SinagLarawan: A picture paints a thousand stories
It is said that behind every great photo is a greater story.
Looking at last year’s winners/finalists of the SinagLarawan national photo contest, we were truly touched, nay deeply moved, by the heartwarming stories behind the photographs waiting to be told. Stories of resilience, of unwavering faith, of hoping against hope, of toiling endlessly to survive, of dreaming big despite having so little.
Now in its third year, SinagLarawan, a Community Investment initiative by JTI Philippines, is back to recognize the creativity, skill, and caliber of our own photographers from all over the country, and shine a light on the values, traits, culture, and traditions that mold the Filipino identity.
This year’s photo contest is bigger, awarding a total of P2.5 million in cash prizes. And judging from the SRO attendance of photographers from various photo clubs at the launch, JTI expects a lot more entries this year. Fact is, as soon as the contest website was launched last July 1, entries started pouring in.
One on this island
Open for entries until Sept. 25, SinagLarawan 2025 focuses on the theme “Isa sa Isla,” highlighting the very Filipino ways in which water has nurtured Connection, Collective Spirit, and Community.
“Remember the three Cs,” Faith Mondejar, JTI Community Investment manager, gently reminds the photographers. “The Philippines being an island nation, water isn’t merely essential for survival; it is a way of life for Filipinos. But the theme of the contest is not water in the literal sense. It is how our lives in the islands are linked by water and how it brings Filipinos together, whether through work or livelihood, cultural activities like festivals or rituals, or during difficult times like natural disasters when the unsinkable bayanihan spirit binds us together as we reach out to support each other.”
Faith stresses, “We’re all islanders and we stand as one on this island.”
Guilherme Silva, JTI Philippines general manager, elaborates, “Alongside our focus on people and the environment, we are committed to transformative projects in arts and culture, such as SinagLarawan which is a standout initiative that promotes artistic development and helps drive cultural preservation, using the powerful art of photography to highlight the unique Filipino traditions and characteristics.”
He adds, “Not only will we hold this contest every year—we will also grow its importance and reach. So we’re bringing this project to many different places across the Philippines, like Cebu and Davao, in the coming days. We will involve as many as possible—photography clubs and schools, the photography community.”
Prizes galore
The grand winner, or SinagLarawan of the Year, will receive a cash prize of P150,000 and a trophy while his photo club will receive P30,000 and a certificate. The first runner-up will receive P120,000 while his photo club will get P25,000. The second runner-up will be awarded a cash prize of P100,000 while his photo club will get P20,000.
Eight winners will be awarded as part of the Circle of Excellence, each receiving a cash prize of P80,000, while their respective clubs will get P10,000.
This year, there will be a total of 13 Special Awards, each winner receiving P50,000. Up for grabs are the Rehiyon Awards for the top 3 photographers from Luzon, Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as the special JTI Employee Choice Award. Nobody will be left out as all the regions of the country are covered.
Also, 76 finalists will be named as part of the top 100 roster, each receiving P10,000 in cash. Looks like nobody is going home empty-handed.
The top 24 winners will be featured in an exhibition and awards event in November while the photos will be included in a special-edition calendar. All 100 winning photographs will be featured in a coffee-table book.
Interested?
SinagLarawan 2025 photo contest is open to all members of photography clubs and independent photographers endorsed by a photography club, 18 years old and above.
All entries must be submitted through the official JTI website, jtisinaglarawan.com, until Sept. 25. Eligible photographers must submit one digital photo and include a title, a brief description in English of how the entry captures the theme, and the locale where the photo submission was taken. Participants are allowed only one entry each. Only photos taken from Jan. 2023 to Sept. 2025 are eligible for the contest.
For the detailed contest mechanics, visit the official website at jtisinaglarawan.com.
To drum up interest in this initiative outside Metro Manila, SinagLarawan is holding roadshows in Cebu, July 23, and Davao, July 30.
So, to all the photographers out there: Are you ready to tell your stories?
