Baguio City, Philippines — The University of the Cordilleras (UC) College of Nursing (CON) proudly secured the Silver Award in the “Green Is In” Photo Competition, one of the highlights of the Literary, Visual, Media Arts, Music, and Dance Competitions. The announcement was made during the culminating ceremony held at the UC Gymnasium on March 27, 2025.
Representing the College of Nursing was Sean Matthew C. