Photojournalism in the Philippines: Alex Baluyut and Joe Galvez

Aside from laid back reviewing the history of Journalism in the Philippines, which is widely
available; this intends to concentrate more on a narrowed subject - the Photojournalism, in
which is acknowledged as not well written, documented and published in Philippine history.
With interviews from two respected photojournalists in their time, consolidated views from
Alex Baluyut, one of the most influential photographers in Asia; and Joe Galvez, a news photo
editor in the Philippines will share how history passed through their time, their realization and
insights on Photojournalism. ###
Photojournalism started with the birth of photography. Few years after camera was invented,
the Spaniards in the Philippines brought it already. At that time, there was never a school
where you can study photography or photojournalism, said Alex Baluyut.
It started with the Americans and Europeans who do photography for post card images. They
are the only one who can afford to buy large format cameras and hire assistance. The first
Filipino photographers were assistants to foreign traders. They are the usual drivers of media
photo agencies or hired personnels to assist the on-field photographer during assignments. By
slowly observing how things and system works, their curiosity turned out into learning the craft.
According to Joe Galvez, at that time, writing news with photographs cannot be associated
with journalism. But with a more definite term as documentary photography, which is
considered as the art of documenting and recording events, as it unfolds more elaborative
visuals and story.In 1860s, when camera formats, accessibility and price became more
affordable; Filipino then started putting up their own small studios in Manila. With the idea of
mentorship, Filipino studio owners hired another Filipino as apprentice. This is the only way
how they would have learned. Acquiring photography becomes a verbal history, added by
Alex. Eduardo Masferre was then acknowledged as the Father of Philippine Photography date
back in 1930s.[1]
When Filipino learned photography, it will pass down to their children and to their generation.
This produced the father and son photojournalists like Honesto Vitug, the grandfather of
Philippine photojournalism who documented almost all the presidents; and his son, Romy
Vitug.
Some of the identified iconic images were captured during various wars and revolutionary
efforts in the Philippines. These identified war opportunities to photographers made a peak on
history as it gave birth to new generation of documentary photographers. From Teudulo
Protomartir, who documented the devastation in Manila after the war, to a more
straightforward journalism during EDSA revolutionary movements on the government. Joe
added, When you stop and restrain the press from documenting the situation; the more it
heightens its spirit to ask, seek and document. Photojournalists worked as a tool to heighten
democratic spirit of the protest movement, with intentions of trying to understand the world,
instead of just taking pictures for the sake of capturing scenarios. It was in 1950s when The
Manila Times staff photographers started to put iconic images collectively in history. According
to Alex, I do not have to think of one photograph, I just have to think of the Manila Times
staff photographers and that is iconic to me.
The dawn of the female photographers happened in 1970s when handling of the camera
became easier and when they strive to prove the equality of men and women. The movement
that they did through rallies in getting their rights was equated with other men activities such
as the capacity to vote, deliver a voice on politics, participate in athletic events, take part in
media as staff photographers and other activities in which they thought would be at par with
men.The essence of photojournalism and documentary photography is still the same as it is
before. Equipment will change, but the essence of taking pictures and showing it to the world
would still long-lived, said Joe. Imagine how the photographers at that time doing, carrying all
the heavy camera equipment just for them to capture the photograph that they need to
document, he added. Today, the camera goes into your pocket and can record thousands of
images. The medium and format before maybe different from now, but the message is still the
same and that is to inform the public.
With the accessibility of the people on cameras and widespread participation of Filipinos on
social networking sites, even an individual out of his curiosity and debating concepts on
implementation of rules, government, health, environment, and a lot more can all be recorded
and seen by anyone. These push more people to be physically aware of documenting what is
happening around them. With clearer opportunity, online media encourage participation of the
public as citizen journalists, who can upload and share newsworthy videos and images to the
network; and let it aired on a certain segment. [2]
Though a lot are working on newsworthy accessible photographs, more still need to be heard,
especially to areas where there is a huge treat on security. You want war? There is war
happening there! said Alex. He shared that war is everywhere, and his curiosity to determine if
deaths in between insurgencies are happening pushed him to document what is never heard.
At a certain period, photojournalism became a commodity, and the art part of it is lost and
never found. Filipinos are just starting to feel that having a style and approach is very
important. Alex Baluyut, one of the most influential photographers in Asia said, Its not just
getting the access and knowing the story. It was sort of seeing photography in a more
compelling way where people would look, say, and think again. Its hard when a photographer
who should be thinking by himself is not thinking anymore. He just follows the template of the
newspapers. In which, in that scenario is a case more than death. More so, Joe Galvez, a news
photo editor in the Philippines added, It is the photographers who own the style, it is not
collective. It takes decades to own a style and be recognized as a good and effective
photographer.
In the Philippines, Filipino does not give premium to documentation. The photojournalist
document, but ironically do not have appreciation in documenting its own history. Nobody
wrote about it. Nobody attempt to put in hard cover the history of Philippine photojournalism,
said Joe. No one attempts to write and critique. So, it did not flourished on the point where it
should be. The recorders became unrecorded, added by Alex. Photojournalism was stocked at
a certain stage where there is no clear accord on history.
In 1997, the Philippine Center for Photojournalism, Inc. was established to professionalize the
practice of working photojournalists. It was formulated with the World Press Photo Foundation
and the Asia-Europe Foundation, which also gave birth to the Diploma in Photojournalism
Program of the Asian Center for Journalism at the Ateneo de Manila University. [3] ###
http://viajerosapinas.blogspot.com/2012/10/aside-from-back-history-of-journalism.html
First Filipino photographer
One of the first photographers of Filipino nationality was Flix Laureano. His pictorial
compositions, such as En el bao (In the Bathroom) and Cuadrilleros (Laborers), focused
onhuman forms, cockfights and bullfights in the Philippines. He also became the first
photographer to publish a book of photographs about the Philippines (Recuerdos de Filipinas,
or Memories of the Philippines) in Barcelona in 1895. Laureano was also regarded as the first
Filipino artist to consciously use photography as a medium for art

Photojournalism is a branch of journalism characterized by the use of images to tell a story. The
images in a piece may be accompanied by explanatory text or shown independently, with the
images themselves narrating the events they depict.
Photojournalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of
news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It
is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to
video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches
of photography (e.g., documentary photography, social documentary photography, street
photography or celebrity photography) by complying with a rigid ethical framework which
demands that the work is both honest and impartial whilst telling the story in strictly
journalistic terms. Photojournalists create pictures that contribute to the news media.

Timeliness the images have meaning in the context of a recently published record of events.
Objectivity the situation implied by the images is a fair and accurate representation of the
events they depict in both content and tone.
Narrative the images combine with other news elements to make facts relatable to the
viewer or reader on a cultural level.
Like a writer, a photojournalist is a reporter but he or she must often make decisions instantly
and carry photographic equipment, often while exposed to significant obstacles (e.g., physical
danger, weather, crowds).