Freelance scribe wins indigenous people's month photo contest

The winning piece.

Freelance journalist and news photographer Hader Glang won the grand prize in the regional level of the Indigenous People's Month 2005 photo competition/exhibit held at the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) last October 15-17, 2005.

"I am very honored and surprised, and I'm totally shocked that I won," said Glang. "Thank you very much to the judges for recognizing my work."

The winning piece "Yakan," which depicted the authentic culture and practice of Yakan tribe in Basilan, earned the judges nod as the best photograph about indigenous people and their tradition.

It was a close-up shot of an old Yakan woman, who still weaving at 83, chewing betel in combination with kava (Piper Methysticum) leaf at a must-see Yakan weaving center in Barangay Upper Calarian.

Glang, who writes for Zamboanga Today, Manila Standard and stringer of NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation, bested 27 other entries from artists, schools, organizations, agency and other groups in Region 9 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Project Coordinator John Magno said the winning piece became the entry to the major island interactive photo exhibits in Quezon City (Luzon), Roxas City, Capiz (Visayas), and Cagayan de Oro City (Mindanao) last Oct. 27.

Magno said the photo will also be included/featured in the travel magazine or book that will be produced by the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA).

The photo contest with the theme "Katutubo: Noon at Ngayon" was a cooperative effort by the NCCA, Department of Education (DepEd), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), aimed at creating a deeper understanding and appreciation of the culture and traditions of the various traditional communities in the Philippines. (ZS)