Telling local stories better: Tourism frontliners in Surigao Sur learn photography, videography skills
By Nida Grace P. Barcena
TANDAG CITY (PIA) — With smartphones and cameras in hand, tourism officers and staff from across Surigao del Sur gathered in Tandag City to master the art of storytelling through a lens, helping reshape how the world sees their communities.
In a province blessed with cascading waterfalls, pristine coastlines, and vibrant cultural heritage, the ability to capture compelling visuals is more than just an aesthetic pursuit. It is a tool for empowerment, local pride, and economic advancement.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) Caraga, in collaboration with the provincial government of Surigao del Sur through the Provincial Tourism Office, launched a three-day Photography and Videography Workshop on July 14-16.
“This workshop gives our tourism teams the right tools and knowledge to tell those stories well, from the right angles, to the right audience,” said Provincial Tourism Officer Mary Vil Cruz-Chan in her opening remarks. “When we improve how we tell our stories, we improve how the world sees us.”
Voices from the ground
Participants from all 17 municipalities and 2 cities of Surigao del Sur brought not only their gear, but also their passion, curiosity, and eagerness to grow.
Jude Limbaro, tourism officer of Bayabas, noted the workshop’s strong focus on technical skills.
“The topic was very technical. For beginners, it was quite difficult to catch up,” he said with honesty. “You have to do the script, the storytelling, the voiceover, the photo or video shooting, and then you also have to edit. It really pushed us to understand the full process of content creation.
Limbaro observed that while some participants brought DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras, most, including himself, relied on mobile phones for shooting.
“We learned a lot from resource person Erwin Mascarinas, especially in improving our use of what we already have. But we also realized that upgrading our gadgets will help us produce better outputs moving forward,” he added.
He emphasized that in today’s landscape, “We are in an era of evidence-based promotion, where everything is told and sold through social media.”
For Abe Espenido, tourism officer of San Miguel, the experience was equally enriching.“It was a learning overload in the best way. The training helped us understand how to technically capture better photos and videos that reflect the beauty and identity of our locality.”
Learning from the pro
Bringing real-world expertise to the training were Erwin Mascarinas, a seasoned photojournalist and multimedia producer widely known for his human-centered storytelling, and John Charles Malazarte of PIA Caraga, who provided a foundational orientation on the principles of basic photography.
“Don’t just take a video. Tell a story,” Mascarinas said. “Tourism isn’t just about pretty places. It’s about people, culture, food, and the feeling of being welcomed.”
Mascarinas broke down the storytelling process into relatable, hands-on steps, offering practical guidance on framing, natural lighting, capturing clean audio, mobile editing, and even voiceover recording. His approach was specially designed for grassroots tourism teams, many of whom work with limited tools but carry rich narratives from their communities.
Meanwhile, Malazarte’s session helped participants understand the basic rules of composition, camera handling, and subject focus, laying down the groundwork for creative and intentional photography that supports tourism promotion efforts.
Together, their insights bridged the gap between passion and technical execution, giving participants the confidence to craft visual content that’s both compelling and authentic.
Local action, national vision
This grassroots initiative supports the goals outlined in President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA), where he emphasized the revitalization of the tourism sector as a key driver for economic recovery and inclusive growth.
Under the Bagong Pilipinas governance framework, this training serves as a response to national goals in promoting digital transformation, innovation, and local empowerment, ensuring that even the most remote communities can tell their own stories and compete in the digital tourism space.
Beyond the workshop
The training culminated not only in newfound skills but also in a renewed mission for participants.
“We’re no longer just staff behind desks or at tourism booths. We’re storytellers of our lands,” said Limbaro.
With each captured image and every edited clip, tourism officers across Surigao del Sur are now better equipped to amplify their towns’ voices, showcasing the rich tapestry of culture, nature, and hospitality that define the province. (NGPB, PIA Surigao del Sur)
