MANILA, Philippines – Baguio-born Tommy Hafalla, who has made a name for himself for chronicling Cordillera life and rituals through photos, is the first Filipino and, likely, the first Southeast Asian to receive the documentary award in the 2006 International Folklore Photographic Contest.The competition, sponsored by the China Folklore Photographic Association, culminated in an awarding ceremony on Nov. 18 in Dazhou, China, a city that is almost near Tibet.
Originally, the ceremony was scheduled in Beijing, but since the Chinese capital is busy with preparations for next year’s Olympics, the venue was moved to Dazhou.
Hafalla, 50, learned from the organizers that he was one of 100 winners, the others coming from China, Japan, the United States and the European Union.
His “Faces of the Cordillera” was recognized with the Humanity Photo Award. The photo story consists of six black and white portraits of persons from the Mt. Province, Ifugao and Kalinga.
After he sent his prints by mail, the organizers e-mailed and asked him for a digital file. Hafalla said he was still doing traditional photography, using film, a darkroom, enlarger and all. The people from China apologized, telling him they would just scan his photos.
Apart from his mission to capture Cordillera life and ways in pictures, he shares his skills through workshops at Foto Baryo in Batangas and in Sagada, Mt. Province, where he has trained a group of documentors.
He says, “I do not want to keep anything to myself. I’m happy to share my knowledge of photography and what I know of the culture.”
Tags: Arts, Awards, Tommy Hafalla
