Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood
Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood in its first of three venues had its launch at the Podium last September 5, 2018.
My first foray into being a mom was thirteen years ago. As I recall it again now, I never really knew what to expect back then, let alone know what to do … and sometimes, I admit that I still don't, even after having my second one. I'm still learning how to parent my children as they grow. I take every situation as they come, praying that whatever I teach, guide and the way I discipline my girls is the best course of action for them. My eldest turns 13 next month and I cringe with the thought of being a parent to a teenager -- we all know what it was like to be one and I try to take it all in stride.
That's the thing about parenting, you never really know exactly what to do. Since my wedding and pregnancy were one of the earliest amongst our group of friends, I felt that there really wasn't anyone who could relate to me, someone who I could articulate my thoughts and emotions to amongst my peers. Part of me was afraid that I would dissuade them from having one of the best experiences one could ever have as a woman -- being a mother -- albeit it is a difficult journey. Another part of me was just begging to talk to someone, and just let it all out. Thankfully, now I am surrounded by family and dear friends who embark on their motherhood journey with me, and I am never alone.
"It takes a village to raise a child." I heard Oprah say this African proverb on one of her shows, and it just stuck. Now that I have children of my own, I know this saying to be very real. More than parents, there are indeed other people that help nurture the child to be the best person he or she can possibly be. But what about those neglected, abandoned and orphaned children living in the streets, those who are lost and don't have the same kind of support system? What becomes of them? Are they condemned to live a life of crime, substance abuse and become the constant social nuisance? SOS Children's Villages International believes otherwise. In 1949, Hermann Gmeiner founded the first SOS Children's Village in Imst, Austria. As a welfare worker for children, Gmeiner saw how children suffered and were left orphaned as the unavoidable result of World War II, and pioneered the family-based approach to help children who have lost parental care. SOS Children's Villages Philippines caters to more than 1,000 children and young adults who live in 8 Children's Villages throughout the country. They also provide support to more than 5,200 children and their families to prevent child neglect and abandonment.
To come home to a happy and loving environment is the prerogative of every child, abandoned or otherwise. A photo exhibit entitled Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood centers on this core value. In collaboration with Sunny16 Lab, Lomography, SM Supermalls, and SOS Children's Village Philippines, the photo exhibit by the Austrian Embassy Manila demonstrated the different facets of children living in a happy and loving environment. Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood was a traveling photo exhibit that was held in three different venues of the SM Supermalls namely: The Podium from September 1-8, 2018; S Maison from September 10-16, 2018; and lastly SM Aura Premier from September 17-24, 2018.
Austrian Ambassador to the Philippines, Her Excellency, Bita Rasoulian spoke during the exhibit launch in The Podium.
The Ribbon-cutting event with dignitaries from Podium Mall, SM Supermalls, SOS Villages Philippines, Austrian Embassy Manila, and Lomography Philippines.
The opening ceremony for the photo exhibit was held last September 5, 2018, at The Podium in Ortigas. Looking around the exhibition of 1000 images taken by Lomography and analog cameras, (as well as photos taken by children living in the SOS Children's Village in Manila) it took me back to the days when I landed my first job in publications in BluPrint Magazine. I vividly recall how my then Editor-in-Chief, Tina Bonoan used to thumb through polaroid images shot by photographers before finally selecting a final proof that was ready to print. There is a specific artistry – I daresay even a romance to photography -- and while I do find the camera built in our smartphones very handy, I still feel that sometimes, capturing the moment in all its purity is how true photography ought to be, without having to edit, filter and adjust the image to one's preference.
The freedom to express one's self using the camera is the foundation of Lomography. This movement of photography finds its roots in 1992 by curious and funky Viennese students who stumbled upon a Lomo LC-A, a famous Russian camera of the 1980s, who wanted to veer away from the constricting norms of form, color, and balance that is taken within each picture. The result today is a whopping 1 million creative individuals who let their minds free in the creation of images that transcends all barriers.
Lomography is a candid, point and shoot, less formal style of photography. As seen here, the colors that spring out reminds me of an assortment of colorful candies.
The biggest Lomo Wall ever created is dotted by different Lomo cameras enclosed in see-through pillars.
These images were taken by the SOS Children themselves each with a personal and touching caption of their sentiments during each photo.
SOS Children's Villages International is one of the most trusted global NGOs worldwide dedicated to providing homes and families to orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children. After 70 years, they are present in 135 countries and territories.
During its heyday, the darkroom was considered a place where images come to life. The thrill of having a film developed and seeing how it slowly materialize when chemicals and water are placed into different baths was, quite simply, almost like magic. Most people today may not even know what a dark room is intended for, let alone visit one when all you need to do is to click on your phone and viola, see the image staring back at you in a matter of seconds. Surprisingly enough, more and more people these days, especially the youth, are slowly rediscovering this almost defunct appreciation of processing analog photography. Sunny16 Lab caters to the need for the steady rise in the popularity of film developing armed with cutting-edge equipment to satisfy the needs of their clients. They provide quality film developing and printing solutions that translate to the best capture of film to paper. For this event and with the help of The Lab, images for the exhibit were produced and mounted on the largest Lomo Wall showcasing children in an environment of love and belonging.
A closer look at one of the Lomo cameras on display.
These Lomo cameras aren't only fun to use but beautiful to behold as well.
A photo op with Her Excellency, Bita Rasoulian is always a welcome treat for me.
Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood photo exhibit is the brainchild of Zelpha Bombais, Cultural Attache of the Austrian Embassy Manila. She's all smiles during the launch, and I can't blame her, the exhibit is an artful advocacy of children's rights.
During the closing ceremony of the exhibition held at the Atrium of SM Aura Premier last September 19, 2018, the children from the SOS Children's Village Manila graced the audience with a special dance number.
Clarissa, one of the SOS children, smiles with the Austrian Ambassador as they share a few words with each other.
All together now! Everyone from the SOS Children's Village Manila strikes a pose with Her Excellency, Bita Rasoulian.
Much like the famous words sung by Whitney Houston, children are indeed our future, we should teach them well and let them lead the way. There are not mere byproducts of an act gone wrong, as punishment, or as an added burden and despair to one's financial state. Children are, more often than not, the innocent victims of dire problems in society. We may not have the power to eradicate these issues overnight, but we can, in our own little way, help in whatever way we can in hopes that these children will have a fuller and brighter future ahead.
Snapshots Of A Happy Childhood shows us that there is hope, hope for those children whose lives are forever changed by life’s unfortunate circumstances through programs and organizations such as the SOS Children's Village where every child can grow up in a loving family, which in essence, is the right of every child.
