Ang Totoong Jay Ganzon

05/08/2026

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

Ready to elevate your visual storytelling? Registration for the 18th Professional Photojournalism and Documentary Workshop is officially live!

Presented by the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines and Macys Camera Shop.

🗓 Workshop Dates: November 25–29, 2026
📍 Location: Cebu City
⚠️ Slots Available: STRICTLY LIMITED TO 30 PARTICIPANTS ONLY
Secure your spot today and learn hands-on from industry professionals! 📸✨

03/08/2026

Award-winning filmmaker Pedring Lopez has sparked discussion in the local film community after calling out what he described as a culture of “gatekeeping” that he believes is preventing the Philippine film industry from reaching its full potential.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, the director behind “Maria,” “Nilalang,” and the upcoming international action thriller “Lotus” argued that the industry’s biggest problem is not a lack of talent but the tendency to divide filmmakers into exclusive circles.

“The biggest thing holding our industry back isn’t talent. It’s gatekeeping,” Lopez wrote.

He also questioned the notion that being an independent filmmaker automatically makes someone the protector of “real cinema,” saying a film’s value should not be measured by its budget, festival credentials, or the circle its creators belong to.

According to Lopez, the industry’s habit of deciding who qualifies as a “real filmmaker” only creates unnecessary divisions that discourage growth.

He argued that such a mindset does little to attract investors, open international markets, or create sustainable jobs for actors, writers, editors, visual effects artists, production crews, and other workers who rely on the film industry for a living.

Instead, Lopez said the industry should focus on collaboration, welcoming new voices, and creating more opportunities rather than protecting what he called “little kingdoms.”

“An industry grows when we think bigger, collaborate more, welcome new voices, and create opportunities, not when we keep building smaller circles,” he wrote.

The filmmaker concluded his post by saying that genuine confidence does not require gatekeeping and that Philippine cinema needs “more builders,” not more exclusive groups.

Lopez is one of the country’s internationally recognized genre filmmakers. Through BlackOps Studios Asia, he has built a reputation for producing action and horror films aimed at global audiences, including the Netflix-distributed “Maria.” He is currently directing “Lotus,” an international production starring Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr. and British singer-actress Qymira.

✍️ Top Dagohoy

01/08/2026

Makati City
August 2026

Visual Storyteller PH

22/07/2026

Statement on the Harassment of Photojournalists Covering the ASEAN Protest in Manila

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines strongly condemns the harassment and intimidation of photojournalists covering the Bayan protest held today, July22, in Manila in connection with the ASEAN meeting.

Among them were freelance photojournalist Bullit Marquez, former chief photographer of the Associated Press in the Philippines, and Manila Times photo editor Rene Dilan. Police officers confronted the two and prevented them from photographing the arrest of protesters.

Police then moved to arrest Marquez, who was wearing press credentials, and were about to place him in handcuffs. His camera fell to the ground during the confrontation. Both journalists were released only after colleagues spoke up against the attempted arrest.

Journalists and photojournalists perform a vital public service by documenting events of public interest. They must be allowed to carry out their work without threats, obstruction, or intimidation.

Any act by law enforcement that prevents members of the press from documenting public assemblies undermines press freedom, the public's right to information, and the principles of transparency and accountability. The safety and independence of journalists must be respected at all times, including during protests and other high-profile public events.

We call on the authorities to investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that all law enforcement personnel uphold and protect the rights of journalists in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, and international standards on press freedom.

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues who were harassed and reaffirm our commitment to defending the right to report freely, safely, and without interference.

Statement on the Harassment of Photojournalists Covering the ASEAN Protest in Manila

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines strongly condemns the harassment and intimidation of photojournalists covering the Bayan protest held today, July 22, in Manila in connection with the ASEAN meeting.

Among them were freelance photojournalist Bullit Marquez, former chief photographer of the Associated Press in the Philippines, and Manila Times photo editor Rene Dilan. Police officers confronted the two and prevented them from photographing the arrest of protesters.

