An employee from the Davao City Water District took home first place honors in the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) PCSA Online Photography Contest for 2020, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.
The overall winner, Mara Katrina T. Panoy, received P15,000 in cash to go with the bragging rights. Her winning piece was titled "Keep Distance."
Meanwhile, second-placer Chelcie A. Baratas of Social Security System Lapu-Lapu, Cebu Branch; and third-placer Vidal Jun S. Riva of Ipag National High School, Bataan won cash prizes of P12,000 and P10,000, respectively.
Baratas' piece was titled "Improvise, Adapt, Overcome," while Riva's was called "Kalaro (Playmate)."
"We are happy that many government workers have shared their talent in photography. They have contributed their work toward helping us see the good side of this crisis, the opportunities for change, and the many ways we have coped and succeeded in the process," said CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala.
The national winners were selected from 704 entries from all over the country, 48 of which became regional winners.The photo entries were assessed based on content and adherence to the theme, visual impact, creativity and originality, and photographic quality.
The panel of judges included Mervin C. Vergara (Art Director of Agung, the official newsletter of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts); Charisse Tinio (owner and president of Nice Print Photo, Inc.); and Atty. Raymond Fortun who also lent his expertise on photography.
"The winning photos will grace the pages of CSC’s official publications aside from being featured on its social media channels," the statement read.
Themed “Journey to the New Normal," the contest encouraged photo entries that communicated new norms or behavior which may effectively inspire others on how to deal with the impact of the COVID-19 situation.
"The images must convey the beauty and importance of living despite the uncertainty and discomfort brought about by pandemic. It must also strongly attract the imagination of the viewer to ensure positive outlook in their hearts and minds," the CSC said.
The online photography contest ran from July 1 to August 21. It was part of the 120th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA), which is celebrated every September.