Monday, November 14, 2011

Everyone's welcome to shoot at Rizal Park

Inquirer published online last Saturday, November 12, 2011, an article entitled "Photographers snap at Rizal Park execs for 'no-shoot' rule" by Jeannette I. Andrade and Jerome Aning. I was alerted to this article by fellow bloggers, photographers, twitter mentions and emails from concerned citizens.
Screen shot 2011-11-14 at 9.36.11 AM
Screenshot from Inquirer.net

I could not let this pass, because, I, for one, know that anyone and everyone could snap a photo or photos at the Rizal Park and the Intramuros, without being hassled by anyone saying that it is not permitted to do so. If you even ask for permission, they could even assist your shoot. Case in point, I assisted Metro Magazine and Ms. Shamcey Supsup when they used the Department of Tourism facade for their November 2011 cover shot, and they did not even pay a single centavo for the shot, because it is for free!

AcpNLEBCEAAUVmG.jpg_large

I immediately wrote to some DOT Officials, including National Parks Development Committee (NPDC) Director Jett Villegas, alerting them about the article. Over the weekend, Director Villegas replied to me through e-mail saying:

Dear Brian,

Please help inform all persons and groups inquiring that the allegations that it is prohibited to shoot photos in Rizal Park is a blatant lie. I ask your help to spread the news that we allow all interested individuals and groups and anyone interested to photograph the park. Those intending to use the park for personal souvenir and take photos for personal use and school projects are free to do so for after all it is a public park. What we are asking only from those interested to use the park as a venue for commercial ads and for video infomercial, events such as prenuptial, and other events is for them to get permit. Reason for permit is to ensure that the use of the national monument is within the bounds of historic and cultural protocol as per the guidance of the National Historical Commission. We do get expert guidance from them on these matters.

As to the other sites of the park, we need to give permit for commercials shoots so that we can review the story board because we want the park to be projected as pleasant public park for leisure and recreation and historic educational experience and not to use it as scene for commercial, movie or photos that are showing violations against persons, property, abuses and human rights violation particularly among women and children.

Please pass the information to available media to hear our side. I think, it was wise for the group complaining if they did get our side of the story because we are certain that we can show them proofs that anybody can walk in the park and take their photos. If they did so ask our side, they will perhaps appreciate our policy that we want all park visitors to take photos of themselves and at any part of the park that interest them, this is for free to them and all our free additions to the new Rizal park. The peoples park is now looking very good after it did rehabilitation work since last year, and we promise to make it better under now the guidance of Sec. Mon Jimenez. He gave us the marching orders to make excellent things to happen in Rizal Park soonest.

Please extend your assistance to pass on the news that the public is invited to have their photo shoot anytime in Rizal Park.

Thanks,
Jett

The allegations that the Rizal Park, and any other National Park in the Philippines (to set the record straight), would disallow Filipinos, its visitors and tourists to take photos of themselves and their company in the park, are plain absurd, and, to me, a move to discredit and malign the Department of Tourism and the National Parks Development Committee for whatever personal selfish reasons they may have.

You know what, even the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty, both stated in the article by Mr. Mel Cortez (a wedding photographer, if you try to Google him), have stringent guidelines for filming and image shots, and require "fair rate for each operations," according to the official website of the Eiffel Tower, and in the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

These are more photos I gathered from the NPDC and from Dir. Villegas, which proves that anyone can shoot at the Rizal Park, even for product shots. These photos by the Samahan ng mga Litratista sa Rizal - Federation of Philippine Photographer Foundation, Inc. promoting Coleman lamps. They asked for permission to take these shots, and they were granted without having to pay anything. Aren't these photos really nice? :)

Rizal Park _ Coleman

To set the record straight: Come visit the Philippines! Come visit Luneta, Rizal Park. Come visit Manila, and the Intramuros. Take shots. Take memories that will last. Take lots of them. Snap away. Because it is free. Because we love our beautiful country. Pilipinas, tara na! ;)

Rizal Lights and Sounds

Please spread this good news! :)

P.S. The opinions herein are solely mine, and not representative of the DOT or its officials.

EDIT (11/14/11, 3:20PM): I only saw this video, which was shared to me by a colleague. More questions than answers arise, and based on the video itself, the NPDC has every right to disallow them to proceed with their actions, because they are staging a preconceived permit-less protest (hello banner and shirts), which may be offensive and disrespectful to the place or may be in violation with the protocols of the National Historical Commission.

EDIT (11/15/11, 4:00PM): The National Parks and the Intramuros Administration have released a joint statement on the issue. Also, there's a Press Release from the Department of Tourism just now.
National Parks Development Committee and Intramuros Administration Joint Statement
DOT MEDIA RELEASE: NPDC and IA Photography Policy

20 comments:

  1. Looks like it has the same case as the Oblation. Personal use, photos, the photogs and the guards.

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  2. Probably? But it's really simple. It's free to take shots, it's a public place.

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  3. bong, i can't find a share link to FB here. i wanna post on my FB page sana.

