Pinoy tops World Bank photo tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The World Bank has chosen 15 photographs taken by 11 contestants as finalists in its photo competition designed to encourage awareness among the youth of their role in ensuring equitable development in their families, communities, and the country.

Hubert Pacheco, 22, won the grand prize of P50,000 with his Kariton Klasrum (Pushcart Classroom) entry for the Better Public Service Delivery category of the overall theme “Making Growth Work for the Poor.” Pacheco is a volunteer teacher at the Kariton Klasrum project, a multi-awarded learning service for street children. The World Bank staff also picked Kariton Klasrum as the “People’s Choice” and he received an additional P5,000.

Each of the other 14 finalists won P5,000. The winning photographs will be used by the World Bank in its publications; 12 of them are featured in the World Bank’s 2010 calendar. The participants sent over 400 entries for the contest.

The contest had five categories depicting the objectives of the World Bank’s current Country Assistance Strategy (2009-2012): building a stable macro economy; making the Philippines a good place to do business; working with local communities and improving access to education, health care, safe drinking water and other basic services; protecting the poor, especially in times of economic crisis, natural disasters and armed conflict; and improving governance and citizen involvement for better transparency and accountability.

World Bank country director Bert Hofman said he was delighted that the young contestants were up to the challenge to depict their understanding of inclusive growth, the focus of the Bank’s country assistance strategy for fiscal year 2010-2012. “The entries showed a lot of insight, creativity and sensitivity to the theme of the contest. The response to this competition is proof that the Filipino youth understand the importance of growth that benefits everyone,” said Hofman.