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The official student photography folio of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
STUDENT PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
BENILDEAN PRESS CORPS AY 2017-2018
Acting Editor in Chief Associate Editor for Print Associate Editor for Digital Media Creative Director Managing Editor News Editor Sports Editor Features Editor Kultura Editor Literary Editor Photo Editor Art + Design Editor Layout Editor Digital Media Editor Head Training and Development Coordinator Publications Coordinator Operations Assistant
Thea Torres Thea Torres Mark Baltazar Nash Cruz Francesca Federizon Mark Baltazar Jan Renolo Mac Fabella Symon Lao Thea Torres Sace Natividad M.j. Ronquillo Alexei Trajano Koy Bayot Mr. Juan Miguel Lago Ms. Rizalyn Lagman—Manalili Ms. Dayanara T. Cudal Ms. Catherine Bucud
Dekunstrukt is the official photography folio of the students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB). No part of this folio may be produced, whether by photocopying, scanning or by any other means, without written permission from the Student Publications Office (SPO). Copyright 2018. For inquiries, visit the SPO at 2/F Br. Miguel Febres Cordero Bldg., DLS-CSB, 2544 Taft Avenue, Manila, or call (02) 230-5100 local 1521.
Life is an ever-playing movie. Take a still.
In troubled times, ending everything may seem like the easier option. As dark as it sounds, it’s one of life’s truths that all of us can’t run away from; yet, at the end of the day, we still continue to strive until the first ray of sunshine peeks through. On a personal note, as someone with the tendency to abruptly end his own journey, days can be so dark that you don’t remember how the hours pass by. I honestly never knew I’d reach a place where I would always want to keep pressing on this ever-playing movie called life. I’ve found there’s nothing I want to do more than to immortalize the stills that make up the person I am today. Every waking experience is captured in a memory, and reminds us of how we become braver in the aftermath. In this year’s Dekunstrukt, the official photography folio of the students of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, we wander into the depths of our past memories, moments, and journeys that have pushed us forward to where we stand today. In this edition, we removed the technical restrictions of photography, hence there’s no squabble about camera gear, shooting formats, and others. We focused on the stories behind the photographs, setting the spotlight on the hearts of the photographers rather than the overpowering aesthetics of the image. Immortalized in “Seasons of Love,” one of rock musical Rent’s most famous songs, the ever-familiar lyrics “525,600 minutes, 525,600 moments, oh dear” at first seemed to just be an easy reminder to memorize the minutes in a year. But after listening to it multiple times, it taught me how to value each moment not for its length; but for the emotions it evokes, the perspectives it changed, and the irreplaceable value it brings. It taught me to change how I view my life’s journey. More importantly, it taught me to hold on. As you go through the pages of Dekunstrukt, may the photos embody the lives, emotions, and memories that were lived, felt, and kept between seconds. May these same photos ignite a fire in you to capture your own stories. Regardless if it is the darkest or the brightest of days, the fastest or the slowest of moments, or the strangest or the sweetest of choices, may the stills you make be the best-loved frame of somebody in their ever-playing movie, as it is in yours. Welcome to the ever-playing movie of our lives, we present to you “Dekunstrukt: Stills.”
Sace Natividad
Photo Editor
Editor
Photographers
Layout Artists
Marketing
Illustrators Managers Writers
Web Developer
Lester Adal Jennifer Agarpao Kristen Alimbuyuguen Nelissa Chua Rikki Cornelio Adrian Cruz Nash Cruz Mhyn Dacua Raymundo K. de Guzman Elaiza Mae Dela Pena Rigel Estabaya Matthew Gan Chelsea Go Cue
Tristan A. Jacalan Allyson Grace R. Javellana Joshua Mabini Joseph Edward J. Macion Paolinna Priscila Magno Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu Kayla Danielle Matutina Ericka Mikaela J. Montejo Patricia Oliveros Chelsea Nicole Pineda Agatha Ramos Juan Paolo Rasonable Ella Mae Regala
Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador Jan Renolo Jean Irish Reyes Jazz Solomon Paul Temperante Gab Torres Thea Torres Immanuel P. Ureta Angel Roland J. Villena Priscilla Denise M. Viterbo Loi Yan
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Paalala Po Sa Lahat
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Family First
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Timpi
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Abandoned
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The Blind Musician
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Waves Don’t Die, Right?
