Having known him for years, one of Everyday Idealist’s editors, Apple Raperoga, has been witness to how Benjo Beringuela developed his photography skills from being merely a hobby into being professional. Unlike usual photographers, Benjo is known for his knack at taking casual but timely candid shots, which assures that each photo is unique from everything else.

This week, the spotlight is on Benjo Beringuela, 4 BS Communications Technology Managemeny. Student. Photographer. Everyday Idealist.

This must probably one of the easiest and lightest, but nevertheless inspiring inerviews EI has ever had. First, Benjo begins by telling us his story about how he started liking photography. Back in high school, flashy and precise DSLRs were not yet very popular, and thus, he had to rely on a trusty digital camera. “Nagstart ako nung fourth year. Wala pa akong DSLR nun, pero I got hooked with a digicam. I started using it for projects, then ayun. Nacarry ko na until college.”

According to Benjo, it was around his second year of college that he got his own DSLR, and that time, he would carry it around taking pictures of random school days and activities. Later on, he volunteered as an event photographer for campus programs and events (such as OrSem, some Ateneo org parties, or special requests for his friends) And now, he’s been taking pictures for bigtime names such as The Guidon, UAAP events, and even for an interview with former Chief Justice Renato Corona. Benjo has also taken his hobby into a serious career, as he is now part of the Shutter Panda Photography team.

“Feeling ko, never na malalaos ang photography so I guess maganda kung masprespread pa ‘yun.” According to Benjo, one of the features of photography that he likes so much, is its ability to store memories and events, which would probably never happen the same way again. He even said that he loves the fact that pictures can be printed and carried around, much like having a hard copy of a memory with you. However, since most people have no more time now, digital and online copies of photographs would suffice.

“Sana rin hindi maging fixed yung tao sa tinuturo ng photography lessons. I think it’s better to go out of the box.” Benjo tells. Our Everyday Idealist is all about uniqueness and originality. He belives that each photographer has something to bring to the table, and has a certain corresponding style, to which a person is to be known for. For him, when it comes to style, no one should and could ever copy you, for that is exactly who you are. And when asked what his style is, he answers:

“Mas gusto ko talaga ang candid, kasi mas raw ‘yung emotion. In a way, I look for pegs. Then I apply my own style to it, in a way na maging unique at akin talaga siya.” Benjo tells that his creativity is kept going through the creativity of other people as well. He continues to be inspired by the good works for fellow photographers. But of course, he doesn’t let this get in the way of his style. 

Photography, as a hobby and as a profession, is truly a fun and fulfilling job. However, what most pople don’t know is that this could be very exhausting and draining. So, when asked about what keeps Benjo on his toes when it comes to his career, he answers: “’Yung mga tao na wala pang trabaho pero sikat na.” Benjo looks up to people who are very dedicated to their career, and have worked very hard to achieve it.  “Hindi naman sa sikat, pero yung successful na in terms of their art”

He also tells us, that if you really want to pursue photography, it is important that you have people with you, belonging to the same craft, such that you can act as each other’s support system. For him, his fellow student photographers have given him great help and inspiration, not only that they team up to cover the same events and cater to the same contacts, but also that they are the ones who are able to talk during their free time, schedule photowalks, and just share the common conviction.

“Wag kang gagaya. Never kang gagaya.” If there’s a plagiarism guard in the photography scene, it must be Benjo Beringuela. But for him, this is because he believes that each person really has something to offer, and one need not copy another person’s work. As an advocate of candid shooting, he also believes that each moment is unique, precious, and should not be allowed to just slip away.

“Don’t stop shooting, kahit sobrang pagod ka na. Always bring your camera, lalo na kung nagtraravel ka. Kasi kahit hindi ka nagplan ng shoot, may makikita kang maganda. So kung di mo dala yung camera mo, sayang ‘yung scene, or sayang ‘yung tao.”

Finally, when we asked him why he continues to strive hard in his potography career, “Wala lang. Feeling ko kung okay ka sa art mo, masaya ‘yung buhay. Ang cheesy.”

Benjo Beringuela.

Student.

Photographer.

Everyday Idealist.

From an outsider’s perspective, one might thank that someone in the world of Advertising and all that is Marketing Communications, is just subjected to her/his clients. One might think that just because one works for an advertising agency, s/he will always just be a mere follower of what her/his clients demands. Perhaps it is more of a grey matter than a black and white when it comes to Matec Villanueva.

Matec Villanueva is currently the Chairperson of Publicis-Manila being one of the most recognized agencies by different companies here in the Philippines. Everyday Idealists have decided to choose Mrs. Villanueva as she has recently been the speaker for this school year’s Leadership Convergence seminar hosted by the Leadership and Strategy Department of the School of Management

Matec, in her very easy-going personality and in much enthusiasm discusses how she learned of leadership throughout the years. She said that she has learned leadership from the people in her family, from the communities she belongs to, from the people in the schools she has attended, from the people she was worked with and continue to work with, from people in her life and, perhaps jokingly, from doing the talk numerous times.

She then goes on into discussing her Three Truths About Leadership. First, she said that there should be an existing symbiotic relationship between leaders and followers. What she meant is that there should be a good relationship between the follower and the leader. A relationship like that means that no one is suffering while the other is benefitting from the other’s misery. Second, in order to have a strong organization, it’s not enough to have strong leaders, an organization must also have strong followers. It really makes sense considering what is a good leader if the followers are not motivated? And her third and last truth states that “leaders and followers mirror each other”. Matec mentions how followers would have the same ideals as that of their leaders, and that leader and followers really don’t have much dissonance.

