Camerahaus Photolympics 2025
CameraHaus Photolympics 2025 Event Recap
Energy was high from the very start, with registration beginning at 6:00 a.m. at Remedios Circle for the Manila leg.
On November 23, Camerahaus Photolympics 2025 arrived at Robinsons Manila as the culminating leg of a unique series. For the first time, Photolympics took place in four different locations around the country, with events in Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila.
The Manila leg brought together photographers, hobbyists, and creatives for a full day of contests, workshops, brand experiences, and celebrations, all under the shared theme "Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin", a concept designed to work across all four cities.
Early Morning Crowd at Remedios Circle
Registration opened at 6:00 a.m. in Remedios Circle and the response was immediate. Photographers, students, camera club members, and families arrived early to secure their slots for the Photolympics Manila leg.
The area quickly filled up, turning the usually quiet morning park into a gathering place for the photography community.
Parade to Robinsons Manila
Following registration, the community moved together in a parade from Remedios Circle to Robinsons Manila. It was a visual and emotional journey, with banners, branded shirts, and cameras raised and ready.
The parade embodied the spirit of the theme "Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin", inviting everyone to experience Manila as a creative playground, just as the other legs did in Baguio, Iloilo, and Cagayan de Oro.
Torch Passing and Opening Ceremony
Before the main activities began at Robinsons Manila, a special Torch Passing Ceremony was held. Grand champions from previous Photolympics events came together on stage to symbolically pass the torch, representing continuity, growth, and the legacy of the competition across the years and locations.
The Theme: “Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin”
The guiding theme for Camerahaus Photolympics 2025 was "Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin". It was chosen so that all four locations, Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila, could interpret it in their own local way.
In Manila, this meant highlighting the character of the city, from morning scenes at Remedios Circle to the busy halls of Robinsons Manila. Participants were encouraged to show how their city welcomes visitors and tells its story through people, streets, and daily life.
Key Highlights of the Event
The Manila leg carried the full Photolympics experience, with a mix of learning, competition, and community-driven activities:
- On the spot Photo Contest that challenged participants to interpret the theme creatively within a limited time and space.
- Workshops that helped photographers improve technique, composition, and storytelling skills.
- Live demos from top brands that showcased autofocus performance, video features, and lens capabilities.
- Raffles filled with cameras, accessories, and other prizes that ended the night on a high note.
Featured Brands and Partners
Camerahaus Photolympics 2025 in Manila was powered by leading camera brands such as Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fujifilm, Lumix, and Ricoh. Supporting partners also included Tamron, Hollyland, PGY Tech, SanDisk, Picture Books, DJI, Sirui, SunEast, and many more, each contributing gear, expertise, and experiences to participants.
Guests were able to try cameras, lenses, and accessories on site, ask questions directly to brand representatives, and get a feel for the tools that could support their next creative project.
Judges and the Photo Contest
The on the spot Photo Contest was evaluated by a panel of respected names in the creative and photography community:
- Ehrran Montoya, a creative director and designer known for fashion-forward visual concepts and collaborations with photographers and brands.
- Philip Buena, a visual storyteller and creative artist with experience in music, performance, and photography driven content.
- Ronald Jayme, an editor and writer connected to Philippine photography features and coverage, known for work that highlights local visual talent.
Their combined perspectives helped ensure that the winning images did not only look good technically, but also carried strong stories and interpretations of the theme "Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin."
Awards and Big Wins
During the awarding, different brands and participants received recognition for their efforts and entries. Sony achieved two special honors with awards for Best in Cheer and the People’s Choice Award in the Photo Contest.
At the end of the competition, it was Nikon that secured the title of 2025 Grand Champion for the Photo Contest. This marked a back to back victory and a total of three Grand Champion titles for Nikon in Camerahaus Photolympics history.
Raffles, Prizes, and Night Program
As evening came, the focus shifted to raffles and giveaways. Cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, accessories, and other gear were raffled out to lucky attendees. The atmosphere stayed loud and excited as names were called and winners claimed their prizes.
It was the perfect way to close a long day that began before sunrise and extended into a memorable night for the community.
First Multi Location Photolympics Across the Country
Camerahaus Photolympics 2025 will be remembered as the first year that the event was held across four locations: Baguio, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila. Each city brought a unique flavor to the theme "Pasyal Kayo Sa Amin", and together they showed how rich and diverse the Philippines is in terms of visuals and stories.
The Manila leg served as a grand gathering point, but the heart of the event stretched from the highlands to city centers and coastal hubs, uniting photographers from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Thank You, Camerahaus Photolympics Community
To everyone who joined Camerahaus Photolympics 2025 in Manila and in all other locations, thank you for waking up early, walking in the parade, joining the contests, cheering for your teams, and staying until the last raffle was called.
Whether you are a first time participant or a long time supporter, you are part of the growing Photolympics story. We look forward to seeing your work, your growth, and your presence again at the next Camerahaus Photolympics.