This local photographer from Cebu provides old-school hard copy remembrance to tourists at Magellan’s Cross.
70-year-old Victor Camporedondo has been taking pictures for almost 40 years. According to him, his sibling Cyrill, a professional photographer at a local newspaper in Cebu, taught him basic photography.
“1981 naging photographer ako, hanggang ngayon. Dati, collector po. collector ng financing. Nagsarado ‘yung kompanya namin. Kahit matanda na ako hindi [ko iniiwanan] ang trabaho ko,” he told The Philippine STAR.
“Tinuruan ako niya 1982. Nung natuto ako naging photographer ako sa Plaza Indipendencia. Tapos mahina na Plaza Indipendencia lumipat ako sa Magellan’s Cross. Mas malakas sa una ‘yung film pa. Kasi wala pang kalaban, wala pang cellphone ganun. Hindi ako huminto hanggang ngayon,” he added.
Despite his old age, Camporedondo still wants to work for himself since all of his children have their own families.
He usually stays at the tourist site for eight hours every day to have enough money to go through the day and for his hypertension maintenance medicines.
“Syempre wala na tayong gagawin. Meron nang pamilya ‘yung mga anak ko, syempre trabaho ako. Malakas pa naman ako eh,” he noted.
Camporedondo said that he can earn P1,000 a day during peak season and around P300-P500 on ordinary days.
“Depende lang po. Merong araw maraming simba halimbawa Miyerkules o Biyernes may misa, marami kaming kita. Meron mga turistang for here sila magpakuha ng picture,” he shared.
“Tapos kapag pakisuyo sa cellphone nila, bigyan ako ng P20, ‘Tatay, pangkain o pang snack.’ ‘Yung iba, ‘Tatay, hindi na ako magpa-picture sa ‘yo ha kasi aalis na kami.’ Pero magbigay sa ‘kin ng P50 ganun,” he added.
Camporedondo said that ever since he went viral on social media, many tourists would look for him whenever they are in the area.
“Marami ng naghanap sa ‘kin. Minsan umaabot ng 20, 10. Minsan ‘pag mahina walo, siyam ganun,” he said.
“Nagpasalamat ako. Mag-picture ako tapos na agad. Pinipicturan nila eh, kasama ako sa pag-picture sa kanila. ‘I-viral natin ‘to, Tatay oh. Tutulungan kita,’” Camporedondo added.
Camporedondo noted that there is a different kind of joy whenever he sees big smiles from his clients. “Kahit matanda na ako hindi pa ako [iwanan] ang trabaho ko na photography.”
If you want to help Camporedondo you can send it through:
GCash
Christine Faye Camporedondo
09195651649
