By Chris Malinao
COVID-19 and large gatherings do not go together, we know that. Trade shows and conferences are large gatherings and at present there is a pandemic. They're not a good mix. But we pushed through with our annual event just the same. Were we crazy?
Hi, I'm Chris Malinao. I am with the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF) and I have the inside scoop about how it is to hold PhotoWorld Asia 2021 in the time of this pandemic. Was it all worth it?
How do you push for a big event in the face of coronavirus? How do you hold a big convention of photographers side by side with mounting a photography trade show? Was it fun? Was it difficult? Would you, at all, do it in the first place?
Personally, I had serious doubts. The whole world was hunkering down due to COVID-19. Even now, people are still sheltering in place. The virus is that scary because we've been told how deadly it is. Worldwide, more than 2.2 million have died, with close to half a million in the U.S. alone. In the Philippines, more than 10 thousand have died – 10,669 as of this writing. Various media show us how bad the situation was and still is; we know of some friends and relatives who got sick, a few even died because of the coronavirus.
Even worse was that we couldn't really tell who has the virus or not, we can't see the enemy. A healthy-looking delivery guy would bring you your favorite cake from Dumaguete and everyone in the family could get sick of COVID. Or you would eat in a partially opened restaurant and you come home sick of the virus. Even more horrible was the thought that you could get sick alone in the hospital and no relative or friend would be allowed to visit you. Oh God, the thought of dying alone!
So, is it worth the risk revving up for an annual event that you have done for years? Do we hold PhotoWorld Asia, or not? Go or no go?
The FPPF usually starts preparing for the annual event about July or August so we could have much lead time to call up sponsors for the photography trade show, line up distinguished speakers for the photographers' conference, and prepare for the logistics of the big event, a yearly undertaking of the FPPF, a non-profit advocacy for photography which serves as umbrella organization for camera clubs and photography associations. We have done this for 34 years now, non-stop, come rain or high water.
Coronavirus struck in January 2020 but we heard of it as mostly happening in China. By March 2020, the world realized it was facing a global pandemic. On March 16, 2020, to be exact, the Philippines declared a general lockdown.
The world stopped.
We woke up to a world that has vastly changed. We suffered lockdowns. We can’t go out. We had to struggle with ECQ, GCQ, MECQ, which essentially meant we just could not freely move around anymore as much as before. We were and we are still in quarantine.
Should we push through with our photography event?
Unbeknownst to many of the younger ones at the FPPF, Chairperson Eduviges Y. Huang (known to many as Mrs. Huang), 80, and FPPF President Pablo N. Beltran, 81, have already decided the matter. Not many knew of the decision because everybody was in lockdown.
“Coronavirus or not, our spirits have not been dampened to get together again as a community of photographers and share and exchange ideas,” Mrs. Huang said. "Let's go online."
"We've been holding this continuously for 34 years since 1987," said FPPF President Pablo Beltran. "We can't stop now." The question, therefore, was no longer yes or no, but how.
Cynthia "Cha" Pagdilao of Zone V and Prima camera clubs, who has earlier been designated chairman of PhotoWorld Asia 2021, immediately got to work. As event chairman, she would oversee the preparations leading up to the big day, assisted by the various camera clubs affiliated with the FPPF. Speakers have to be selected and invited, sponsors have to come on board, and logistical supports have to be put in place.
“We were facing a tremendous challenge, there was hesitation on our part,” recalled Mrs. Huang. “It was hard enough the last time; this was the worst. But all my life, Somebody up there has always given me strength.” When she broached the idea to prospective sponsors, the first to enthusiastically voice support was Handy To of Abacus Communication Marketing. He immediately said yes and pledged financial support for the event. This was a turning point, a huge encouragement and inspiration to Mrs. Huang. Then one by one, everything started to fall in place.
Going online was the easy part, the only choice in fact. The FPPF has had some practice with online training as we have previously moved our photography workshops into online classes and that gave us the added courage. But going this big requires more skills than firing up your Zoom and sending out links to participants.
Enter Brian Plaza and his friends at Kulay Broadcasting and Live Streaming Services, a church friend of FPPF's Jam Ramos. They provided us with the technological backbone to stream and manage the international photographers' conference back-to-back with the photography trade show. With the help of Director Cynthia Lazo, formerly of the Bureau of Tourism Promotions, the venue was decided to be the PARC Foundation facilities in San Juan City.
As for the speakers, there was never a shortage of brilliant photographers who generously share their time with conference delegates. This has been so since the events started in 1987. And we wish to emphasize this: the renowned photographers who have graced our PhotoWorld Asia events receive no monetary remuneration; they share their expertise and experience with fellow photographers pro bono. The little we get from trade sponsors go to paying for the venue, facilities, and sustenance, just enough to keep the non-profit events going.
The big brands are still with us: Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Pentax, SanDisk, WD, LaCie, Seagate, Broncolor, Vanguard, DJI, Adata, TP-Link, et cetera, through their distributors Abacus Communication Marketing, CameraHaus, Island Multi-Industrial Sales Corp, Joshua Frame Shop, Astech Pengson, and especially CentralBooks/PictureBooks who came on their own.
But there is a felt diminution, a big scale down, there are not too many people and not too many activities in this event. We had to scale down due to COVID restrictions. This is not entirely a let-down considering that this is what the whole world is experiencing. We have to adjust to the pandemic.
Was it all worth it? In the end, yes. A big “YES.” PhotoWorld Asia 2021 has ended joyfully, and participants in the conference have expressed their appreciation for the event despite pandemic difficulties. This situation might still take a little more time, a year or two perhaps but hopefully not longer than that. Even so, we have found new ways of doing things, newer ways of seeing people and meeting friends and loved ones.
We are coping. Let’s take care of ourselves. Respect the virus and observe safety protocols but don’t let the pandemic stop you from doing what you need to do and what you love to do. Let’s accept the challenges of the pandemic and solve the problems it throws at us. That’s how we improve. Take care!