Following the disgrace of Mark Joseph Solis who was awarded first prize for a stolen photograph, organizers of the Smiles of the World (A Calidad Humana Project) competition have named a new winner. He is Medardo I. Marquez, 55 years old, from Negros Occidental. He originally placed second prize but became the grand prize winner after this week’s scandal.
Marquez captures three half-naked boys wearing nothing but geniune smiles. “We may be naked and toothless, but we are blessed for our spirit is undaunted and our laughter pure,” he writes about his work, entitled “We Are Blessed: Our Spirits Undaunted & Our Laughter Pure”.
This work, along with other winners and entries for the Smiles of the World Competition, are on display at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Little Theatre lobby until Oct 2, 8am-8pm.
