Press Release: Freedom to Shoot Photowalk 6.12.13

Photographers Declare June 12 as Freedom to Shoot Day


Bawal Mag Shoot Dito-Only in the Philippines (BMSD Pilipinas)

Scores of photographers marched from historic Rizal Park to the walled city of Intramuros in the morning of the 115th Philippine Independence Day, June 12, 2013. The photo walk-protest was organized by Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito, a group of professional photographers and photography enthusiasts calling for freedom to take pictures in public and historic places.

"We declare our Independence Day as a day where every Filipino can freely take pictures. This is in response to the continuing abuse to camera-wielding Filipinos who are discriminated and barred from fully expressing their photography in historic and public sites in our country especially Rizal Park and Intramuros" said Mel Cortez, founder/creator of the Facebook group Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito- Only in the Philippines (BMSD Pilipinas)

BMSD Pilipinas condemns the act by security personnel in Intramuros and Rizal Park where Digital SLR camera users are profiled and selectively prevented from taking pictures unless able to secure a permit and pay the administrator. Unlike foreign nationals who are free to shoot around the historic sites, professional photographers, photography hobbyists and even Filipino tourists with cameras are discriminatively targeted with the no-pay-no-shoot policy reserved to commercial photo shoots. The group also condemns the act reported by numerous photographers where they are asked 500 Pesos by the guards to be allowed to shoot rather than pay the exorbitant fees for professional photo shoots, a clear act of extortion. Intramuros Administration charges P2000.00 for a 4-hr pre-nuptial pictorial while National Parks and Development Committee /Rizal Park costs P1,000.00.

"In the first place, there is no official policy on not allowing photographers in taking pictures in historic sites. But the unclear policy of charging photographers presents ambiguity that creates loopholes and makes all camera-wielding Filipinos susceptible to abuse" explained Cortez.

The group also asks incoming lawmakers to create legislation to declare historic and public sites as photographer-friendly. "We firmly believe that promoting freedom of expression through photography will be beneficial to the country as it will promote the country's heritage and tourism" added Cortez.

I may not be able to attend this event but my support for this group is always there.

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. 

Bonifacio Day Photowalk c/o BMSD Pilipinas

Just this morning, I attended another PW (Photowalk) facilitated by BMSD Pilipinas (Bawal Magshoot Dito). I arrived at around 7:15am and saw some photographers already waiting and chatting with fellow photographers. I got to meet some new photographers who happens to be my co-moderators in BMSD.

Registration started at around 7:45am as photographers started to pour in one by one and in groups. I saw some familiar faces too as I also documented the registration. When 9:00am came, there were more than 300 people within the National Press Club compound waiting to start the photowalk. Then GMA7 as well as UNTV provided media coverage as they interviewed the founder of BMSD Mr Mel Cortez. After the interview, we started walking. 

We walked through half portion of Intramuros, particularly within its walls. Then we had our photo-ops before continuing our walk to Fort Santiago to have our group shot taken. Then we went back to the National Press Club since there was also a symposium hosted by the moderators. I got to take some more pictures before calling it a day and head-off to work.

I'll post some pictures once I got to sort and edit some of them.