A photo taken on the beaches where super typhoon Yolanda first struck the Philippines in 2013 won the top prize in the first photo contest held by the Manila Economic and Cultural Office, the Philippine representative office in Taiwan.

Shot by 55-year old photographer Antonio Corado, the winning photo depicts the beautiful view from inside a cave in what is now called Yolanda beach in Salcedo, Eastern Samar, in stark contrast to the havoc wreaked by the super typhoon when it first struck land coming from the Pacific.

Eastern Samar’s long beaches is located in the Philippines’ eastern seaboard and directly faces the mighty Pacific Ocean.

Corado likewise bagged the third prize in the contest with his photo of a blossoming rose cabbage garden in the mountains of Atok in the northern province of Benguet.

Benguet is the primary source of vegetables in Luzon and home to breathtaking mountain views and relaxing experience with nature.

Winning second overall prize is photo enthusiast Ruwen Verdaguer, from Imus, Cavite, who submitted a night shot of the Basco Lighthouse backdropped against a sky full of glimmering stars in Naidi Hills in the island of Batanes.

Verdaguer also claimed a special category prize for his adventure photo of a torpedo boat ride in the rapids of Ulot river also in Eastern Samar, in a tie with another photo from photographer July C. Balboza.

Balboza’s work depicted one of tourists’ favorite activity when visiting Mt. Mayon in Albay — riding all terrain vehicles to explore the foothills of the perfect cone volcano.

Chosen winner in the phone photography special category is the work of photographer Angel Mendoza who captured the view of Kayangan cove in Coron, Palawan using his mobile phone.

Aside from cash prizes, the winning entries will be put on exhibit at the Red House building in Ximending from October 13 to 14, along with other photographs chosen as the top 50 picks in the contest.

MECO, in cooperation with Litratista, a group of photography enthusiasts based in Taipei, launched the photo contest last March seeking to promote travel and tourism to the Philippines, with more than a hundred entries submitted during the contest proper.

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