Village Connect
After a seven-year pause, Canon Photomarathon 2026 returned with renewed energy, transforming Bonifacio Global City into a gathering place for photographers, filmmakers, hobbyists, and visual storytellers eager to capture moments that resonate beyond the frame. More than just a competition, this year’s edition became a celebration of creativity, human emotion, and the power of images to reflect everyday realities.
Held at the BGC Amphitheater on April 18, the event drew more than 1,200 participants who spent the day navigating the city in search of visuals inspired by the official theme, “Feel It.” Among them was civil engineer and street photography enthusiast Von Cedrick Cunanan, whose emotionally charged image of a jeepney driver resting inside his vehicle under the intense midday heat earned him the title of Grand Champion.
Rather than staging a dramatic concept, Cunanan chose to focus on a familiar Filipino scene—one that quietly reflected the struggles of ordinary workers. His winning photograph highlighted not only the physical exhaustion brought by the heat, but also the unseen pressures faced daily by public transport drivers amid rising fuel costs and long working hours.
“I wanted people to feel what he was going through,” Cunanan shared after receiving the award. “Street photography has always been about showing real life and real emotions.”
Photography has long been part of Cunanan’s life. From taking family snapshots as a child using film cameras to rediscovering his passion for street photography in recent years, his journey eventually led him back behind the lens with a Canon EOS RP. Registering for Canon Photomarathon became an opportunity to challenge himself creatively and reconnect with a craft he once stepped away from.
For winning the competition, Cunanan received a Canon EOS R6 III paired with an RF24-105mm IS STM lens, marking a major milestone in his photography journey.
Beyond the competition itself, Canon Photomarathon 2026 offered an immersive creative experience. The Canon Creator Park featured themed setups for cosplay, bridal, and pet photography, while workshops led by industry professionals tackled wildlife photography, cityscapes, filmmaking, and digital content creation. Participants also explored Canon’s latest imaging technologies and enjoyed on-site photo printing activities.
This year also introduced a dedicated Video Category, expanding the event beyond still photography and opening the platform to a wider creative community.
According to Anuj Aggarwal, the event highlighted how creativity thrives when people are given space to learn, collaborate, and tell stories together. Through Canon Photomarathon, Canon continues its commitment to nurturing Filipino creators and providing platforms where visual storytelling can inspire deeper conversations about society, culture, and everyday life.
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