A flash of lightning from the skies and a burst of fireworks lighting up the bridge; these were the top images of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) toll bridge social media contest.
The landmark infrastructure project in Cebu recently concluded its CCLEX Social Media Photo Contest which gathered awe-inspiring photos of the toll bridge. The winning photos were among a total of 297 entries under two categories: the General Entry Category received 108 entries taken from April 15 to 30, while the Switch-On Category received 189 entries taken on April 15 and 16.
The photographic tilt has captured various images of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) toll bridge showing that the piece of transport infrastructure is truly an “engineering marvel,” said a top official of the builder, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC). The first prize winner was chosen among 108 entries in the contest’s general entry category. The winning photographic shot gives an instant glimpse of the CCLEX lit up by a flash of lightning framing a CCLEX tower. Winning photographer, Nestor Vince II A. Nardo said he just “got lucky in capturing in just a split second the lightning that flashed across the sky.”
The first prize winner in the Switch On category, which had 189 entries, was shot just when fireworks shone forth in the otherwise dark sky at just the right time when the CCLEX crosses were simultaneously lit up. The winning shot was taken by Francis Gonzaga.
Nardo, 35, took the shot under heavy rains, positioning himself at the Plaza Independencia close, and using his Nikon Z6 24-70 mm f/4 lens. He waxed philosophical: “God has given me perfect timing: never too early or never too late. It takes a little patience, a lot of faith, but it’s always worth the wait.”
Gonzaga, 24, entered the winning photo showing two brightly lit bridge segments flanking the three bursts of fireworks in an otherwise pitch black sky, plus the reflections of bridge and fireworks on the shimmering waters of Mactan Channel. He took the shot from the SM Seaside using his Nikon D750 with 70200 lens. Gonzaga later said: “The fireworks looked like they were connecting the two bridges.”
Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) president, Allan Alfon, congratulated the winners and thanked all the 297 photographers who joined the photo competition.
“We truly appreciate those who took photos of our toll bridge expressway project and posted them on their social media accounts. These photos inspire us as we work on the project, as they ignite the interest of those awaiting the completion of the toll bridge,” said Alfon.
CCLEX is a P30-billion toll bridge that will link mainland Cebu from the South Road Properties in Cebu City to Mactan Island through the Municipality of Cordova. CCLEX is a project of the CCLEC, in partnership with the local government units of Cebu City and the Municipality of Cordova.
Set to be a new landmark in the country, the 8.5-kilometer CCLEX will have two lanes in each direction that will provide a safe, quick and scenic passage to an estimated 50,000 vehicles daily, easing the traffic in the existing Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.
CCLEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.
MPTC owns or operates major expressways in the Philippines – namely the North Luzon Expressway, the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, Cavite Expressway, Cavite Laguna Expressway, and a number of expressways in Indonesia and Vietnam.
In the general category, the finalists were Allan Cuizon’s photo which placed second; and Mark Anthony Cosep's entry which placed third.
In the switch on category, leading the finalists was Ariel Lim, followed by other winning shots that have shown very interesting angles. One photo shows a drone image of the tollway bridge, under the warm glow of sunset and beneath a beautiful cloud formation. Another drone shot was taken at night.