Awarded Sinulog Photo Contest 2025 GRAND PRIZE overall WINNER, 3rd Place
- Jas Sarmiento
- Feb 16
- 2 min read
𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐙𝐄 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭. 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤🥺
I took this simple shot during the novena since he loves attending mass and I was sitting down, playing with my settings before I was about to do some street photography. I never expected anything, in fact when I submitted this, it was simply because it meant a lot to me - how much he loves Sto Niño, since he was born on His day - Friday. And now this happened. Thank you Señor. And to my son- Top, thank you for coming into my life. 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐚 𝐏𝐢𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐫
St Jude, Padre Pio, mama Mary, Sta Rita, sto nino - thank you
𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓- 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫
A long time ago, there was a little girl who loved photography and technology. She joined Sinulog several times and failed just as many. There was even a year when bitterness took over—when her twin sister and brother-in-law won big in 2019, she was so upset that she went on a retreat. But after that retreat, and a visit to Apo Whang-Od, along with the guidance of her older brother and Ralph, she decided to try again. The following year, she finally gained recognition. After that, she stopped chasing validation.
2024 was tumultuous. At one point, I wondered if dragons hated snakes. I lost someone I thought mattered, but in return, God, St. Jude, Sta. Rita, Mama Mary, and Sto. Niño gave me something else—Photographer of the Year in the country’s top photography club Images Camera Club of Cebu. I had to let go of some things due to reasons too, was heartbroken and yet somehow, I still managed to place 6th in the nationals this year for Photoworldcup. And now, this—something I never saw coming.
Thank you to my family—especially my twin sister, Jen, who has always been there, my husband, Rap, my brother-in-law, Kirby, who won 1st in the contingent, my parents, Papa and Mama, kuya Drew, Nans Terri, and most especially baby Top and Kayden, ate Kat, te Ton, Drews, te Carla. To my family, friends, and angels—Jess, Te Joan, Te Rose, Leni, nay Geralyn, JiAnn, Meyshang, Louie, te Ashley, those who were with me during the 9 day novena and everyone who walked this journey with me. To IMAGES Camera Club—Chi Jan, chi Joyce, Kuya Don, Ahia Erwin, Kuya Rolando, Ahia Kinwing, Ahia Ryan G and F8, Macy’s camera shop and my mentors, and to all my other friends, who won - congratulations. I’m so glad I got to meet new friends and spending time with my old.
I’m on cloud nine. I don’t even know what else to say. After all this time, I finally caught the butterfly that kept flying away.
VIVA PIT SEÑOR!