Message of Dapitan city Vice-Mayor Ruben E. Cad to the participants of the 11th Professional Photojournalism and Documentary Photography workshop

Dapitan city Vice-Mayor Ruben E. Cad (middle, in blue shirt), officers and members of the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines, and participants of the 11th Professional Photojournalism and Documentary Photography workshop pose for the camera after a meeting on November 22, 2016.

Message of Dapitan city Vice-Mayor Ruben E. Cad to the participants of the 11th Professional Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Workshop
November 22, 2016

Management and staff of the Photojournalist Center of the Philippines
Organizers and Facilitators of this worthwhile undertaking
Our resource speakers
Participants coming from all over the country
Friends, ladies and gentlemen
Good morning!

I take pride and honor to be a part of this prestigious gathering. We do appreciate that you have chosen Dapitan City to be the venue of this highly rewarding endeavor. Allow me then to welcome you all to our humble home….the Shrine City of the Philippines and the National Heritage Zone and Historic Center of the Philippines!

PHOTOJOURNALISM is not only a skill or an art…or just a career. Photojournalism for me…is more of a vocation…. Like a writer, a photojournalist is a reporter, they are bent to make decisions instantly and carry photographic equipment with utmost care and responsibility in the fulfillment of their duties… while oftentimes exposed to physical danger, stormy weather, uncontrollable crowds and the like.

Indeed, a photojournalist's job is to tell a story with pictures. Perhaps more importantly, his goal is to convey the truth through the images he captures with his camera.With the advent of the Internet, smartphones, and digital photography, photojournalism has become more popular than ever.I believe that photojournalism is a very valid form of journalism. A photography often can capture things that words cannot. It’s said, a picture is worth a thousand of words. The hardness of a situation, the faces of the image, feeling, focus ... these are things that can not be displayed with the words and if you see a picture…it is all well enough.

On behalf of City Mayor Rosalina Jalosjos and the members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, I wish you all a productive week ahead of you, also wishing that you enjoy Dapitan and make memorable moments among yourselves in this journey to the past.

Again good morning and thank you.