MECO PHOTO EXHIBIT IS ON AT THE  RED HOUSE IN XIMENDING FROM OCT 13-21
 
The Manila Economic and Cultural Office launched over the weekend its very first photo exhibit in Taipei featuring scenes captured in the Philippines aimed at promoting the country as a tourist destination to the Taiwanese.
 
“We sincerely hope that these photos would bring you soon to the Philippines, the nearest paradise destination to Taiwan, to see and experience first hand the charm of our beaches and mountains, and the warmth of friendship from our people,” said Chairman and Resident Representative Angelito T. Banayo who led the simple opening ceremonies.
 
Present during the event was Commissioner Su-yu Chen of the Taipei City Tourism Bureau as well as representatives from Philippine Airlines and Litratista, the Pinoy group of photographers who partnered with MECO in conducting the exhibit.
 
The exhibit, which features the top 50 photos chosen in the MECO photo contest launched last March, will run at the Red House Building in the Ximending area for a whole week from October 13-21, 2018.
 
The event highlighted efforts to attract more Taiwanese tourists to the Philippines with the conventional use of visuals such as photographs.
 
Banayo said it is innate for a traveller to want to share with the world what his eyes were able to see, specially in the advent of social media like Facebook and Instagram.
 
The centerpiece of the exhibit are the winning photographs of Antonio Corado, who bagged the first and third prizes; and Ruwen Verdaguer, who won the second overall award.
 
Corado’s photo from inside a cave on the beaches of Eastern Samar where super typhoon Yolanda first struck land in 2013 won him the top overall prize of NT15,000 (about P25,000) and a round trip ticket to any domestic destination in the Philippines courtesy of Philippine Airlines. 
 
His photo of a blooming cabbage garden during his travel to Atok, Benguet bagged the third prize of NT5,000 (about P8,500).
Verdaguer’s night shot of the Basco lighthouse cast in a sky filled with stars earned him second prize and NT10,000 (about P17,000)
 
Certificates of recognition and loot bags were given to the owners of the photographs chosen for the exhibit.
 
 
The photos will be uploaded on MECO’s Instagram account (please follow @meco stories) after the exhibit. 
 
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