BAGUIO CITY– Philippine Star photographer Fernando Zapata Jr., better known as Andy bagged the Philip Morris Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Award this year.
Besting 12 other entries in the tobacco category, Zapata’s photo entry is: “76 years old Estela Briones rolling up dried tobacco leaves as she and hundred others prepare the 343-feet long rolled tobacco which was displayed in a parade in Candon City, Ilocos Sur on March 31 for the celebration of the 7th Tobacco Festival.”
The same photo got printed in The Star’s nation page on March 29.
Yet another feat for The Star and its photographers especially provincial correspondents who never miss any news happening in the provinces, the award is another feather on the cap of the unassuming Zapata Jr., 39, who had been into news photography for the last two decades.
Awarded on Friday in Metro Manila, Zapata together with another Baguio-based photographer Mauricio Victa of the Business Mirror, Philip Morris has been on an annual nationwide search for the top journalists including writers and broadcast journalists for two years now.
Beating more than 60 photo entries speaks for itself, beamed Zapata, who has been with The Star since 1999. – Artemio Dumlao