Love Month to all Photographers

Starting February 1 - 28, 2012. Shooting at Intramuros will be free of charge No need to pay for anything and yet you can shoot anywhere in Intramuros 

A blogger friend of mine (Thanks Az) posted this on his timeline which came from BMSD (Bawal Magshoot Dito) founder Mel Cortez.

"If you encountered any miscommunication in Intramuros pls, pls call Mr. Ed Baysic, 5F Palacio del Gobdrnador, Corner Gen Luna & A. Soriano Sts, Intramuros tel 5273155/527 7300 or National parks Development Commission(c/o Jet NPDC administrator Jet Villegas), beside Department of Tourism main building --near kalaw /taft ave sts. "

This is a trial period as agreed by BMSD Pilipinas and Intramuros Administrator Junjun Capistrano during the last meeting of the tech working committee formed to address our demands re : Free to shoot in Intra /Rizal park

Please call up the admin office of IA and NPDC before you conduct your prenup shoot or other photo activity. Remember you have to secure permit first (for prenup shoot only) and pay corresponding entrance fess--Fort Santiago, San Diego gardens etc. and , sign a waiver that you are doing it for 'Not for commercial purposes only'." - Mel

As love is already in the air, let's show our love for the art of photography by taking good pictures at Intramuros, Luneta Park and Paco Park. 

A successful 11.11.11 Photowalk

Current mood: Too tired that I skipped 4 events today XD

Bakit bawal akong mag-shoot sa bansa ko?

My legs are still killing me after attending the first photowalk/silent protest organized by "Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito", one of the facebook group pages that I am a part of. I got to the meeting point at around 10:00am as most of the photographers there were already wearing their BMSD shirt. I was able to get one as I have mine reserved a few days ago. After changing costumes, we started walking from Jollibee in Kalaw to the Rizal Monument at the Luneta Park.

Mr Berns Mejias

On the way to Luneta

I was not surprised to see a lot of photographers (amateurs and professionals) waiting for the walk to start. I saw some of the well known photographers in the industry like Berns Mejias, Edwin Tuyay, Lito Sy among others. Once the walk started, I took some snapshots enroute to Luneta Park. Once we got there, security guards tried to stop us but we were able to convey our message. They even tried to call the head of security to lead them in a conversation. When one of the photographers asked "Bakit Bawal?" he couldn't give out a straight answer. 

Mr. Mel Cortez being interviewed by the media

Luneta's cheif of security having a day

There were media to cover the event as well which means our voices will be heard and our actions will be seen. As the conversation progresses, Mr Mel Cortez (a well-known photojournalist and cheif photographer of Decisive Moments) came and was being interviewed by the media. Some would probably say that we are staging a protest. We didn't! But rather its a walk moving forward to raise the question "Bakit Bawal Magshoot Dito" here in our country. For me, its disheartening to see our fellow Filipino photographers being reprimanded by our fellow Filipinos while foreigners can take pictures without being asked. 

Group Hug

Security Guards

After Luneta, we head off to Fort Santiago as it is also historic as well as it is the place where Dr Jose Rizal was imprisoned. Though we weren't able to get inside, what matters is that our voices were heard and I hope the government (DOT in particular) would do something about this.

Sir Mel with Mr Edwin Tuyay

The man behind the movement

Here are some of the photos that I took during that monumental day.

Ms Rida Reyes of GMA-7

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