Ella Mae Regala
Paolinna Priscila Magno
Kel Santos
Mac Ypon
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snooze
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Barefoot
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Out of Focus
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Beyond the chaos: Batanes Two Tired Bois
Basura
Stopover
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Contact sheets from the past
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Ito ang Quiapo
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Spam Cans
Sace Natividad
38
Madonna and His Child Gab Torres
Jennifer Agarpao
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I am Silenced
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kain na
Sace Natividad
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Stolen Smiles Chelsea Nicole Pineda
Beyond Horizons
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Banaue Reppin’
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pauwi na
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Ihip
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Synonyms
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La Union Wave
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Truth
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kaltas
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Nag-aabang
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photoshoot
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Train Track
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Transit
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After Stress Over Noon
Nelissa Chua
Agatha Ramos
Patricia Oliveros
Agatha Ramos
Sace Natividad
Sace Natividad
Mhyn Dacua
Matthew Gan
Sace Natividad
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“Ate ‘yung camera mo!”
John Roel S. Hernandez
Thea Torres
Gwen Stefanie S. Maglapu
Jazz Solomon
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Tras-lason
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Lost in Japan
Kyle Bustos
Agatha Ramos
Angel Roland J. Villena
Ricardo Yan II
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Sace Natividad
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Sace Natividad
Afternoon Stroll
Kristen Alimbuyuguen
Rigel Estabaya
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Agatha Ramos
Sace Natividad
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Kyle Bustos
Passing By
Mac Ypon
Self-Portrait Kyle Bustos
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Chelsea Nicole Pineda
Rikki Cornelio
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Selina
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The King
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Conk Out
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Glitch in the matrix
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No time. More time.
Mac Ypon
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Oh, he saw me
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Karapatan
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The Pugilist
Sace Natividad
Sace Natividad
Paul Temperante
Jan Renolo Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu
Jan Renolo
Kristen Alimbuyuguen
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Miguel Agatha Ramos
Raymundo K. de Guzman
Nash Cruz
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Mark
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Pressure
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seaside suman
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head low
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classic
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Escape
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Maynila
116
States of Still
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Solitary
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Sun Chasers
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Lumalaban
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Japan at Night
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Bawal Mabasag
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Kids
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We will not be silenced
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A break from everyday life
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safe place
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Sorbetes
104
Sigaw ng Mindanao
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Dressing Room
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kakauwi lang from xiamen
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Probinsya
Agatha Ramos
Loi Yan
Allyson Grace R. Javellana
Sace Natividad
Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador
Tristan A. Jacalan
Immanuel P. Ureta
Juan Paolo Rasonable
Lester Adal
Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador
Sace Natividad
Gab Torres
Lester Adal
Jazz Solomon
Joshua Mabini
Chelsea Go Cue
Joseph Edward J. Macion
Juan Carlos V. Galvez
Jazz Solomon Agatha Ramos
Thea Torres
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Soil. Stone. Ash
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Higher
Joseph Edward J. Macion
Elaiza Mae Dela Pena
Loi Yan
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One Last Look
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Sace Natividad
leven and patlu Loi Yan
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doesn’t cost you a thing to be nice
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Gawang Kamay
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Lost Kel Santos
Kristen Alimbuyuguen
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Instilled Moments Priscilla Denise M. Viterbo
Gritty Bacolod Thea Torres
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Lourdes
Sace Natividad
108
Erika Mikaela J. Montejo
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Marlon
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“I thirst.” (John 19:29)
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Labor to Satisfy Labor
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Spare Time
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Thalassophile
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Tiny People in Big Places
Sace Natividad
The Sound Behind (Shake) Elaiza Mae Dela Pena
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to waltermart Thea Torres
Diorama Series Tristan A. Jacalan
Jazz Solomon
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Ride Home Kayla Danielle Matutina
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Juan Paolo Rasonable
Timothy Joseph S. Lubid
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restless nights
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Manila Bay
Nelissa Chua
Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu
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Haligi
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Tay
Sace Natividad
Adrian Cruz
Jean Irish Reyes
Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador
First. Last. Four Years. Sace Natividad
Ella Mae Regala Naalala mo ba ang mga panahon sa iyong unang munting paraiso? Kung saan mo natutunan mamuhay ng simple at matiwasay.
I always have the perspective when it comes to living in the province that it is all about being less extravagant when it comes to lifestyle. The setting where the photo was taken is what I consider a special place in my life. This is where my Lolo showed me a glimpse of what it feels like to be content with what I have. Luckily, I have captured an example of how simple the way of life is in the province. I will always have the feeling of coming back home, and this photo is dedicated to my Lolo.
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Paolinna Priscila Magno 18
Ang pagkaburyo ay minsa’y nakakaaning.
Kel Santos The world can see his visions through his music.
