This year’s SinagLarawan theme, Isa sa Isla, puts the focus on how water shapes Filipino life—not just geographically, but culturally, socially, and day to day.
If you’ve got a camera and a story to tell, this might be your sign.
The SinagLarawan 2025 photo contest is now accepting entries and it’s calling on photographers across the country to capture what life on the islands really looks like. This year’s theme, Isa sa Isla, puts the focus on how water shapes Filipino life and not just geographically, but culturally, socially, and day to day.
Organized by JTI Philippines, the annual contest highlights the stories of Filipino communities through photography. The name “SinagLarawan” combines two Filipino words: sinag, which means ray of light, and larawan, meaning image. The goal is to feature values, traits, and experiences that define who we are as a people. This initiative is part of JTI’s commitment to community investment, which focuses on people, environment, and arts and culture.
The 2025 theme, Isa sa Isla, focuses on how water nurtures connection, collective spirit, and community. While water can divide physical land, it has historically brought Filipinos together through livelihoods, rituals, festivals, and even during times of crisis. The contest encourages a broader interpretation of water’s role in everyday life.
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According to Faith Mondejar, JTI Philippines’ Community Investment manager, “We want to recognize more Filipino photographers.” She also noted that the contest continues to promote Filipino creativity while helping preserve culture through visual storytelling. “Please pick up your cameras and capture the essence of Isa sa Isla. Through lenses, tell the stories of how water shapes our lives, builds our communities, and strengthens our identity as Filipinos.”
As head judge, documentary photographer Veejay Villafranca explained during the launch, “You don’t have to shoot a literal ocean to qualify…For instance, you took a photo of a festival where there’s fish but no water. But how you interpret it is, you know, the fruits of the sea, and how it connects people, how it brought the community together, then that will qualify as an entry to Isa sa Isla.”
The contest will award cash prizes across several categories, including top winners, regional, and special awards. Here’s the breakdown:
Grand Winner (SinagLarawan of the Year): ₱150,000, plus ₱30,000 for their club
First Runner-Up: ₱120,000, with ₱25,000 for the club
Second Runner-Up: ₱100,000, plus ₱20,000 for the club
Circle of Excellence: Eight winners, ₱80,000 each, with ₱10,000 for their clubs
Special Awards: 13 winners, including the Rehiyon Awards (top entries from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and Metro Manila) and the JTI Employee Choice Award, all receiving ₱50,000
76 Finalists: ₱10,000 each, with inclusion in the contest’s coffee table book and limited-edition calendar
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The photos will be judged anonymously. Any camera or device can be used, but all entries must follow the technical guidelines, and original files may be requested. AI-generated images are not allowed; manipulations that violate the contest terms will be grounds for disqualification.
And to reach more local photographers, SinagLarawan will hold roadshows in Cebu on July 23 and Davao on July 30. These are open to clubs and individuals who want to know more about the contest or need guidance with submissions.
Villafranca also reminded participants that photos don’t need to be literal. “What matters is how you visualize the theme. It can be a creative interpretation. It doesn’t always have to be a body of water. It can be a play on technical knowledge or personal experience as long as it reflects the essence.”
Photographers aged 18 and up are eligible to join, as long as they are either members of a photography club or endorsed by one. Each participant may submit only one photo, taken between January 2023 and September 25, 2025. All entries must go through the competition’s official portal. Submissions need to include a photo title, location, and a brief English description that connects the image to the theme.
All mechanics, requirements, and submission instructions are available at jtisinaglarawan.com.
