Members of the diplomatic corps, corporate
executives, members of the academe, and photo journalists
gathered together to view some of the world’s most compelling
photographs during the opening of the 2008 World Press Photo
exhibition at the Podium in Ortigas recently.
The World Press competition and traveling
photo exhibit has been conducted since 1955 by World Press
Photo, an Amsterdam based media NGO. A joint project of the
Konrad Adeneaur Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo
de Manila University, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands,
The Podium, and Unilever Philippines, the exhibit showcased 180
photographs comprising the winning photos in the annual World
Press Competition.This included the World Press Photo of the
Year by Tim Hetheringtonof the UK for Vanity Fair, showing an
American soldier resting at a bunker in Korengal, Afghanistan.
Michiel Munneke, World Press Photo managing
director, flew in from the Netherlands to join the opening.
Ambassador Robert Brinks of the Royal Dutch Embassy in Manila,
Fr. Bienvenido Nebres, Ateneo de Manila University president;
Lee Foo Tuck, Keppel Properties Philippines vice president; Jika
Mendoza Dalupan, Unilever Philippines corporate relations
director; and Christian Mathay, The Podium mall manager were
also there for the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Ambassador Reubens Fedele of the Italian
Embassy, Prof. Irzan Tandjung of the Indonesian Embassy,
Counselor Eugene Gobler of the South African Embassy, Paula
Schindiler of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, Mari
Kuokunen of the Finnish Embassy, and Brigit Fisel Rosle, Mari
Alapartanen, and Angie Meutsch of the German Embassy also
attended the event. Mike Menz and Agnes Lidzba of the Geothe
Institut were also present,
Fr. Joey Cruz, dean of the Ateneo’s School of Social
Sciences; Violet Valdez, ACFJ executive director; Mark Escaler,
chair of Ateneo’s department of communications, and Nanette
Franco Diyco also graced the affair. The exhibit will also be
showcased at the SM City North Edsa until August 22.
