Students from University of the Philippines in Iloilo giggle and talk in excited tones as they carefully mold soft clay into a coherent pot. We were in the province of Antique and Tibiao pottery was teaching kids the age-old tradition of making earthen jars. Since the platform where their creation was taking shape was laid quite low, I was able to take an overhead photo just as their hands all converged on the uneven clay pot.

►CHECK OUT: ANTIQUE TRAVEL GUIDE

I first heard about ASSIST’s photo contest titled Ten Photos to Shake the World with the theme A Showcase of Empowerment, Partnership and Innovation for a Sustainable and Inclusive Development from PiPho, a local photography forum.

The Antique image quickly came to my mind. I submitted it and a few weeks later, received a message that it was shortlisted out of the 400 plus entries for the contest.

The simple image of those kids creating a clay pot took me to the tree-laden back avenues of Makati City four months after it was taken. Fresh from a trip from the island of Batanes, I jumped from the NAIA Terminal III airport straight to Makati City for the Ten Photos to Shake the World contest awarding.

►SEE: BATANES ON INSTAGRAM

The simple ceremony was held at the Yardstick Coffee, a newly-opened café at the quieter parts of the Ayala CBD. The café looked quite modern and very posh. Each guest was given a stub to order whatever coffee they want as they enter the door.

My friend asked me what I wanted and I told her to simply surprise me.

She came back with a bottle of Dear Fred; a bottle that looks more like a beer than a coffee concoction. I read the label and found that it was indeed what I thought it was—pale ale and cold-brew coffee in one. Coolness!

The guys from ASSIST (Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation) opened the program with a few words about what the group was all about. Basically these are the good guys that make sure that local NGOs are doing what they are really supposed to be doing (and not just Napolenizing the funds given to them).

I was munching on cookies and drinking my beer-slash-coffee when my name was announced. My Antique photo titled From the Hands that Mold Our Future bagged the fourth spot in the contest. Not bad really, considering the quality and number of entries that joined the competition.

Tree Planting by Romado Fermin Javillonar, Light up the Future by Klienne Manaois Eco, and Home Sweet Home by Jeffrey Kintanar took the first, second, and third place respectively.

The People’s Choice Award went to Noel Ubaldo for his It's Never Too Late for Technology photo which also won the Globe Mobile for Sustainable Development Award.

My gratitude goes out to ASSIST for even considering my photo for their Ten Photos to Shake the World Contest. I also would like to thank the Facebook peeps who voted for my photo for the People’s Choice Award even if it didn’t make it in that category. What a nice way to start 2014!

Ten Photos to Shake the World
Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation
Contact Number: (02) 403-8668
Email: info@assistasia.org
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