Assembly and Start of the Walk

Before heading into Chinatown, the group first gathered at Remedios Circle in Manila for assembly and orientation. Familiar faces from previous GR events reconnected, and new members were welcomed into the community.

After introductions and quick reminders, everyone prepared their gear and moved together toward the starting point in Ongpin, ready for a full day of walking and shooting.

Two Parts, One Photowalk

GR3 was special because it was not just a single straight forward walk. It unfolded in two connected parts that gave the community two different ways to experience the same place.

The first part centered on the Ricoh GR digital cameras. Fast, compact, and discreet, they were perfect for working quickly through the streets of Chinatown, reacting to moments as they happened.

The second part introduced something new for the group, the first ever Pentax 17 Film Photowalk. Film shooters joined in and brought the charm of analog, with a slower, more deliberate way of shooting that matched the pace of observing scenes and waiting for the right instant.

Digital GR users and Pentax 17 film shooters walked side by side, using different tools but sharing the same streets and the same curiosity. One community, two formats, both capturing Manila Chinatown in their own way.

Walking Through Manila Chinatown

In Ongpin, the group entered the familiar Chinatown mix of sound, smell, and movement. The air carried the scent of hopia, roasted duck, and warm bread from Chinese bakeries. Vendors arranged their goods, red lanterns swayed above, and motorbikes slipped between people and storefronts.

GR and Pentax 17 users walked together through narrow streets and crowded sidewalks, letting the neighborhood guide their frames. Some focused on portraits of vendors preparing their morning goods. Others sought out textures, rusty gates, peeling paint, old signboards, and weathered walls that hinted at years of stories.

Some chased reflections on glass and puddles, while others followed small gestures and routines, capturing everyday slices of life that people often walk past without noticing.

Reaching Binondo Church

The walk eventually brought the community to Binondo Church. Here, they paused to rest, check their shots, and appreciate the view of the church standing tall in the middle of a busy district.

It became a natural gathering point, a place to slow down for a moment, compare photos, and share stories before wrapping up the route.

After the Walk

By the end of the route, memory cards and film rolls were full of Chinatown scenes. Legs were tired, but the mood stayed light and happy.

GR users and Pentax 17 shooters gathered once more for a final group photo and last rounds of conversation, sharing favorite frames and laughing about close misses and unexpected moments.

There were no contests or judging at the end, only the quiet and satisfying feeling of having spent the day shooting together and seeing the same place through different eyes.

Part of Something Worldwide, With a GR and Pentax Story

All over the world, photographers were out walking for Scott Kelby’s Worldwide Photowalk, each group exploring their own city, district, or neighborhood.

In Manila, the GR community added its own twist by combining a GR digital walk with a Pentax 17 film walk, mixing modern and analog, quick reactions and careful timing, all inside the streets of Chinatown.

GR3, the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk Chinatown Edition, showed that even when the community is part of a global movement, it can still bring its own character, its own rhythm, and its own shared story to every frame.