Tell us the ‘Story of the Nation’ through photos, videos, posters

MANILA, Philippines – What is the #StoryOfTheNation?

On Monday, July 27, President Benigno Aquino III will deliver his 6th – and last – State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Traditionally, the SONA is a time for the President to review the past year’s achievements and present the government’s plans for the year.

The President will have a lot to talk about in his last SONA – the challenges of eradicating corruption, solving social inequality, mitigating the effects of climate change, managing foreign policy, ensuring the welfare of the overseas Filipino workers, strengthening peace process and development in Mindanao, and other unresolved issues during his administration.

But the SONA is only the President’s version of nation’s story.

We want to hear from you – to know your story.

In June 2014, MovePH, Rappler’s civic engagement arm, launched the #StoryOftheNation to help illustrate the narrative of the Filipino people. The purpose of the initiative is to go beyond the official lines and well-lacquered keynote presentations. We want to unearth the untold stories of everyday Filipinos through photos submitted by the public from across the country.

This year, we plan to extend our reach to more artists, photographers, and videographers.

Join the campaign and help illustrate the story of the nation through various creative expressions.

Here’s how:

Step 1: What is the story of the nation?

Are you a photographer, creative artist, or videographer?

If you’re a photogarpher or videographer, armed with your camera or phone, talk to the members of your community – everyday Filipinos who just want to earn a decent living and have a happy family.

Ask what motivates them, what frustrates them, or what they’d want to say to the President. Or, if they were the President, what would they want to tell the nation?

Record their answers and other basic details, like their name and profession.

If you’re a creative artist, think about the best way to visualize the story of the nation through graphics, posters, or comic strips.

Step 2: Express!

Take a picture of your subjects or start your work.

If you’re taking a photo or video of your subject, it’s best to take them within their natural environment or in a situation that says something about who they are.

Take note that the subjects do not need to always smile or look at the camera.

Step 3: Submit!

You can send the photos, videos, captions, posters, artworks, and other relevant information to move.ph@rappler.com. Please put #StoryOfTheNation in the subject line of your email.

You can also send your entries via Facebook or Twitter. When submitting via social media, remember to use #StoryOfTheNation and make your post public. You can also submit using the Rappler app.

Here is the ‘story of the nation’ according to Filipinos: 

 

– Rappler.com