By Raneil Antonio Ibay
Last Friday Oct. 01, 2010 4:00PM, the coffeetable book “Watersheds: Sheltering Life “ was launched by Wide Angle Media and Haribon Foundation at the GMA Network’s Executive Lounge. This is a project of the National Power Corporation along with Wide Angle Media as publisher.
Jon Ave, Publisher and Creative Director of Wide Angle Media and fellow Framed Shots Camera Club member tapped me to be one of the two photographers (him being the other one) for this project along with Grace Roxas as writer and Cholo Florencio as Project Director.
The program started with Mr. Blas Tabaranza of Haribon who acted as emcee, introduced Vice President for News Program Jessica Soho who gave the welcome remarks, Mr. Marlo Mendoza of DENR, Mr. Froilan Tampinco, National Power Corporation President and Jesus Francisco, Chairman of Haribon Foundation also gave meaningful messages about preserving and caring for our watersheds and a short audio-visual presentation using photos from the coffeetable book was shown by Haribon.
Mr. Mendoza, Mr. Tampinco, Mr. Francisco, Ms. Soho’s representative and Jon Ave unveiled the coffeetable book after which Jon delivered a very short message.
A mini exhibit of some of the photos used in the coffeetable book were on display at the hall as the NPC Chorale entertained us while we enjoyed the cocktails and guests got their copies of the coffeetable book. What amused me more was this kid who hopes to be a photographer someday coming up to us and having us sign his copy. It was both thrilling as having a young fan wanting you to sign his copy and daunting as you have this kid inspired by what we’ve done and have the power to affect such young lives.
The launch ended with a lot of books sold or pledged for by companies and individuals willing to help out in this cause. Proceeds of the book will go to Haribon’s ROAD to 2020 program that aims to restore a million hectares of Philippine forests using native species by the year 2020.
