Originating from the stunning highlands and verdant rolling hills
east of Metropolitan Manila, Jaime Singlador or “James”
is a Filipino civil engineer, guide, and travel
photographer. Singlador is of the opinion that his background in
engineering allows him to view the world in an orderly fashion,
but it is via photography that he conveys his creative
nature.
As a dedicated hobbyist, Singlador has triumphed
in numerous international and local photography contests.
This year, he secured the runner-up position in APEC’s annual
photo competition—an event that has been organized by the APEC Secretariat since 2011.
Annually, the APEC Photo
Contest not only honors ingenuity in the region but
also fosters awareness of the priorities of the host economy.
Under Peru’s theme for their hosting year, “Empower. Include.
Grow,” thousands of photographers presented their artistic
interpretations, and Singlador shone brightly among
them.
More than merely capturing
moments
Singlador’s journey in photography commenced
in 2008 when he found comfort in documenting the
individuals and locations he came across.
“At that time, I was
still employed at a bank. Taking photographs during my leisure
time assisted me in alleviating my stress,” he explained.
However,
his passion for photography deepened when he met his
mentor, Danilo Victoriano—a fellow APEC Photo Contest
champion who clinched both the top prize and the people’s
choice award in 2019.
Victoriano imparted to Singlador the
knowledge he possesses today. He mentioned that Victoriano was the one
who encouraged him to join their community of photography
enthusiasts in the Philippines, the SLR Camera
Club.
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As a means of giving back, he now mentors new
photographers and aids them in capturing award-winning works. Beyond mere techniques of photography, Singlador highlighted that building meaningful connections with communities is what he values the most from his colleagues. “It’s not solely about winning but also about
contributing,” he clarified.
He also mentioned that a
portion of the awards won by their members in various competitions is pooled. With these funds, their club organizes two to
three outreach initiatives, like providing groceries and educational materials or conducting medical missions in extremely remote
areas.
“Recently, we visited an Aeta community and
provided them with library materials and computers and assisted them
in connecting to the internet,” he shared, “and they were
extremely pleased!”
Framing that triumphant
shot
Singlador and his colleagues embark on expeditions to these distant locations, accessible only through challenging dirt
paths, because they aspire to lend a hand.
“On one occasion, while we
were heading home, it began to rain,” he recalled fondly. “The locals aided us in navigating through the mud,
even excavating around so that our vehicle could navigate through. They
didn’t depart until they were certain we were
out of danger.”
In addition to their outreach initiatives, they utilize photography to narrate the stories of the Indigenous communities they engage with. For example, they are planning a photo
exhibition highlighting their impressions of the people of
Cordillera—the highest mountain range in the
Philippines.
Within these remote mountains reside the
Igorots, who form a warm and welcoming community of farmers
rich in cultural heritage. Their sustainable practices exemplify a reverence for both life and land together, yet they often go unnoticed by the larger population due to their seclusion and remoteness from urban areas.
Singlador’s award-winning piece encapsulates a fragment of their life narrative and brings that forth into the open for all to value. Characterized by its
gentleness and warmth, his photograph juxtaposes the twilight
filtering through the mountains against the joyful smiles of the Igorot people and the bright luminescence of a solar-powered
lamp.
“This photograph originated from our outreach
initiative in Cordillera,” he reminisced. “We were on our way
back when I observed that the [Igorots] were carrying a
solar-powered lamp. I found that quite
fascinating!”
Singlador’s personal life journey serves as
a potent reminder that photography can and does transcend merely capturing visuals. It is a form of narrative. And
through his lens, he is visually reflecting what the Igorot
community experiences daily, a sustainable trajectory
honoring both life and land
in unity.
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