Enter Magazine

An excerpt from World Press Photo's Enter Online Magazine, published on September 2007... According to some reports, more than 1700 civilians have been killed since 2000 as anti-government forces and militants battle against the authorities in the Philippines. And that is not counting deaths amongst fighters on both sides. Charlie Saceda, a staff photographer with the Philippine Star newspaper for the last five years, has recently spent time in the south of the country recording ongoing military operations and the effect they are having on communities there. No stranger to war zones – 28-year-old Charlie was once held hostage for three days in 2000 until 100 sacks of rice were delivered – he is currently following the skirmishes between government forces and rebels in the islands of Basilan and Jolo. As he says, “in this decades old war, innocent civilians are always the losers.” Charlie, who recently finished a diploma course on photojournalism at the Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines sponsored by the Konrad Adenaeuer Asian Center for Journalism and Word Press Photo, used a Canon 5d for wide angle shots and a Canon 1D for tighter ones. He shot with only available light around mid-morning with two lenses – the only ones he has - a 17-35mm f2.8 and 80-200mm f2.8. “My favorite picture is of the women and children waiting for any news of peace so that they can return home,” says Charlie. “The uncertainty about their future is seen on the faces of the women as they are surrounded by their belongings.”

Want to link to this gallery?
Flash Slideshow:

Patrolling on t… A Philippine Ma… Philippine Mari… Philippine Mari… A Philippine Ai… Women and child… An infant cries… A nun covers he… Allan Eguin, th…

Keywords charlie saceda jolo basilan world press photo enter magazine uss harpers ferry war