I believe that it is every photographer's dream to see their works printed, framed, and displayed in an exhibit. I am not an exception. Since 2014, whenever WBPP has an exhibit, I try my best to send at least one entry. In Coron, I have joined a couple of exhibits entitled, Calamianes: Land, Sea, and Air, together with Al and Omar Linsangan. But I have never had a chance to do a solo exhibit until November last year. A few months earlier, Al, informed our CATE Board that 4th The Kilit Festival will held in November 2022 and the organizers led by Manny Reyes, was asking if CATE was willing to support the event (we have done so in two of the the past three stagings of said festival). The Board was receptive and we began brainstorming on what events we will organize and host. In the end, we came up with four events - an activity with school children (several contests), a training for bird guides, a bird photo exhibit, and mangrove planting. Due to lack of funding and preparation time, we were only able to hold two activities - the School Kids contests and the Bird Photo Exhibit.
I chose to show twenty-five bird photos with the Kilit (Blue-headed Racquet Tail) as the the main attraction. Here are photos of the exhibit:
The Event Poster
Panel # 1 featured the male and female Kilit as well as some relevant information about birds and the photographer
Panels 2 & 3 featured some Palawan endemics. The male Blue Paradise Flycatcher, male Lovely Sunbird and male Spot-throated Flameback made up Panel 2
The male Palawan Flowerpecker, White-vented Shama, Yellow-throated Leafbird, and the Palawan Bulbul occupied Panel 3.
Panel 4 featured Coron's star birds. The Capayas Three Kings, namely, Blue-eared Kingfisher, Rufous-backed Kingfisher, and the Ruddy Kingfisher
Panel 5 was home to the "Other Three Kings" namely the Collared Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher and Stork-billed Kingfisher
Panels 6 & 7 were devoted to Resident birds. The Spotted Wood Owl, Black-hooded Pitta, and male Olive-backed Sunbird made up panel 6.
Panel 7 was made up of the Crested Serpent Eagle, Chestnut-breasted Malkoha, Ashy Drongo, and Black-chinned Fruit Dove (male and female). All resident birds.
Last but not least, Panel 8 showed migratory birds - the Malayan Night Heron, a Changeable Hawk Eagle, and a Eurasian Hoopoe
Some scenes during the exhibit:
Ribbon Cutting lead by Mayor Elizabeth Cervantes of Busuanga and Dr Alan Guintapan representing Mayor Marjo Reyes of Coron. Others in photo are Dr Manny Reyes of the Regalo ng Kilit Foundation and SB Michael Sadhwani of Coron.
With Mayor Beth Cervantes of Busuanga
With Al Linsangan III, event organizer, and Ptr Jonathan Dabuit, MIO Busuanga, and our impromptu event host
With my CATE family - Noy Pinoon, Eric Hermes, Nestlie Hermes, Gigi Velasquez, Wilmie Paguntalan, Henesey Avelino, Angelica Arceo, Al Linsangan III, and Arnold Obispado.
With PSU Faculty
And PSU Photography class students
With Grade School classmates, Gigi Velasquez & Moonyeen Galpo
With my Uncle Eddie and Auntie Belinda Cayetano
With Michelle Sotto, a CATE Member and a successful businesswoman
With Iza Barcelona, our Operations Manager at Darayonan.
Giving info and details about the Eurasian Hoopoe, a rare migrant to the Philippines
Guests viewing the exhibit
By Manila standards, it was a modest exhibit but it was my first solo show so it was special to me. What made it more meaningful was that it was held at TAG Resort, in Dipulao, the exact place where I grew up. I spent the first twelve years of my life in there. I felt that both my parents, Ching and Letty, and my paternal grandmother Lola Ana, were with me that day.
I am thankful to Dr Manny Reyes and Al Linsangan for the opportunity to hold an exhibit during the Farm Tourism Conference and Kilit Festival.
The presence of Busuanga Mayor Beth Cervantes and MIO Ptr Jonathan Dabuit led to my Second Solo Exhibit about a month and a half later. This time it was held at the Busuanga Municipal Hall in Salvacion. The photos on exhibit mirrored that of the solo exhibit. Here are some photos of the opening ceremony.
Event Poster
Ribbon cutting with SB Maria Anna Mercado, Mun Budget Officer Aida Dominguez, SB Erdolfo Borejon and SB Raniel Montilla.
With Helen Hilario, another grade school classmate, who is now Busuanga Municipal Supply Officer/GSO and owner of Hilario's Inn.
For the Busuanga Exhibit, I had the pleasure of having my daughter Ella assist me in setting it up and being with me during the opening ceremonies. I am grateful for this chance. I am also grateful to Mayor Cervantes and Ptr JonDab for giving me the opportunity to share our Avian Treasures to our fellow Calamianens.
Above all, I am eternally grateful to our Lord for giving me the ability, the chance, and the right gear, to take photos of our Avian Treasures and to share these photos to everyone.
Congrats & Cheers Kaps… 🥂🦅🇵🇭