My Entries to the 2016 Kahimunan Festival Butuan City

The results of the Kahimunan Festival Butuan Photo Contest are out and unfortunately for this year, my pictures were not as lucky as last years. The picture above is my highest ranked picture among the 6 entries that I submitted this year and to be candid about it, its the least that I expected to get a good ranking.  This picture placed 6th Place in the Grand Kahimunan Category. 

Well, its not really good for me this year. On the first day alone, I negligently erased my entire shots for the Festival Highlights category which already became a distraction for me for the rest of the competition. 

I also experimented in the Street Dancing category when I used a 35 mm lens all the way, thinking there are a lot of Street Dancing participants. By the time I let go of the contingent which I followed for most of the way, the succeeding contingents were not that spectacular as to get a good shot. 

The Grand Kahimunan category completed my forgettable competition this year. As last years, a throng of photographers already occupied the front row. Complicating things is that the performance venue is too close to our positions rendering my 135 mm Prime Lens utterly useless. By the time, I shifted to the 35mm lens it was already too little, too late. 

My consolation though is that I really enjoyed the camaraderie and rapport of Caraga photographers. Its a whiff of fresh air for the daily boring routine in my normal life and this breakaway is a welcome respite. 

Here are the rest of my entries that didn't make the cut. 

Kahimunan Tu Bayugan 2016

The second photo contest of the year is Kahimunan Tu Bayugan. 

Last January 31, 2016, I and my photographer best buddy drive from Surigao City to Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur to participate in the first ever Kahimunan Tu Bayugan Photo Contest. This Kahimunan Tu Bayugan is different from Kahimunan Festival in Butuan City which is celebrated every third Sunday of January. This Bayugan City version is celebrated every last Sunday of January. Bayugan City is a component city in Agusan del Sur. Its City Mayor is Kim Lope Asis. 

Like its Butuan City counterpart, the Kahimunan Tu Bayugan is another celebration paying homage and honor to the Holy Child Jesus or the Sto. Niño. The highlight of the activity is the Solemn Mass which is followed by a colorful and lively street dancing parade of the different contingents in Bayugan's wide avenue. 

The climax of the celebration is the ground presentation held at Bayugan City National Comprehensive High School grounds. 

The grand presentation lasted for hours that we took our lunch at past 3 in the afternoon at the Sacred Heart Parish convent. 

Many thanks to the organizers of this photo contest for a great hosting job.  

Kahimunan 2016: Opening Salvo of the new Photo Contest season

Kahimunan Festival is an annual celebration in honor of the Sto. Niño in Libertad, Butuan City. 

The event ushers with a fluvial procession along the Agusan River, a Kahimunan sa Kabataan version, the search for Bae Kahimunan, the Fiesta Mass and the Sto. Niño enthronement at the Sto. Niño Shrine in Libertad Parish and finally, the Street Dancing and the Grand Kahimunan presentation at the Grandstand also in Libertad, Butuan City. 

On a personal level, Kahimunan Festival is the signal of the coming of the new photography contest season. Its the first Festival calling for photo entries. 

Kahimunan Festival is significant for me because it is where I received my very first Photography Award in my late blooming photography passion. Last year, 2015, I placed First Runner Up in the Sidelights category. My entry was a woman with her child touching the image of the Sto. Niño. Lucky for me that it earned the nod of the judges. 

And so, its the start of the new season. I hope and pray that like 2015, 2016 will also be a great season for me. 

My Iconic Shots of the PFF U22

The following are photos which for me captures the drama of the PFF U22 Championships here in Surigao City. This will wrap up my coverage of the recent football event here. 

Postscript of the PFF U22 Championships

Atty. Jerry Centro (left) is the Team Manager of One Surigao team and Stephen Gorgonio is the current President of the Surigao del Norte Football Federation. The dynamic helped form and organized a strong football team composed of the best of club players in Surigao City and Tandag City, hence One Surigao. 

The boys got to play the official FIFA approved balls for this tournament. 

The one who interviewed Atty. Centro is Mario Simorlan, a radio blocktimer and reporter who is also the immediate past President of the Surigao del Norte Football Association. 

Butuan team

Surigao Team

All teams except the host Surigao team are billeted in pension houses in the city complete with air condition rooms and cable tv. Some teams have their own buses. 

The tournament was graced by Mr. Cyril V. Dofitas, the tournament director of the PFF U22. Aside from supervising the tournament, Mr. Dofitas also wanted to look at the Surigao football field and was accordingly satisfied. Except for the lights which was found inadequate for being too low, the Surigao football field was adjudged as excellent especially its location where it is in the heart of the city near hotels and accommodation facilities. 

Referees earned as much as 1,000 pesos per game. The job looks promising for a sideline but accordingly the qualification is tough with physical test that determines ones fitness and endurance. 

The Surigao coaching staff. Head coach Christiano Repeso (center) and Mark Salubre Manlimos, assistant coach (partly hidden) and Victor Gorgonio, adviser (left). Repeso and Manlimos are both connected with San Juan FC and Gorgonio with Surigao United. 

The Surigao del Norte Football Association hosted a dinner with coaching staffs of the participating teams as well as tournament officials at Tavern Hotel where everything about Mindanao football were discussed and shared. 

One Surigao team also had its beach party on the next day at Mabua beach. Its a great way to reward themselves with their hardwork and excellent showing in the recent PFF U22 tournament.  Just a few miscues that denied them of greater achievement in this tournament but the boys showed a good promise. The activity is attended by SDNFA President Stephen Gorgonio and the coaching staff. 

So there you go folks. The next would be about photos and it will be the last one related to the tournament. Until next time guys!