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Kyle Bustos It was my first time to go hiking and I wanted to show how cathartic and calming it was to overcome my fear of heights and see how breathtaking the place was despite the misery it put me through. 20
Kyle Bustos A barefooted Nazareno devotee removing a piece of debris he stepped on after raging the crowd of Traslacion.
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Rigel Estabaya Stills from the land beyond the chaos of the country and into nature’s purest form.
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Sace Natividad Alexei, kaya pa ba? Koy, kaya pa ba?
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Sace Natividad
Jennifer Agarpao
A “gas station� for water buffalos, I guess? 24
Basta Quiapo, puno ng kwento. Nakunan ko ang mga litratong iyon sa paligid ng Quiapo taong 2016. Kasama ko ang aking mga kaibigan ng mga araw na iyon at doon ko pa lang din naikot at napagmasdan nang masinsinan ang Quiapo. Sobrang daming nangyayari sa paligid, kabi-kabilang istorya, kabi-kabilang negosyo at marami pang iba. Sa aking pag-iikot, doon ko napansin ang isang lola na masigasig na nagtitinda ng Sampaguita malapit naman sa kanya ay ang isang batang nagtitinda naman ng malamig na tubig. Sila ay ilan lamang sa mga Pilipinong masigasig na nagtatrabaho makasabay lamang sa agos ng buhay. Sana ay gawin silang halimbawa ng mga taong hindi napapansin sa kung ano ang mayroon sila. 25
Chelsea Nicole Pineda Sace Natividad I’m pretty sure his siblings were made from Spam cans.
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Stolen shots of people expressing their happiness.
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Mac Ypon Some moments of my life I wanted to immortalize.
Sace Natividad 28
But not forgotten.
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Mac Ypon
Kristen Alimbuyuguen
Some moments of my life I wanted to immortalize.
A man snoozing on a hot day in the Sunday market.
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Sace Natividad Sometimes your gear is as stubborn as you are.
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Angel Roland J. Villena The series consists of photos of nothing more than what the title suggests.
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Ricardo Yan II Cold edit of unpublished photos. These were taken a few years ago and somehow were never shown in public. I was starting out that time and just exploring. There are those times in our lives when we meet someone so perfect that we fall into obsession but somehow deny it. I guess this is my way of forgetting it and leaving it all together in the past.
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Gab Torres She saw me. She did not say a word. She did not need to.
Jan Renolo At a Christmas party, we were only a thin black fabric apart. I found her peeping through the parted curtains, or she found me wanting to go home. 38
The first boy who held my hand told me boys don’t want to hear about vaginas bleeding.
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Kristen Alimbuyuguen Eating Ramen on a relatively cold day.
Agatha Ramos Typical Miguel with his soup.
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Agatha Ramos
Nelissa Chua The depth of the ocean is futile in bridging a better world.
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Agatha Ramos Patricia Oliveros Alike, but never the same. 44
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Walking through the streets of Melbourne, I came across what would be one of the more common sights; activists protesting for change, demanding better treatment for whichever minority group was the current flavor of the week. A month ago it was refugee rights. A week ago it was for Aboriginal equality (yet ironically there was not a single Aboriginal in the protest). Today, it’s the fight for better treatment of...chickens. Amidst all the protesting, the truth gets drowned out by different agendas, all fighting for different things every week. It’s sad, really, how beautiful things worth fighting for are reduced to nothing more than trends at the whim of people.
Matthew Gan Protest in Bourke Street, Melbourne, 2018 Contax 137 Ektar 100. 46
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Sace Natividad Minsan ang demonyo hindi nag-aabang sa ilalim ng lupa, minsan nasa tabi-tabi lamang siya.
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Jazz Solomon And with those four words, I realized it was the moment I lost my phone.
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Kyle Bustos The events of Traslacion 2018 through my eyes.
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Mac Ypon Some moments of my life I wanted to immortalize
Chelsea Nicole Pineda 52
To more adventures.
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Sace Natividad
Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu
I guess I wasn’t as sneaky as I thought I was.
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This was the first time in a long time that my brother and I got back into boxing. We were so exhausted that my brother, who develops my film rolls, had multiple accidents processing my film. The results, to me, really added to the grit and the feeling of exhaustion created by the photo set.
Raymundo K. de Guzman You get knocked down five times, you get up six times.
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Sace Natividad Agatha Ramos
Three wheels on the mountains.
Somewhere in Batangas.
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Sace Natividad Kulang na lang mapakanta ako ng “O kay bilis namang maglaho ng pag-ibig mo sinta, daig mo pa ang isang kisapmata,� tapos naisip ko nandito pa pala siya.