Police then moved to arrest Marquez, who was wearing press credentials, and were about to place him in handcuffs. His camera fell to the ground during the confrontation. Both journalists were released only after colleagues spoke up against the attempted arrest.

Journalists and photojournalists perform a vital public service by documenting events of public interest. They must be allowed to carry out their work without threats, obstruction, or intimidation.

Any act by law enforcement that prevents members of the press from documenting public assemblies undermines press freedom, the public's right to information, and the principles of transparency and accountability. The safety and independence of journalists must be respected at all times, including during protests and other high-profile public events.

We call on the authorities to investigate these incidents, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure that all law enforcement personnel uphold and protect the rights of journalists in accordance with the Constitution, existing laws, and international standards on press freedom.

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues who were harassed and reaffirm our commitment to defending the right to report freely, safely, and without interference.

20/07/2026

Northern Samar
2021

16/07/2026

If you happen to be around Pasay, please drop by the 29th Graphic Expo at the SMX Convention Center and check out the ongoing photo exhibit featuring works by Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (P*P) members. I’m also honored to have my photographs featured in the exhibit.

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (P*P) warmly invites you to visit our exhibit at the 29th Graphic Expo 2026 at the SMX Convention Center.

Featuring powerful photographs by P*P members taken from 2023 to 2026, the exhibit showcases compelling visual stories that capture the country's defining moments, untold stories, and everyday realities — one frame at a time.

Join us from July 16–18, 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and experience a curated collection of photographs that celebrate the power of photojournalism. The exhibit is open until July 18, 2026.

See you at the exhibit!

25/06/2026

If you can't perform, japorms!

24/06/2026

Join us at LitraTalk: Usapang Photojournalists as award-winning photojournalist Aaron Favila shares the behind-the-scenes stories behind his World Press Photo-winning work — from the moments on the ground to the realities of capturing history through the lens.

📅 June 27, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Chapterhouse @ 32 Madasalin Street, Diliman, Quezon City, Kalakhang Maynila

You may register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGJVP-FnsXGH2k6fMSfeXt01BVccZuBZxN74jgZGy480egnA/viewform

The event will also be livestreamed online. Limited seats and parking spaces are available at Chapterhouse — send us a message to reserve your seat.

22/06/2026

Cheng, my friend and now my colleague who leads the communications team of GPPB-TSO, asked me to conceptualize content for Pride Month. She showed me a few pegs, but I suggested doing environmental portraits of the employees who will volunteer for the project instead.

The night before the shoot, I spent time preparing and looking for possible poses. My first concept felt too plain and conventional, so I decided to scrap it.

I came up with the idea of treating the project more like an editorial feature, similar to how fashion magazines approach portraits. The use of light, angles, and poses became important. I wanted to take a different direction. Something a little experimental. Something bold. After all, the theme is Pride. It deserved to be special.

I would like to thank Marky, Mac, Fritz, Abi, She, and C***r for volunteering to be part of this project. They were easy to work with and required very little direction during the shoot. They were comfortable expressing themselves in front of the camera. This project would not have been possible without them. I appreciate how they shared their stories and allowed themselves to become a voice for others through their statements.

I would also like to thank Cheng for trusting my vision. This project gave me the opportunity to use photography as a tool to help these voices be heard. To our OIC, Atty. Pia Yanto-Abad, thank you for giving us the opportunity and approval to pursue this project. And to our Senior Graphic Artist, Justin, thank you for putting so much passion into this work. He transformed the photos into thoughtful and meticulously crafted pieces through his layout and use of color.

Lastly, thank you to Government Procurement PH - GPPB-Tso for fostering an inclusive workplace and providing a safe space for our LGBTQ+ employees.

So here are the photos from our Pride Month feature. More than portraits, these are stories of identity, courage, authenticity, and belonging.

Beyond the photos are real people and real experiences. Take time to read their stories.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gx3WHpzJc/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Happy Pride month!