Matec mentions that one must be a good follower first to be a good leader. She then proceeds into discussing her “3 Secrets of Leadership”. She starts saying that first of all, followers get things done. Great followers, for her are goal driven. Great followers do not just blindly follow what their leaders tell them. She mentions that followers contribute substance and not just presence. An example would be not just being in a meeting and listen the whole time, but also to contribute something into the discussion. Last, she said that followers create their own jobs, they have initiative—they do not wait to be told [what to do].

Second, great followers are value-driven. Followers possess the right values, and they know how to empathize. Great followers also know that trust is earned. Lastly, great followers know that loyalty to the group and its cause is required. The last point means that one knows how important it is to be committed to the group he or she belongs to because that component would really drive the follower to do his or her best in all that he or she does.

Last secret is that great followers communicate. She said that, “strong groups happen with a network of stable relationships among its members” and she also mentioned, “stable relationships happen when clear and open communications exist”. She drove the point that communication is really needed but she pointed out it is not just any type of communication, rather, a good communication. She mentioned that good communication is not just the message sender properly relaying a message, more importantly, the receiver must have a good understanding of the message.

Through our Theology and Philosophy classes, we were all taught about the importance of relating to the marginalized, and the preferential option for the poor. As Ateneans, more so, we have always been called to be men and women for tohes. Everyay Idealists found the perfect personification of these values in Ms. Gigi De Villa, a senior taking up Management Economics and Development Management, who has been very active and all out in her support for the marginalized sector. It was our first time finding someone with such great passion and commitment to giving voice to those who have none.

Gigi De Villa begins the interview right on by stating her greatest conviction. By the way she talks, one can really feel the level of passion she has towards her commitment. “Malapit sa puso ko ang mga marhinalisadong komunidad tulad ng mga magsasaka at mga katutubo; at para sa akin gusto ko sana maging bahagi ng pag-uplift ng dignity nila as human person, gusto ko na matulungan silang mangarap ulit.” [Those who are in the marginalized communities are very close to my heart, like the local farmers and the indigenous people, and I want to take part in uplifting their dignity as a human person, I want to help them dream again.]

Gigi explains how she can’t stand just being a witness to the state of helplessness and hopelessness that these people are currently in, and that for her, she has to take action and initiative for the movement that would rekindle in these people hope, confidence and inspiration. As one of her steps in accomplishing this mission, she envisions herself serving at the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP), and/or working for government institutions such as the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) or the  DepEd (Department of Education), that would help in promoting the rights of these people.

Gigi explained to Everyday Idealists interesting stories of how she got inspired to fight for the marginalized. First of these was her story on how she felt attachment to the indigenous people.

According to her, it all started through a documentary she watched, wherein aetas were being misled by people as they travel by directing them to wrong buses, just because they know that these people are unable to read. Gigi shared how disappointed and sorry she felt for the misery of the aetas, who have been taken advantage of through their weaknesses.

This cruel reality was strengthened to her, through a lecture of her Theology professor, about a certain indigenous group called the “Dumagats”. The story tells of how, upon the arrival of other people, the Dumagats would say “O nandito na mga tao” [Oh, the humans have arrived]. The students were astounded of how they were received. A Dumagat then explained that this is because whenever they would ride a jeepney, he would hear a person, not belonging to their group, would say, “Walo at saka tatlong Dumagat” [Eight, and 3 Dumagats], as he pays. The Dumagats have been judged as different, and for Gigi, she can’t deny how angered she was upon hearing how these people have been treated.  “Alam ko na hindi naman dapat ganoon ang pagtrato sa kanila. For me, isa silang gem ng Philippine Society at dapat na alagaan natin sila.” [I know that they shouldn’t be treated that way. For me, they are gems of the Philippine Society, and they should be taken good care of.]

The second story Gigi shared was that of how she was inspired to work towards the rights of poor local farmers. She traces back her devotion to this cause, way back when she was still in freshman year. Early on, she has been exposed to the issues and dialogues held reharding the matter. In fact, she even cut her InTACT class, just to be able to march along with these farmers and the people who share the same sentiments with her. According to her, it was through this experience that she realized the importance of these poor local farmers, and how their rights were deeply underpromoted.

“Nakita ko doon na, mahalagang bahagi sila ng society natin and yet, hindi sila mapahalagahan. Ang laki ng kontribusyon nila, pero ito yung nararanasan nila.” [I saw how they are really essential to the society, yet they are not given importance. They offer great contributions, but they suffer that way.] These farmers, are those who, albeit their many decades of tenure, have not been granted title to their lands. Gigi expressed how she felt injustice upon the realization that these people have been exerting much effort, and yet, they have not been fairly compensated.

It was also through this event that she was able to meet people who are passionate about fighting for the rights of the underpivileged as well. Gigi tells the story of Karen, also an advocate of these local farmers, who died fighting for their rights. According to Gigi, she was deeply inspired by the conviction of this person. “Bakit ako di ko kayang subukan lumaban? Given na ako, naprovide ako with Ateneo education so, sana ako din maglakas loob para sa kanila.” [Why don’t I try to fight for them as well? I have been given an Ateneo education, so ideally, I should also have courage to stand up for them.]

Gigi shares, that even though these issues that she fights for might seem very heavy and controversial, at the end of the day, these are the same things that drive her to get going with life, most especially in her academics and the path she’s taking.

“Yun ang nagiging drive ko para mag aral. Pag nag-aral ako ng mabuti, mas mapapaglingkuran ko sila. Yun ang nagpapabangon sa akin sa umaga. Pag hellweek na and everything, alalahanin ko lang na ang lahat ng ito ay para sa kanila, na kung maging magaling ako na Atenista, sila rin maeempower ko rin sila in the long run.” [It’s what drives me to study hard. Because if I do well, I can serve them better. That’s what keeps me up everyday. Whether it’s hell week and everything comes tushing through, I just remember that all of these is for them. And if I’m a good Atenean, I can empower them as well in the long run].