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Mhyn Dacua
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John Roel S. Hernandez Kaltas sa bayarin ang laging iniisip kahit buwis buhay ang kapalit. Makatulong sa pamilya at sa pagbawas ng polusyon ngunit katabi ang peligro sa buhay. 62
Thea Torres Climb every mountain.
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Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu 64
Agatha Ramos Where are we headed?
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Sace Natividad #NoToJeepneyPhaseOut
Rikki Cornelio Isang hapon ng kapaguran, sakripisyo para sa kinabukasan.
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Paul Temperante One sunny day in Hong Kong.
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Jan Renolo Do I wanna live the rest of my life through a high-technology brick?
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Nash Cruz
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Agatha Ramos I remember listening to ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ for the first time way back in 2011.
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Loi Yan “Smoky” (Torres, 2018).
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Sace Natividad Allyson Grace R. Javellana
“Hoy, konti lang sa akin ah! Walang basagan ngayon. May trabaho pa bukas!�
Everything seems to be in place.
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Sabi ko nga kay Kyle, hindi proven na photojournalist ka kung hindi mo pa na-experience na a few hours before the event lasing ka pero kinaya at kakayanin mo pa rin mag-cover sa ngalan ng journalism.
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Gab Torres Ready for another show?
Agatha Ramos Find us @ ‘Dejas.
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Priscilla Denise M. Viterbo Sace Natividad
A glimpse within the moments created through appreciating the art of one’s life.
He knew his time was up, but he also knew that it was going to hurt him so badly. So before the doors started closing, he took his time to look back for one last look. 78
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Thea Torres This is my favorite pedestrian lane.
Thea Torres 80
Kadamo gakatabo sa probinsiya ko.
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Kayla Danielle Matutina Same view, same route, but a different perspective for each ride. Let every ride home be an adventure.
There’s something about commuting to and from a place I consider home, Katipunan. The things I see on the way may be ordinary, but once I put on my earphones and my perspective changes, it becomes an adventure, a movie scene.
Nelissa Chua In the streets of Thailand, a variety of street vendors can be seen working through the hot humid nights.
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Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador Gwen Stefanie S. Malgapu 84
Lowkey, no pressure.
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I took this photo in Bali. I was down to my last few shots and I wanted to finish my film roll so I can load a fresh one for tomorrow. I was walking around the beach when I saw this woman telling her family to go to the hotel ahead, she had an Australian accent and a funny hat, I remember it vividly. As her husband and children were walking away, this woman went over to one of the drink vendors and bought herself a beer. I watched her curiously as she sat down, drink her beer, and enjoy the sunset. I casually walked closer to her and waited for the perfect moment to take the photo. Now every time I look at the sunset, I think about that Australian lady with the funny hat, who just wanted to escape for a moment and enjoy the simple things in life.
Tristan A. Jacalan Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all. 86
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Juan Paolo Rasonable Some days are simply meant for playing.
Immanuel P. Ureta Sunsets are meant to be chased. 88
Every time I see kids, I always bring out my camera because I know that something interesting is going to happen.
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Lester Adal Minsan, gusto ko na lang bumalik sa mga araw na pambili lang ng ice cream ang problema ko.
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Loi Yan Sana bumalik na siya.
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Loi Yan
Sace Natividad
Hard at work.
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Jazz Solomon Sace Natividad A happy Marlon.
“After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.� While waiting for the Black Nazarene, devotees who live along the route charitably gave away bags of water to other devotees who walked along the procession.
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Sace Natividad
Timothy Joseph S. Lubid
Sa ilalim ng mga nagsasayawang leon at dragon ay ang mga haligi na nagbibigay buhay sa mga ito.
These men work hard to serve other people. 96
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Adrian Cruz “Anak, hintayin mo ako, pauwi na ako.”
Lester Adal “Mam’ser, suman mam’ser.”
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Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador Kaguluhang babalik-balikan.
Sace Natividad 100
Kung hindi ka lumalaban, para saan pa ang iyong boses?
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Jazz Solomon Young leaders and journalists call for watchful eyes as press freedom faces threats on its sovereignty. In the famous words of Mad-Eye Moody, “Constant vigilance!� 102
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Jazz Solomon
“End martial law!” Mindanaoans call to end martial law a year after its declaration on May 2017— an end for countless human rights violations, killings, and bombings. 104
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Kristen Alimbuyuguen Joshua Mabini Children playing on the boat.
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An old lady being helped by a Benildean guard.
