IMT NEWS’ very own Ian Paul Cordero proved his excellence in the field of photojournalism as he reaped top honors from various award-giving bodies in 2024.
At the 2nd Paglaum Media Excellence Awards of The Medical City Iloilo, Cordero bagged the Healthcare Photo of the Year for Print award.
His winning photo featured a salt farmer in San Lorenzo, Guimaras bravely enduring the searing heat.
Cordero also emerged victorious at the 46th Catholic Mass Media Awards (CMMA), bringing home the Best News Photograph award.
Published in the Inquirer, his “Ilonggo Devotion” photo showed the fluvial procession during the 2024 Dinagyang Festival.
Cordero capped off 2024 with an award from the Department of Agriculture (DA-6). He was named first place winner for his photo of a mango farmer in Guimaras.
The 35-year-old photojournalist said he was “surprised” and “happy” about the accolades he received last year.
“Since nagstart ako ubra as a photojournalist, wala gid ini ya sa ulo ko magjoin sa mga contest. All I want to do is to work passionately,” Cordero shared.
Cordero started his career as a photojournalist in 2016 when he became part of Panay News. He transferred to IMT NEWS in 2021 and joined the Inquirer in 2022 as its Visayas bureau correspondent.
Before entering the media industry, Cordero worked in a BPO (business process outsourcing) company and was one of the Dinagyang dancers.
“Isa ako sa mga dancer sang-una sang Dinagyang kag ginabantayan ko gid ina kung nacapture man ‘ko sang camera while gasaot,” he said.
“Na-amazed gid ako sa mga kuha sang mga photographer. Hambal ko sa self ko mabakal kag magtuon gid ako photography.”
For three months, Cordero saved up a part of his monthly salary to have enough money to buy his own camera.
“After naglearn sa photography, kita ko ads ka Panay News kag nagdecide ma-apply. Dira na dayon nagsugod and tanan,” he said.
Asked for his advice for aspiring photojournalists, Cordero said: “Work hard lang. Keep the fire burning sa passion sa photography. Ang photo naton isa sa mga importante nga medium to tell a story, so padayon lang ang pagpitik ka camera.” IMT