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  4. Andami na kasi may SLR at tripod, baka akala nila lagi pag mukhang professional looking eh for commercial na kaya pinagbabawalan... :)

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  5. nice to know that this issue has been clarified"...
    more power brian!

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  6. I think the problem is between the admin and their communication with their guards. I think the guards are having a hard time differentiating a commercial shoot from a non-commercial one. I guess as soon as they see a guy with a big camera, they assume it's already a commercial shoot.

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  7. The problem is that when the security personnel are asked "Bakit Bawal..." they haven't got a clue why it is prohibited. And the process of asking permission to take a snap shot of the monument is like applying a business permit.

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  8. well that is one breather that they replied to you that indeed it is allowed for if the rumors are true, then mightily as we could muster, let us struck down that policy for it runs contradictory to what Rizal espouse, FREEDOM!

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  9. "Case in point, I assisted Metro Magazine and Ms. Shamcey Supsup when they used the Department of Tourism facade for their November 2011 cover shot, and they did not even pay a single centavo for the shot, because it is for free!"
    You guys are really lucky! Getting a shoot done for a commercial shoot, Metro Magazine, for free. Wow! Thats a bonus for your profit. What you've written is very onesided. You should have researched more before writing anything that crosses your mind. You should try being in our shoes more then we will see.

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  10. when did prenup shoots ever became "for commercial use?"

    this is true to most historical places & some public places in the country when shooting with a dslr. they will say bawal but will not explain why.

    it was easy for Metro magazine to secure permits or shoot for free. but not for regular people.

    bottomline is at is a public place, everyone shud be free to take pictures (dslr or otherwise). i shud go to the street and take pictures without the need for permits and all. government should promote art especially from the young and not prohibit them or slap them with fees and permits!

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  11. Anonymous: I think they what they meant with that clause was those people who use the area to profit? Re: DSLR, that shouldn't be the case. You shouldn't be prohibited to take photos just because you are using an SLR. That's absurd. Also, there lies the burden with the officials and caretakers to properly instruct and educate their enforcers and caretakers about what an SLR is. Minsan doon nagkakatalo. Hindi naman pala alam.

    I don't think that's the case. The Department of Tourism, at least, doesn't prefer one over the other based on whatever classification one may say. DOT treats every request as objective and equal as possible.

    Bottomline, true, it is a public place, and people are free to take photos. Also, it is the public's responsibility to take care of the place, and respect the place. More so, with the places which has historical and cultural importance not only to the area but to the Nation as a while (i.e., Rizal Park, and statue of Rizal).

    I am 100% with you with the call that government should promote art and design most especially from the youth.

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  12. You may want to visit the grouppage and see for yourself.

    http://www.facebook.com/groups/239206572800499/

    They are waiting for you.

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  13. I think the problem is that some guards have not been properly educated and informed on what makes a commercial shoot and what makes an amateur/hobbyist shoot. Overzealous guards would usually accost photographers using DSLR mainly because they equate DSLRs with commercial use. Many hobbyist with DSLRs have horror stories like this and when they confront the guards and ask bakit bawal?, all they get is "basta bawal!".

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  14. If that's the problem, then it is the responsibility of both NPDC and IA to properly inform them and educate them on the matter. True. That might be the case, and that's really sad to hear.

    The issue should be that, and not accusations of a "no-shoot policy" of the Department or any of its attached agencies, which is not true.

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  15. I've experienced first hand being reprimanded by numerous guards on a number of occasions for taking shots using a DSLR. Even though I kept on telling them it's just a hobby and these shots is not for commercial use.

    DOT has a reasonable request in trying to control the misuse of our landmarks. But the big problem lies with how to determine if the shoot really is for your own enjoyment or for commercial purposes. For now, the type of camera is guiding point.

    I was actually free to shoot in HK, Singapore and Indonesia. Was even allowed free reign in their museums. So I still could not understand why guards keep on reprimanding visitors with DSLRs. Oh! Expect foreign tourists. They don't reprimand those.

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  16. "You shouldn't be prohibited to take photos just because you are using an SLR. That's absurd." - EXACTLY OUR POINT!

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  17. "The allegations that the Rizal Park, and any other National Park in the Philippines (to set the record straight), would disallow Filipinos, its visitors and tourists to take photos of themselves and their company in the park, are plain absurd, and, to me, a move to discredit and malign the Department of Tourism and the National Parks Development Committee for whatever personal selfish reasons they may have." - WHAT? A MOVE TO DISCREDIT AND MALIGN THE DOT & NPDC NA AGAD? HINDI BA PWEDENG PINAG-BAWALAN LANG TALAGA KAMING MGA PHOTOGRAPHERS NA MAG SHOOT NG MGA GUARDS?

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  18. I found this link at the intramuros website, I think DOT needs to explain about this

    http://intramuros.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=121

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  19. ayun naman pala. yung guards lang ang hindi nakakaintindi kung alin ang bawal at hindi.

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  20. Nakapag-shoot na ako sa Intramuros at Rizal Park using my digicam before with no problem. The pictures are all-over my blog. Di ko pa lang nadadala yung DSLR ko sa Rizal Park hehehe. Hopefully one of these days eh sipagin na ako :)

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