I came to The LaSallian when I was just beginning to find direction in my career. Coming fresh off of a hard earned 4.0 from a photojournalism elective, the experience stoked a fire in me to pursue news and current affairs through the lens of visual journalism.
I joined TLS to keep abreast of the stories and issues concerning the Lasallian community and to hopefully tie these to issues happening outside the four walls of the university. It was my activism – my idealistic, nationalistic thrust – that drove me to pursue all sorts of stories, especially hard news. Since I had also been contributing to news outlets at the time, through TLS, I found opportunities to share about my experiences and coverages from “outside” that I felt then would be relevant to the Lasallian community.
Back then, as a rookie photographer, I was a tad bit judgmental, lamenting why there was only a handful of photog colleagues pursuing hard news like I was. Eventually, I did come off of my high horse, realizing that I was being insensitive, and that each Lasallian had their own journey, as well as their own course focus.
Don’t get me wrong – I did enjoy the photo walks, school events, and occasional sports coverage in TLS. I also treasured the bonds I formed with my paper colleagues. But there was always an intrinsic feeling for me that my reporting must go beyond.
Looking back now, the early 2010s was a time of relative calm in terms of the political climate. We’d find ourselves covering rallies or typhoons here and there, but a lot of the issues then like the PDAF scandal and the Corona trial weren’t as easily told or as accessible in terms of visuals.
All that changed, though, with the Duterte and Marcos Jr. administrations where you can tangibly witness the extra-judicial killings under the so-called “War on Drugs” or the freshly- exposed ghost flood control projects.
I’m glad that now, as a media professional, I’m starting to see a bit more outside coverage from the new crop of TLS photographers. Aside from the posts in the TLS Facebook page, I’d see the large IDs, lanyards, and uniforms bearing the TLS brand on the ground, covering the same stories I cover. Whenever I see someone with a green lanyard present, documenting history as it unfolded, the TLS alumnus in me beams with pride.
I am encouraged by the active participation of young La Sallians in the wider scope of Philippine affairs. As rampant corruption, poor governance, and the destruction brought about by calamities that mirror the plight of ordinary Filipinos become more and more glaring, we hold a responsibility with our lenses. It’s high time we go beyond our photowalks and truly represent our campus media outfit.
I am so glad to see TLS photogs participating in this grand storytelling as it happens in this day and age. And in the future, I still hope that more TLS staffers would continue to pass the baton. A distant dream of mine is that there would be more TLS Photo alumni pursuing news and documentary along with other forms of photography, with formation coming from a reporting-oriented tradition that will continue to grow in courage and depth.
The future is bright and moving towards a good direction for TLS Photo. It can still be a community looking to hone its craft, but may it continue to grow to lean towards purposeful visual reporting.
I’m so excited to be on the field covering next to a TLS photo alumni working for one of the major news outlets, public relations, or non-profit organizations.
May the visually-oriented passionate about what happens inside DLSU and what happens in our country continue to increase and make an impact.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
This is an unedited submission from a former staffer of The LaSallian, reflecting on how TLS photo staffers’ expanding participation in national affairs contributes to purposeful visual reporting.
Mark Demayo served as a Photo Staffer of The LaSallian in AY 2012-2013.
He also worked as a freelance journalist while in TLS. He eventually joined ABS-CBN News in 2017, where he shot visuals for eight years.
He remains in the news network to this day, now as a video journalist.
