1st Place – Ong, Jovi

2nd Place – Ninon, Orlando

3rd Place Tecson, Aids

4th Place Cabatuan, Zer

5th place Florendo, Allan

Top 6-10
6 Corpuz, Mon
7 Florendo, Allan
8 Licerio, Ralph
9 Cabatuan, Zer
10 Cabatuan, Zer

Top 11-20
11 Daleon, Willy
12 Corpuz, Mon
13 Licerio, Ralph
14 Fernando, Regie
15 Tecson, Aids
16 Licerio, Ralph
17 Ninon, Orlando
18 de Vera, Willie
19 Tan, Joseph
20 Tan, Joseph

This issue is now available. Grab a copy now!

February 15
It’s More Fun in the Philippines (include a witty text on the photo with “It’s more fun in the Philippines.”  )

March 21
2 (two) Colors

April 18
Noon-time Hour (shot between 10am-3pm)

May 16
Golden Hour

June 20
Man-Made Macro

July 18
Shapes

August 15
From the Ground Up

September 19
Copy Cat (copy a picture from a magazine)

October 17
7 Deadly Sins

November 21
Golden Ratio

Olympus-PiPho Corregidor Photo Safari Macro Category Winner - Joseph Tan

Olympus-PiPho Corregidor Photo Safari Landscape Category 3rd Place - Zer Cabatuan

Olympus-PiPho Corregidor Photo Safari Landscape Category 2nd Place - Mary Ann Zubiri

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Official Announcement from RedDot Philippines
Posted at OlyFan PHIL Facebook Page

CONGRATULATIONS Winners and Thank You Very Much for Participating in this Event!

Winners of Photowalk Event at Corregidor Island

MACRO CATEGORY
Joseph Tan – winner of Olympus XZ-1

LANDSCAPE CATEGORY
3rd Place – Zer Cabatuan – winner of Olympus Pen Mini (E-PM1)
2nd Place – Mary Ann Zubiri – winner of Olympus Pen Lite (E-PL3)
1st Place – Juven Aquino – winner of Olympus PEN (E-P3)

*Final Votes were calculated by:
30% Facebook voting
70% From Olympus Japan Office (2 Representatives) and RedDot Philippines President

Top 10 Entries

1st Place – Dinno Sandoval

2nd Place – Dinno Sandoval

3rd Place – Mon Corpuz

4th Place – Homer Pialda

5th Place – Aids Tecson

6th Place – Dinno Sandoval

7th Place – Dinno Sandoval

8th Place – Zer Cabatuan

9th Place – Mon Corpuz

10th Place – Zer Cabatuan

Top 11 to 20 (in no particular order)

Zer Cabatuan
Ralph Licerio
Ralph Licerio
Larry Marbella
Jovi Ong
Jovi Ong
Dinno Sandoval
Abraham Sta. Barbara
Abraham Sta. Barbara
Joey Sy

Text by Geebee Casiano
Title Photo courtesy of Zer Cabatuan
Corregidor Island, Cavite, Philippines
November 19 – 20, 2011

Gone for the weekend…

PiPho Org in partnership with RedDot Philippines went out for a photo safari at “The Rock” (Corregidor Island) to test the newest line of Olympus PEN Cameras. RedDot Philippines is  the official distributor of Olympus cameras and other imaging devices.

I was lucky I was one of the chosen participants as this was my first time to come and conquer Corregidor. This was also my first ever photo safari with PiPho Org.

There were 23 participants coming from PiPho Org, alongside are members from the OlyClub (Olympus Club of the Philippines), the RedDot staff and Japanese delegates from Olympus Imaging.

We were all handed the newest Olympus PEN Cameras, the E-P3, E-PL1, and the E-PM1. These cameras were equipped with M. Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED kit lenses. Except for our two PiPho Org members (wild bird photographers) who requested longer range lenses the M. Zuiko 75-300 f/4.8-6.7 ED.

I got an Olympus PEN E-PM1 with a M.Zuiko 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 ED (Violet body with white leather neck strap).

Olympus PEN E-PM1 (Violet)

This model is the most basic unit among the three but is still full-feature packed. My first impression – this darn camera is so small and light!

…

Our scheduled departure from the Sun Cruises docks was 8:30AM. I arrived early at around 6AM, took my breakfast, and waited a long while before we were picked up by the service vehicle at the Sun Cruises office.

Before our boarding time, we took some mandatory group hugs first infront of the Sun Cruises office at Harbour Square.

PiPho Group Hug

PiPho Group Hug

Photos courtesy of Joseph Tan

…

We departed at exactly 8AM aboard the Sun Cruises catamaran boat. Our group was seated on the loft (2nd floor) of the boat.

We arrived at Corregidor Island past 9AM, rode the Tranvias (tram buses) then on to the different tourist spots on the island. Our tour was very short and is mainly focused on the special vantage points that’s perfect for photographers.We only had a few minutes each stop to take some photos and walk around.

At the Tram

First stop was the Middleside Barracks, then the different artillery/cannons (aptly called Batteries). As far as I remember, we only visited Battery Way, Grubbs and Crockett. Our last stop before lunch was the Mile-Long Barracks and the Pacific War Memorial.

Middleside Barracks (E-PM1 on Diorama Mode)

Five of us actually sneaked out of the tour group and secretly went up to the lighthouse to take our shots as it wasn’t on the list of our tour stops. We then headed to Corregidor Inn for our buffet lunch and hotel check-in.

