Kapampangan wins London-based photography tilt

GUAGUA, Pampanga — Award-winning photographer and artist Ruston Banal won the third prize in the Sony World Photography Awards 2013 where he bested 44 entries from all over the world in the contest’s culture category.

Banal is set to receive the award in London on April 25.

Banal won through his entry “Ritual Dance of Kuraldal,” which depicts the ritualistic merrymaking on Betis during a local feast day which includes frenzied dancing and splashing water on the streets. The tradition is said to be of pre-Spanish origin and have blended into the folk Catholicism ritual of the area.

Banal’s photo will be shown digitally as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition to be held at Somerset House, London, United Kingdom from April 26 to May 12.

“This award is something that I offer to my hometown, as homage to its rich cultural heritage and tradition,” Banal added.

Banal is a graduate of Fine Arts (magna cum laude) from the University of the Philippines Diliman with a major in Art History and Minor in Painting, He went home to Betis in 2006 and has been staying there for good because of Kapampangan cultural advocacies where he has a great passion.

Banal was a lecturer of Art History and Theory at the De La Salle University (CSB Design Foundation). He also holds teaching stints at the University of the East College of Fine Arts and Ateneo de Manila University.

His recent photo award was from the 2007’s Philippine Airlines Photo Contest and his Kuraldal series was placed as "Photo of the Month" by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Cup.