EDGAR E. SACAYON
Documentary Photographer
CONTACT: edsacayon@gmail.com Cell Phone: +64 022-1533-512 Palmerston North, New Zealand
Copyrighted material
La Paach The photo documentary from “La Paach” was commissioned by UNESCO Guatemala for its inclusion into UNESCO’s World List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, registered in December 2013. The Mayan Mam ceremony which takes place in San Pedro Sacatepequez, is carried out by a local group of elders, who in order to thank mother earth for its blessing, dress up corn cobs which represent nature’s abundance. During the ritual prayers and dances are executed, which are accompanied by traditional dishes.
Cacao Through Generations Theobroma cacao or Cacao, was a sacred plant for the Pre-Columbian Mayan cultures. Now the process of cacao into chocolate has been maintained by families who transfer the processing methods through new generations. The photo documentary made for the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture, depicts how families from the highlands in Guatemala have maintained their culinary traditions.
Milk Bank Antigua Guatemala Hospital is leading the Milk Bank national program. Established with the purpose to reduce newborn deaths and undernourishment. It provides a training center for other Milk Bank in the region. Medics and nurses provide health services to women who voluntarily donate breast milk. A lab analyzes and sterilizes the breast milk which is then provided to newborn babies. The documentary was made for the World Health Organization.
Xibalba The Candelaria Caves, the biggest archaeological cave complex in Guatemala, are also known as the entry to the Mayan Underworld or “Xibalba�. Two Qeqchi communities where empowered by rural development projects to manage the National Park through ecotourism and biodiversity conservation. Since their initial struggle to claim their land rights they have been successful to protect one of the cultural and natural heritage sites of Guatemala.
Tikal 20 Years of AECID For the 20 anniversary of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation a coffee table book was produced. The photographs accompany the texts of archaeologists and architects who’s work has made possible understanding early stages of the Acropolis, The Lost World and the Seven Temples Palaces in Tikal.
The President´s Security Brigades The president from Guatemala Otto Pérez Molina announces the deployment of the new security brigades that will team with police squads. During the activities sniper shooters guard the vicinities of Guatemala’s National Palace in which high ranking officials and the Ministry of Defense are present. Crime rates in Guatemala are still scaling and Otto Pérez is criticized by the opposition due to its “Firm Hand” policy lack of effectiveness.
John Kerry visits Guatemala During the 43d Assembly of the Organization of American States, held in Antigua Guatemala the U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry visited the country. Bodyguards and armored vehicles blocked traffic and passers. Kerry also met with Venezuelan Chancellor to strengthen political relations between both countries.
Drug Lords attack police station It is unknown whether the seven policeman where killed for betrayal or just as a sign of the power of Guayo Cano, a drug lords in Guatemala who belongs to the Zetas cartel. The families of the 7 policemen receive the condolences from the president Otto PĂŠrez Molina.
Manuel Baldizon rise to power Red is the color of LIDER, the Guatemala’s opposition political party. Manuel Baldizon the future candidate to run for president holds a meeting in Escuintla, where thousands of followers attend. Arriving in helicopters and with a strong security body resembling drug cartels, Baldizon addresses the crowd.
Magacin 21 Cultural agenda with articles and interview of artists, writers and influential people in Guatemala. Weekly magazine in printed format and distributed nationwide in the Siglo 21 Newspaper weekend edition.
Guatemalan Orchid Society Every year the Guatemalan Orchid Society holds a contest to select the best breeders in the country. On the right an orchid belonging to the genus Lepanthes, is one of Coban’s endemic miniature species recently discovered by Botanist Freddy Archila.
Diving a fun activity for the family A story published by Magacin 21 to portray leisure and travel activities for the family during holidays. The open water course was undertaken to portray a diving trip, which was made to Punta de Manabique in the Caribbean.