๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ณ๐ณ ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐๐ผ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐๐
By Clarissa Joy Legaspi
September 2, 2023
The Courier Senior Photographer Menard Deguiรฑo bagged the Champion trophy in the recently concluded 1st Pitik Photography Contest as part of the Samar Day Celebration.
Deguiรฑo, a fourth year BS Electrical Engineering student of NwSSU Main Campus, formally received the award, including a Php 15,000-worth of cash prize, during the awarding Ceremony held September 1 at CACO Theater.
Featuring a queen-portray raising the โSto. Ninoโ, Deguiรฑo explained the idea behind his masterpiece โGrasya san Kinabuhiโ earning him the top spot in the professional category.
โKun kikitaon mo an picture, an ‘reyna’ nagpapasalamat, nga through ups and downs, kay may nakakarawat la gihap nga blessings. Iton an pinakaginpo-point, an blessing san kinabuhi,โ he stressed in an interview with The Courier.
โAn emotion san mga ‘back-up dancers ngan san reyna’, bagan nagmamatch gud nga mag-pray sira nga nakatalwas kit san maglain nga nahinabo, so oras na siguro na magpasalamat. Mao adto nga gin-title ko,โ Deguiรฑo added.
The subject of the competition focused on the performances during Tandaya Festivals of Festivals street dancing held last August 6 in Calbayog City.
๐๐ฒ๐ด๐๐ถรฑ๐ผโ๐ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ต๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ
Six years ago Deguiรฑo started his hobby in photography and videography using only his mobile phone.
โNagtikang la ak sa cellphone, picture-picture..bagan Hala! Kaupay man. Na-enjoy ko ba tos may times sadto nga nauso an digi cam. Gintry ko iton liwat hasta san first time ko adto nakagamit DSLR na hinuram ko pero nahiyok ak ngan gin-adman ko hasta san ini na yana na maaram na gud ak,โ he shared.
Despite not owning his own DSLR camera, his determination and resourcefulness have allowed him to overcome this limitation and progress from mobile phone to DSLR with the support from sponsors who recognized his potential and believed in his talent.
His freelanced-photos are being uploaded in his Facebook Page โBoss Menard” with more than 4.6k followers as of this posting.
Though Deguiรฑo already had numerous experiences in the field of photography, he revealed that it was his first time to join a related competition and therefore he is grateful for this achievement.
According to Deguiรฑo, after he won the competition, he got more clients and recommendations for possible projects for contracts.
He then encourages aspiring photographers to seize these chances and remain persistent in their pursuit of their passion.
“I-try la niyo kay waray man malain mag-try ngan kun di kam maaramโฆ, pangianaโฆ ngan pakihalubilo sa iba na photographer kay may iba-iba iton nga idea nga pwede igtutdo sa imo nga diri ka maaram ngan diri lat maaram an iba… An karuyag sumulod photography, padayon la niyo, malay niyo an iyo future ada dida,โ he shared.
Similar to his winning masterpiece, Deguiรฑo will raise his camera as a gratitude act for not just a blessing but for the extra blessings he received in this early stage of his life.