Corregidor Lighthouse (E-PM1 on P-Mode)

The first thing that grabbed my attention was the welcome drink, it was a lite pandan-gulaman drink (the glass had two colors, green and red). The buffet menu had 4-5 sets, the tomato minestrone, carbonara pasta, cream beef, seafood paella etc. Didn’t really bother with the salads and the other dishes. Dessert was cut fruits and maja blanca.

Buffet Lunch

After the lunch, we had some socials and introductory greetings from RedDot Philippines and the Olympus delegates. After the short talk, we then checked in to our rooms and took some afternoon rest or siesta.

4:30PM was the continuation of the tour. We went back to Battery Grubbs (highest point on the island) for the sunset viewing then off to the army hospital, hidden inside a forest, for an outlandish evening tour and “ghost hunting”. The tour was quite scary but I definitely had fun as we were all just laughing and playing around. I even took some of one of the pretty tour guides.

Can these really be ghostly ORBS??

Something shocked me on this shot I took before we entered the hospital ruins. Can these be real ghostly orbs? (I just found out about this now while I’m writing this post)

Orbs caught on cam (Cropped from the left side of the photo)

Nah, might be just some dust or particles on the lens. But all of the next frames/shots had none of these.. Hmmm.. Still, I’m not convinced.

Our tour guide at the hospital ruin.

Lance doing long exposures

All shots from Olympus PEN E-PM1 with a YongNuo 460 II manual flash with DIY chopping board diffuser. Used a LED flashlight to help with the focusing

…

After the hospital tour, we went to our last stop for the day, the Malinta Tunnel for a “special” exploratory tour. It was called the Malinta Tunnel Lateral Visit (again with ghost hunting). We were scheduled to explore the Malinta Tunnel including its laterals (or sub-tunnels).

All lights inside the tunnel were shut down and we were only equipped with LED flashlights, a hard hat (helmet), and our PEN cameras.

Tour Group (Malinta Tunnel Lateral Visit)

Bomb Hole (Malinta Tunnel Lateral Visit)

Entering the tunnels (Malinta Lateral Tunnel Visit)

Lateral Tunnels (Malinta Tunnel Lateral Visit)

PiPho Org Group Hug at Malinta Tunnel

First four photos were shot from Olympus PEN E-PM1. Last photo was shot with the Olympus PEN E-P3. A YongNuo 460 II manual flash with DIY chopping board diffuser was used for all photos. A LED flashlight was used to help with the focusing.

It was an exhausting 45 minutes of walk and trek inside the tunnel. I really enjoyed the last part where we were told to turn off all the lights (including flash lights, cellphones and cameras) and find our way out of the lateral tunnels to the main tunnels. We were divided into two groups with each separate tunnels to walk through with absolutely no lights. It’s purpose was to make us feel how it was back then when there was no electricity because of the bombings. Exciting but a bit scary too!

The activity/tour isn’t really advisable for those with Nyctophobia (Fear of the dark) or Claustrophobia (Fear of tight/small spaces), also to those who have heart and lung ailments as air is thin inside the tunnel.

After the tunnel visit we then headed back to the hotel for yet another buffet dinner meal, some refreshments, socials, then finally got some rest. Six of us opted to swim at the pool while enjoying some free beer and snacks. I got to sleep around 12MN. Some of the members had a scheduled star trail and night shoot around 2:30AM. I didn’t bother to wake up as I was so tired. I also missed the sunrise viewing at 5:30AM. I just slept until 8 in the morning when it was already time for breakfast.

…

Breakfast was also a buffet, they served Fried rice, Scrambled eggs, Ham, and their tasty and yummy Tapa. Cereals and Chicken sotanghon soup were also available.

Breakfast

After breakfast, I went out and explored a bit further around the island. I was able to go to the South Beach (Resort Area), the chapel and took some more shots that I could submit for the photo contest. 12PM was check-out time, we had our last lunch buffet at the hotel. Yes another buffet meal for us.

Lunch Buffet (prior to departure)

We were then handed goodies from RedDot and Olympus. A folder with brochure, DVD souvenir, Press release, and a Cross Pen. Wow! Thank you so much!

Goodies from Olympus

Of course, while waiting for the tranvias to arrive, we had to take more group hugs (the PiPho Way).

Group Hug (PiPho, OlyClub, RedDot, Olympus)

PiPho Group Hug (Yari ka Titser Willie!)

PiPho Group Hug (Behaving like kids)

Photos courtesy of Lance Contreras

…

The bus arrived around 2:30PM, picked us up then off to the docks for the boat ride home. We arrived Manila around 4PM.

I already submitted all my chosen shots for the contest (2 entries for landscape, 1 for macro).

Hoping I could win an Olympus Camera. Fingers crossed.

By the way, the prizes at stake are 3 Olympus PEN Cameras and 1 Olympus XZ-1.

I really fell in love with these PEN cameras. Now I’m a big fan.

It was really nice to travel and bond with my PiPho org mates for 2 days. It was great meeting the OlyClub members and the RedDot staff as well.

I hope we could all see each other again.

Thank you so much RedDot Philippines and Olympus for this wonderful opportunity!

…

Original post at The Olympus – PiPho Corregidor Photo Safari

Top 10 Entries

1st Place – Geebee Casiano

2nd Place – Edwin Martinez

3rd Place – Zer Cabatuan

4th Place – Zer Cabatuan

5th Place – Dinno Sandoval

6th Place – Edwin Martinez

7th Place – Aids Tecson

8th Place – Regie Fernando

9th Place – Ralph Licero

10th Place – Edwin Martinez