The APEC Photo Contest 2017 winners were announced at the Concluding Senior Officials’ Meeting by Dr. Alan Bollard, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat’s Executive Director, on November 7, in the central city of Da Nang.


                First-prize winning photo 'Sunset Life' by Kieu Anh Dung from Vietnam

The first prize was awarded to the photo "Sunset Life” by Kieu Anh Dung from Vietnam, while "The Sea Flower” by Truong Vinh and "Building the Flower Industry” by Tran Dinh Thuong, both also from the host country, received second and third prizes, respectively.

The Popular Choice Award went to "Up and Forward” by Yu-Han Kung from the Republic of Korea and "Harvest Time” by Oki Arisandi from Indonesia received the Influencer Award.

The APEC Photo Contest is an annual initiative of the APEC Secretariat to collect stakeholders’ views on APEC’s messages and priorities. The contest seeks the public’s visual interpretation of APEC’s priorities for 2017, including promoting sustainable, innovative and inclusive growth, deepening regional economic integration, strengthening the competitiveness of small businesses and enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture.

The winners were evaluated by a judging panel consisting of world renowned photojournalists, industry experts and senior public officials, such as APEC Executive Director Alan Bollard, Agence France-Presse Photo Editor for North America Eric Baradat, award-winning photographer Palani Mohan, APEC Photo Contest multi-year winner and photographer Truong Huu Hung, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister and Chair of APEC 2017 Senior Officials Bui Thanh Son.

In its seventh year, the APEC Photo Contest 2017 received 2,126 entries from various APEC member economies including Australia, Brunei Darussalam, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

In order to reach a wider audience, this year, for the first time, the contest welcomed entries from Instagram through the APEC Secretariat’s official account.

To honour the Instagram entries, the special "Influencer Award” was introduced and the winner was selected by the number of likes the photo received on this channel. The first winner of the award this year is Oky Arisandi from Indonesia whose photo received nearly 3,000 likes.

 

                                             Source: NDO

Related Topics


Hoa Binh’s cultural heritage: Muong Gongs, a timeless cultural treasure

Gongs hold a special place in the cultural and spiritual life of the Muong ethnic people in Hoa Binh province. More than musical instruments, they are an indispensable part of community rituals and collective memory, echoing through generations as a spiritual thread linking the past, present, and future.

Preserving, promoting Muong cultural heritage: Upholding Muong culture into contemporary life

Preserving and promoting the cultural values of the Muong ethnic group has become an urgent task in the current context, as many traditional values face the risk of fading away. This effort requires not only protecting the cultural identity but also eliminating outdated customs and developing a modern cultural lifestyle, contributing to sustainable values for the Muong community in Hoa Binh province.

Preserving essence of Muong culture: tradition meets modernity

The Muong ethnic culture, deeply rooted in Vietnam’s mountainous north, continues to be preserved and revitalised by dedicated individuals and communities determined to safeguard their ancestral identity.

Preserving Muong community’s identity – Journey from tradition to modernity: Part 1 – Exploring Muong culture region

The Muong group is one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vietnam, primarily found in Hoa Binh province. The Muong people in Hoa Binh boast a rich and diverse cultural treasure that reflects the unique identity of this ethnic group. Accounting for over 63% of the province's population, they have created and preserved numerous distinctive cultural values, contributing to their unique identity. Their cultural heritage is an invaluable asset, at the heart of their national identity, and represents a vibrant spiritual life that must be preserved and promoted in today’s modern world.

Traditional festivals of Hoa Binh: A rich cultural heritage

For generations, the ethnic communities of Hoa Binh province, particularly the Muong people, have preserved vibrant festivals deeply intertwined with the region’s geography, nature, and social traditions. These celebrations enrich Hoa Binh’s spiritual life and cultural identity, reflecting both folk beliefs and the intermingling of ethnic customs. Many of these festivals have endured the test of time, passed down through generations and continuing to thrive today. Among them, the Khai Ha (Going Down to the Field) festival stands out as one of the most significant events of the Muong ethnic group.

Muong calendar – National intangible cultural heritage

Muong calendar, known as sach doi, is an ancient folk knowledge system developed through observations of the movement of the pleiades star. This unique calendar consists of 12 bamboo sticks, each representing a lunar month. Specific days within each month are marked with distinct symbols, guiding locals in determining auspicious and inauspicious days for important activities.