Archive - Photos

Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO EIGHT of the nine presidential candidates running in the May elections attended a forum organized by broadsheet Philippine Daily Inquirer at the University of the Philippines Theater in Quezon City Monday. The forum,  dubbed “1st Edition Presidential Debate,” was attended by Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III,   Councilor JC delos

THE Commission on Elections held a test run Saturday of the automated voting system to be used in the May elections. Voters in select precincts in the cities of Quezon, Taguig, Baguio, Cebu and Davao took part in the mock elections. But instead of the names of actual candidates, voters chose among a list of

Text and photos by MARIO IGNACIO THE Manila city government unveiled a monument to former President Corazon Aquino on Monday, her 77th birthday. Mayor Alfredo Lim led the ceremonies, which had Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as guest of honor. The 15-foot monument, sculpted by Eduardo Castrillo, stands across a monument to her husband Benigno

FLOATS depicting the Maguindanao massacre and giant effigies of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and his celebrity mother Dionisia hogged the limelight at the 2009 Lantern Parade of the University of the Philippines Diliman campus Friday. But it was the College of Engineering, celebrating its centennial next year, which won the best “lantern” for its entry, a

NEVER again to martial law. Justice for the victims of Maguindanao massacre. Stop killing journalists. These were the resounding messages in Wednesday’s media-led indignation rally at the Chino Roces (formerly Mendiola) Bridge held to demand justice for victims of the Nov. 23 massacre in Maguindanao and protest the imposition of martial rule in the province.

CONGRESS convened Wednesday its historic joint session to discuss the declaration of martial law in Maguindanao following the Nov. 23 massacre that left 57 people dead, including 30 journalists, in the country’s worst election-related violence. Legislators grilled Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno and Philippine National Police Chief Jesus

LIBERAL Party standard-bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III and his running mate, Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, filed late Saturday morning their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections. The party’s senatorial candidates—former Sen. Franklin Drilon; Representatives Teofisto “TG” Guingona III, Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel and Rozzano “Ruffy” Biazon;  former Rep. Nereus “Neric” Acosta;

GOVERNMENT investigators are poised to file multiple murder charges against Datu Unsay Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr.  in connection with the killing of 57 people, including 29 journalists, in Monday’s carnage in Maguindanao. Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera said Friday that state prosecutors have turned up evidence to initially charge Ampatuan with the death of seven victims

THE Quezon City government unveiled on Friday a 14-foot monument of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. near his home in the city to mark his 77th birth anniversary, Aquino’s son, Sen. and Liberal Party standard-bearer Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, and city officials led by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. were at the unveiling of

STUDENTS from various Metro Manila schools marched the streets of the capital Thursday to condemn what is now dubbed as the “Ampatuan massacre” in Maguindanao which left at least 57 civilians, including journalists, dead. VERA Files photojournalist Mario Ignacio caught the group on Espana Avenue. His photos:

By AVIGAIL OLARTE AS grief sweeps the country, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines declared Nov. 25 the National Day of Indignation in protest against the “inhumane and horrific” massacre in Maguindanao. “We expect nothing less from this government than the swift apprehension and punishment of everyone involved in this gruesome assault on

POLICE, Army and civilian teams recovered on Wednesday 11 bodies in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao, raising the death toll in Monday’s pre-election carnage to 57.  Three vehicles were also recovered Wednesday. Mindanews photojournalist Froilan Gallardo was at the site of massacre and shares his photos with VERA Files:

CHANTING and holding up placards that read “I am moral,” gay party-list advocates on Wednesday staged a protest rally at the Commission on Elections and asked the poll body to reconsider its ruling rejecting Ang Ladlad’s bid to be accredited as a party-list group representing lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. The Comelec had disqualified Ang

THE death anniversary of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. is no longer just about the man who was shot down at the airport tarmac on his return to the country 26 years ago. With his widow, former President Corazon “Cory” Cojuangco Aquino, now with him, Aug. 21 is about two democracy icons.  For the

SEVERAL National Artists on Friday joined the “necrological service” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and “funeral march” to the National Commission on Culture and the Arts to mark the “death” of the National Artists Awards. The artists were protesting Malacanang’s decision to add four individuals and drop composer Ramon Santos from the original

BY the time former President Corazon Aquino’s remains arrived at the Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque last night, the rain had stopped, the ground was dry, and a hazy moon had risen in the sky. The honor guard had been waiting for hours beside the caisson that was to take her to her final resting

THE spirit of “Laban,” the movement led by former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship and pursued by his widow, Corazon Aquino, after his assassination in 1983, came alive again yesterday during the funeral procession and the interment of Mrs. Aquino.  Mario Ignacio’s photos of the festive street scenes in black and

AUG. 5, 2009, the day former President Corazon Aquino was buried, will very welll go down in the country’s history as “Cory Day.”  Thousands of Filipinos in Metro Manila turned out to pay their last respects and join the sendoff to her final resting place.  Mario Ignacio, Luz Rimban, Chit Estella, Ellen Tordesillas and Tessa

VERA Files photographer Mario Ignacio spent time at the Manila Cathedral on the eve of former President Corazon Aquino’s interment deftly capturing the goings-on with his lens. His photos:

FILIPINOS continued to flock to Cory Aquino’s wake, this time in bigger numbers at the Manila Cathedral. VERA Files photographer Mario Ignacio witnessed the stream of personalities who visited Mrs. Aquino’s wake just before the necrological services Tuesday. On the sidelines, ordinary Filipinos stood in the rain and waited for a chance to enter the

THOUSANDS of Filipinos braved the rains to line up at the La Salle Greenhills gymnasium where the remains of former President Corazon Aquino were brought for public viewing. Among those who lined up were VERA Files photographer Mario Ignacio, his wife Tracy, their three kids and nephew. Afterwards, Tracy wrote in her Facebook entry, “(We)

MONDAY, July 27, was a day of extremes, reported VERA Files roving photographer Mario Ignacio.  Weatherwise, a heavy downpour followed sweltering heat in Quezon City, particularly along Commonwealth Avenue which was the focus of headline-making activities. On the stretch of road going toward the Batasan Pambansa area, militant groups had converged, burning effigies of President

THEY joined marches, staged noise barrages, and even held concerts. This was how Filipinos in various parts of the country showed their anger, displeasure and disgust over the passage of House Resolution 1109 which will transform Congress into a constituent assembly or “Con-ass” without the participation of the Senate. Con-ass is expected to result in

THOUSANDS of workers and their supporters marched and converged in various points in Metro Manila for the annual Labor Day celebrations, which is being held today amid a global financial crisis, threats of a swine flu epidemic, and even excitement over much-awaited fight between national boxing champ Manny Pacquiao and British welterweight titleholder Ricky Hatton.