PHL-based bank launches photo contest against blindness

“Capturing Timeless Visions,” a photo competition launched by Standard Chartered Bank, is raising funds for the bank’s “Seeing is Believing” campaign.   The campaign tackles avoidable blindness in the country by providing eye-screening tests and addressing vitamin deficiencies that lead to vision impairment.   According to Standard Chartered CEO Mahendra Gursahani, the winning photographs from the competition will be auctioned off to charity.   “It is the first photo contest we are having in the Philippines that I’m aware of. We just thought that we wanted to find a way to connect the ‘Seeing is Believing’ program and we found no better way than to tie up photography, which really has all to do with image and vision,” said Gursahani.   “There is so much beauty to be captured in the world and yet there are millions of people that suffer from avoidable blindness. So there is a connection between what we’re trying to achieve and – symbolically – what we’re doing,” he added.   The competition invites participants to capture images that portray Filipino heritage and culture. Values, Heritage, and People   The contest has professional and enthusiast divisions, with three categories under each division. Pros are for those who get paid for taking pictures and the enthusiasts do not receive money for their work.   The three categories are “Values,” “Heritage,” and “People.”   One photo from each category will be selected as the best by a board of judges, composed of both photography experts and executives from Standard Chartered Bank. Professionals and enthusiasts will be judged separately.   The winner under the professional division will receive P100,000 and P10,000 for each winner in each category. For the enthusiasts, the main prize is P50,000 and P5,000 for each category winner. Participants may submit their entries starting July 28. Deadline for submission of entries is Aug. 31 for Metro Manila and Sept. 1 for those in the provinces.   Submissions should be addressed to One Workshop Inc. at Suite 324 LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St., Bel-Air II, Makati City.   Complete mechanics and entry forms are available on the Standard Chartered website.  — VS, GMA News