BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 28 April 2021. In line with the Philippine Government’s Reintegration Program for OFWs, a short skills enhancement course entitled “Creating Powerful Images: A Basic Photography Workshop” was successfully organized by the Philippine Embassy on 25 April 2021.

The workshop is intended to create a platform for OFWs to upgrade their skills in photography, which they may use for online product marketing and other related businesses, especially under the new normal. The event was held in collaboration with the Pinoy Shutters, a Filipino community association of Filipino professional and hobbyist photographers in the Sultanate.

A total of twenty-six (26) participants completed the short course. Their employment profile ranges from household service workers, general laborers, semi-skilled workers and professionals.

The invited Resource Speakers for the workshop were Mr. Rudolf Portillo, Mr. Raul Padernal and Mr. Rommel Oliveros - all professional and award-winning Filipino photographers working in Brunei. They shared useful technical aspects of photography, as well as tips and techniques in creating powerful images, stories and messages through a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) or just a simple smartphone.

In his welcome message, Philippine Ambassador Christopher B. Montero strongly encouraged the participants to continue upgrading their skill sets in order to broaden employment opportunities or start a small business in Brunei or the Philippines. He underscored the Philippine government’s goal of working towards making overseas employment as an option or choice instead of a necessity for Filipinos so that families will no longer be separated from each other just to make ends meet.  

The skills enhancement course was carried out in partnership with the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and the Overseas Worker’s Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Brunei Darussalam. END