Soudelor photo contest winners share their inspirations

The 10 consolation prize winners of the “weRcnmi” photography contest pose with their photos during a gathering yesterday at Best Sunshine’s conference room. (Daisy Demapan)

The top 3 Best Sunshine “weRcnmi” photography competition winners gathered yesterday at the company’s Bank of Guam office and shared their inspiration for their winning photos.

Press secretary Ivan Blanco, who won first place with his piece called “Makeshift Playground,” said the photo was inspired by a day he spent with his family at the beach.

“When Typhoon Soudelor hit, I didn’t get to spend much time with my family so one day I brought them to the beach and my daughter sat underneath a [makeshift shade] and as I was watching her, I felt such a strong sense of sadness or longing that I decided to capture the moment,” he said.

Second place winner Jack Stewart’s piece, titled “Simba,” depicts a young boy holding on to his mother while waiting in line for hot meals being served by the Kagman Community Church as part of typhoon relief efforts.

“I was watching this boy hold on to his mother the whole time and there was just such an amazing bond between them after such a disaster that I decided to capture the moment. He just gave you that look as if he was staring into your soul,” he said.

Third placer Macy Manzanares’ winning piece, titled “Healing Saipan,” depicts her volunteer outreach efforts as a nurse visiting a patient in Tanapag.

“I wanted to show my daughters how Typhoon Soudelor affected our community. They didn’t see the destruction because they stayed home but one day I brought [one of my daughters] with me and she took this photo after realizing how hard it was for some people,” she said.

Tied for third place, Fredereic Guintu’s photo depicts his son studying by candlelight stating, “…no typhoon or calamity can hinder his studies,” expressing that no matter what is going on, education is important.

The 10 consolation prize winners were Kevin Ada, “Nana’s Kitchen; Tony Peters, “Clearing”; Aysem Bray, “Helping Hands”; Nessea Cruz, “In The Dark”; Ponce Corotan, “Too Young to Bear the Brunt”; Josephine Togawa, “Calm In Chaos”; Geri Dela Cruz, “This Little Light of Mine”; Mary Ann Lagmay, “Hope”; Andrei Zerkov, “Hope”; and Selmalyn Taitano, “The Struggle Is Real.”

According to contest coordinators, the competition drew over 200 entries.

Tao Xing, Best Sunshine International, Ltd. vice president for corporate services and communications, said he would like the event to become a perpetual contest as it really encapsulates the community in more ways than words can say.