From "Bawal Mag-Shoot Dito?" to "Welcome to Intramuros"

“Bawal mag-shoot dito?”

If you’ve ever raised a camera inside Intramuros, there’s a decent chance you’ve heard some version of it — the reminder that maybe, just maybe, you weren’t supposed to be shooting here.

For a lot of Filipino photographers, that line has been a running frustration for years. So here’s some news worth celebrating: in Intramuros, the answer is changing to welcome.

Where it started

Intramuros is one of the most photographed places in the country, and for good reason. Cobblestone streets, centuries-old adobe walls, golden light spilling over Fort Santiago — it’s a living piece of history that practically asks to be photographed.

But for a long time, camera-toting Filipinos kept running into the same wall. Pull out a DSLR and you might get stopped, profiled, or asked for a permit for what was really just a personal, souvenir shot. Bring a tripod for a group photo and suddenly you’re “doing a commercial shoot.”

Earlier this year, those frustrations bubbled up again — enough that the Intramuros Administration itself stepped in to remind everyone that personal, souvenir photography is allowed, and free. The familiar catch was that the message didn’t always reach the people on the ground.

It’s a gap the photography community has been raising for years, most vocally through Bawal Mag Shoot Dito (BMSD) — the long-running movement, founded by Mel Cortez, that has pushed back on the profiling of Filipino photographers at public and historic sites.

A conversation can change everything

Here’s the part we’re proud of.

Instead of another round of frustration online, the concern became an invitation to sit down and talk. CameraHaus Vice President Robenson Ong Lo helped bring everyone to the table — Bawal Mag Shoot Dito’s Mel Cortez, photographer Edwin Tuyay, and Intramuros Administrator Atty. Joan M. Padilla — to work toward a clearer, more photographer-friendly direction.

No shouting. No standoff. Just people who care about Intramuros — the community that loves to photograph it and the agency that works to protect it — finding common ground.

So, can you shoot in Intramuros? Yes.

The outcome is exactly what photographers have been hoping for.

Photographers and videographers are welcome to shoot in Intramuros — as long as everyone observes the site’s rules and helps preserve its rich cultural heritage.

That’s the balance, and it’s a fair one. Intramuros isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a heritage site that generations before us fought to keep standing. Shooting there freely and respecting the place aren’t at odds — they go hand in hand.

Watch for the Intramuros Passport

And there’s more on the way. Keep an eye out for the upcoming Intramuros Passport, a new initiative from the Intramuros Administration. Details are still being finalized, so the best place to follow along is the official Intramuros channels (@intramurosph).

Shoot responsibly

A quick word from us, because it matters: “welcome” isn’t a free pass to forget where you are.

Stick to personal and souvenir shooting unless you’ve arranged a permit for commercial or special-occasion shoots. Mind the crowds, the other visitors, and the centuries-old walls. Leave every corner the way you found it.

The easier we make it for the Intramuros Administration to say yes, the longer that yes lasts — for all of us.

Why we care

CameraHaus has always believed that photography is a community before it’s a transaction. Cameras and lenses are what we sell, but the reason any of it matters is the people out there making pictures.

So when the community raised a concern about one of the country’s most beloved shooting spots, helping bring everyone to the table wasn’t really a choice — it was the whole point. We’re grateful to Mel Cortez and Bawal Mag Shoot Dito for carrying this for the community, to Edwin Tuyay, and to Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla and the Intramuros Administration for meeting everyone with openness.

A conversation really can change everything.

Photo highlights

Go shoot Intramuros

So bring your camera. Chase the light down General Luna Street, frame the arches of Fort Santiago, wait for the kalesa to roll past the old stone walls.

Intramuros is open, and it’s waiting to be photographed — responsibly, and with the respect a place like this deserves.

Here’s the full story straight from us:

For more from the CameraHaus community, drop by our events and stories. We’ll see you within the walls.