TF fotog lauded over viral photo
The Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) has commended The FREEMAN photojournalist Kristine Joyce Campaña for her contribution to the agency’s social responsibility initiatives.
CPPO Director Eric Noble said Campaña’s photos of garbage scattered along the beach in Barangay Pook, Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island during the Holy Week prompted his office to help clean the shore.
“I would like to publicly commend that act, iyong pagkuha ng pictures doon sa trash. Nagising kami. Ang mga pulis nagising din. Dahil dun, namick-up sila ng basura… that act of her, parang nasindihan ang mga pulis na sila’y makakalikasan. Maganda, naremind kami,” Noble said.
He added, “Maganda ang naidudulot ng social media. Sana, may susunod pa na magagandang bagay na magiging dahilan na magigising ang mga kababayan natin."
The area that featured in Campaña’s photos was where the controversial music festival was held during the Holy Week. The Catholic Church has protested the event, but hundreds still attended the festival.
On the day Campaña’s photo was posted on The FREEMAN’s Facebook page on Good Friday, tourists have camped out by the beach, many of their liquor and water bottles scattered not far away.
Noble said he immediately called his men and the local government unit to take action after he saw the photo. The cleanliness drive continued until Easter Sunday. “Iyung mga pulis natin naglinis bago umalis,” he said. Noble said his hope is for people to take initiative. “Sana kasi, dito sa Pilipinas, magiging normal na ang hindi normal,” he said.
As of yesterday, Campaña’s first photo of the garbage reached 252,179 Facebook users; generated 1,300 reactions, and shared 862 times. Campaña said she did not expect her images to have such impact, much more commendation.
“Surprised. I did not expect it because I was just doing my job, but I am thankful because they were able to notice the real message of the photos,” she said.
The commendation from the PNP came on the heels of negative feedback on the same photo with several Facebook users questioning why Campaña did not simply clean the garbage herself.
But Campaña said, “Everyone has something to say about something. I let their judgments be because not everyone understands the job of a photojournalist.”
She also reiterated that the photo was not manufactured or staged, contrary to the allegation of other netizens.
“I will just continue to do my job. I hope this serves as a wake-up call. As photojournalists, we capture what is real. We do not stage anything,” she said.