Pinoy bags grand prize in UN photo contest in Seoul

A Filipino musician working at an international hotel chain in Gyeongju, Korea, won a photo competition sponsored by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) last August 30.

Ronnie Dayo was proclaimed overall winner of the “2014 Focus on Your World” International Environmental Photo Competition by the UN for his piece "Fire," which depicted silhouetted persons trying to extinguish a raging fire.

Dayo was awarded a certificate and a cash price of ?5 million (roughly P211,000) by UNEP Korea vice president and former Minister of Environment Kim Jong-wie during a ceremony.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez said in a statement that Dayo's win demonstrated "the versatility and talent of Filipinos."

Entries to the competition were judged based on the themes of "Beautiful Planet", "Small Hope", and "Raise your voice, not the sea level." Dayo was able to meet the three criteria, which won him the grand prize of the competition.

According to Korea BizWire, the contest awarded 50 works out of  3,350 entries, giving out prize money equivalent to ?27.2 million (roughly P1.15 million).

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the  competition was held this year to "encourage greater understanding of the importance of Small Islands Developing States and of the urgency to help protect the islands in the face of growing risks and vulnerabilities." —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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