GUAGUA—Award-winning photographer Ruston Banal bagged honors from the International Photography Awards (IPA) in New York for his photograph that highlights a religious festivity here.
The IPA is considered as the “Oscars” in the world of photography. The competition attracted 20,000 entries from various countries.
Banal's entry “KURALDAL” landed first place and also got the Honorable Mention for the overall category.
The photo depicts the festive dance ritual in Betis district over a venerated cross during the feast of Saint John the Baptist.
The same photo also won in the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards in London under the culture category. It was exhibited from April to May 2013 at the Somerset House Gallery.
While in London, he attended the Nikon Professional School under the Nikon Center of Excellence in Margaret Street. He received the Best Photographer Award at the end of the course.
Banal has four shortlisted entries in the 2013 Maybank Photography Awards with the theme "Inspiring Asia". He also won an award in the said contest.
Banal was a top fine arts graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, where he majored in Art History.
He currently teaches photography at the Department of Communications of the Far Eastern University and advertising courses at the UST College of Fine Arts and Design. He also taught multimedia and art history subjects at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, Ateneo de Manila University and the UE College of Fine Arts.