Kalibo Ati-Atihan photo contest winners bared

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The winning photo entry of Bart Baylon "Happily Devoted to Each Other" in the recent photo tilt of Aklan Photographic Society and Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) / PHOTO BY BART BAYLON

KALIBO, Aklan - The Aklan Photographic Society (APS) in partnership with festival organizer Kalibo Sto. Nino Ati-Atihan Foundation, Inc. (Kasafi) named the winners of the photo competition "Faces of Ati-Atihan."

Bart Baylon of Makato, Aklan was the grand winner of the first-ever APS photo competition for the Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival. Baylon's photo entry of "Happily Devoted to Each Other" bested other 97 entries for the P15,000 cash prize.

Mikko Martelino of Kalibo, Aklan went home P10,000 for his entry "Ati-Atihan Smile" for first runner-up. Nygel John Melitado of Iloilo City was also declared third place winner for his entry "Zoom In." He received P5,000.

A total of 98 photo entries were submitted by amateur and professional photographers at the Kasafi office on January 15, to capture the spirit and unique celebration of the 2011 Kalibo Ati-Atihan Festival in honor of Senor Sto.Nino, according to APS founding president Ramel Buncalan.

The entries were judged on thematic relevance (40%), originality (25%), technical excellence (25%) and decisive moment (10%).

The judges of the photo contest were artist/ entrepreneur Anna India Legaspi, photojournalist Abet Jimenez, portrait photographer Vic Sison of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF), travel photographer/FPPF instructor George Cabig and photojournalist Joey Taneda.

APS current president Roy Escalona, for his part, thanked the support of La Esperanza Hotel, RGMA DyRU Super Radyo Kalibo, Citizen Bazar, Starline Furniture Center, Boy Ryan Zabal, HR's, Mr. and Mrs. Jophel Concepcion, Hianna Load Central, CEF Drugstore and Technopoint Technology Center for this year's photo competition.