remarked.
The partners and sponsors of the Third Anilao Underwater Photo Competition are Mabini local government unit, Acacia Resort and Dive Center, Mares/Scuba Schools International, EZ Dive Magazine, Blue Zen Studios, Scubanet Travel and Magazine, Undersea Travel, Underwater World, Underwater Macro Photographers Group, VIEW Travel and Lifestyle Magazine, Fun-Dive, iDas, Sea&Sea, INON Inc., Nauticam, Scuba Studio, Squires Bingham Sports, Discovery Fleet, Atlantis Resorts and Liveaboard, Asiaqua.com, Azure Dive and Yoga Resort, Dive Thru Resorts Bohol, The Three P Holiday and Dive Resort, La Chevrerie Resort and Spa, Pacifico Azul, Bohol Beach Club, Dugong Dive Center, El Rio Y Mar Resort Coron, Aiyanar Beach and Dive Resort, Fun and Sun Dive Travel, Anilao Villa Magdalena Dive Resort, Salaya Beach Houses, Marco Vincent Dive Resort, Crystal Blue Resort, New World Manila Bay Hotel, Resorts World Manila, Belmont Hotel and Turkish Airlines