MANILA, PHILIPPINES, August 14, 2008. – The winners of Water is Life photo contest was announced today during an awarding ceremonies held at the Activity Center of Megamall-A, Mandaluyong City.

The P25,000.00 top prize winner went to Mr. Pepito D. Frias for his entry entitled “Every Drop Counts.” Mr. Frias works as an Information Associate with the Philippine Human Rights Information Center, an NGO and research and information arm of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA). This winning entry with a water conservation theme was taken in Gumaca, Quezon and it dramatically depicts a boy catching a drop of water from a leaking container carried by her mother as they were heading home.

The second prize winner of P20,000.00 was awarded to Mr. Victor D. Kintanar for his entry entitled “Freshwater by the Sea.” Mr. Kintanar is a Cebu-based stringer of Reuters. His entry shows shorelines southwest of Cebu Island which is dotted with a number springs. It depicts residents doing their laundry and fetching water for drinking. His entry calls for the protection for these springs.

The third prize winner of P15,000.00 was awarded to Mr. Nikki Sandino M. Victoriano for his entry entitled “Basura River Cleaner.” This entry was taken in Tondo, Manila and it dramatically showed a clogged waterway full of litters of solid waste from surrounding residents. Mr. Sandino is a recent graduate of Multimedia Arts from Asia Pacific College and currently working as a photographer at Megapixel Digital Photography.

Special Award on Water for Food and Agriculture with a prize money of P10,000 was given to Ms. Mary Christine P. Villanueva for her entry entitled “Katuwang sa Pananim.” This colorful photo was taken in Ilocos Norte and it shows farmers planting rice in the midst of green rice field. Ms. Villanueva is a businesswoman  and a photo hobbyist. She is a member of Samahan ng mga Litratista ng Rizal (SLR).

Special Award on Water for Health and Sanitation with a prize money of P10,000.00 was awarded to Mr. Antonio L. Penaredondo with his entry entitled “Dying Water." This photo was taken in Marilao, Bulacan showing a man gathering garbage to rehabilitate the dirty river. Mr. Penaredondo is a photographer of Philippine Star.

Special Award on Water for People with a prize money of P10,000.00 was awarded to Atty. Andrew M. Magturo  for his entry entitled “More Than Purified Water.” This photo was taken in Boac, Marinduque showing a farmer drinking pristine waters from a  stream. Atty. Magturo is a practicing lawyer and a member of Samahan ng mga Litratista ng Rizal (SLR).

The winning entries were judged based on over-all impact, artitistic merit, and composition and technical excellence. 

Judges of this contest are former DENR Secretary Bebeth Gozun, professional photographer and Inquirer columnist Mandy Navasero, Mr. Ding Carpio of Manila Water, and Mr. Virgilio Vitug, Director of Public Affairs Office of DENR.

This photo contest was organized by the National Water Resources Board, German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Water and Sanitation Program and the Philippine Water Partnership.

Sponsors of this photo contest are Maynilad Water Services, Inc., Manila Water Company, Inc., Subic Water, Davao City Water District, Coca Cola Philippines, SM Megamall, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).