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Ericka Mikaela J. Montejo
Elaiza Mae Dela Pena
Lumipas man ang oras o kumulubot man ang balat, hindi edad ang nagdidikta sa pagkamalikhain ng bawat isa.
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Taking these photos helps me create a story that I fail to put into words. We all have our own way of spending our free time.
Juan Paolo Rasonable
Tristan A. Jacalan
Everyone has their own story to tell.
Sometimes you just need to get away from it all.
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Jean Irish Reyes I think it’s ironic how a vast body of water makes me feel small but more importantly free.
Migi Yeorgos P. Remolador Architecture in a foreign land.
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This is my cousin. He’s only 13 years old, but he’s been working as the breadwinner of his family since he and his family discovered he had the gift of gab among the locals in his neighborhood. He started out helping jeepney drivers and street vendors call for more customers. By the beach near their house at a squatter area, he learned how to swim because he started helping out fishermen just so he can bring home some extra food for his Lola. During our Tita’s birthday, he came along and had the time of his life. This is his first time in a swimming pool, resting among waters he became familiar with because of scarcity and hardship.
Thea Torres And don’t sink!
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These photos were taken when I myself wanted to find some quiet from everything that was happening to me, around me, and in me, at that time in my life.
Chelsea Go Cue States of Still are people captured in their quiet moments, amidst the disturbances around them.
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Joseph Edward J. Macion
Juan Carlos V. Galvez
Quiet
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Joseph Edward J. Macion Journey of life.
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Elaiza Mae Dela Pena 121
Kel Santos 122
Where are you? 123
I met her when I was 13 and she was 11, it was a period in my life where I just started to learn about labels but all I know is that everything was better when I’m with her. For the next four years, we grew up together, learning each other’s differences, similarities, and emotions. People passed us by, boys, girls, and many more. The world was painted differently as we walked together on paths that sometimes joined or separated along the way. Although, we can’t expect that everything would last despite how beautiful it was, right? Four years. It bursted, burned, screamed but it was time to diffuse it. It wasn’t a beautiful goodbye, it was enclosed in a ball of anger and pain. Fast forward to four years later after the last talk, one message was sent. Closing the chapter that lingered way too long. Ending in a note that despite what happened or how it ended, gratitude is present as it helped the both grow to the people who they are today. Four years ago, I was tasked to shoot a photo for a piece about things that went wrong, this is the last photo I took of her.
Sace Natividad She’s the water that roared waves as the air breezed above her. 124
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To the people of SPO: Sir JM, Ms. Riza, Ms. Cathy, and Ms. Dayan, thank you for the unending love and trust to build this idea into reality. Beyond this, to our publications coordinator, Ms. Dayan, thank you for bringing out the brightest of colors when the days seemed dark. To the Dekunstrukt team, Photo, Digital Media, Managing, Literary, and Layout sections— Marlon, Jazz, Agatha, Miguel, JC, Kitty, Kyle, Sonya, Miggy, Gab, and Alyssa—despite the lack of pillars in the progress, we were still able to produce this year’s Dekunstrukt. My heart goes out to you for sacrificing endless nights and attending frequent meetings; words will never be enough to express how thankful I am to have this team by my side. May this passion and talent be the light of the next generation and may the stills of your lives be filled with pieces that your hearts will be forever proud of.
The Benildean Press Corps would like to thank everyone who looked back and shared immortalized stills of their lives, letting the world take a peek into their stories through photographs.
To Nash and Brian, thanks for helping in curating the contents of the folio. To Thea, thank you for being the ray of sunshine when the days are covered with rain-bearing clouds. I will be forever thankful that you were there in times we needed guidance. To my co-editors in the Editorial Board, as we close the publication year with this folio, thank you for coming along this journey. We may take separate paths now, but I hope we will share the same path again in the future. To Jazz, Marlon, and Ms. Dayan, before you came into my life, photographs were just photographs, always for work or something seemingly unimportant—but everything changed when the memories, the laughter, and tears that built this friendship immortalized my life’s stills. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the endless support and love that goes beyond the walls of the organization. To you, it’s funny how the universe only gave such a small window of time for me to know you, but I guess the dices and cards were played the right way because I was able to meet you in this world of chances. Thank you for changing everything, for being the fuel to make this fire burn brighter, for being the push I needed to continue moving forward. You know who you are and you’ll always have a place in my ever-playing movie, in my life. Finally, this year’s Dekunstrukt would not be possible without the hundreds of photo submissions from Benildean students who shared with us the frames that built who they are. Here’s to the longest movie we’ll ever see—our lives.
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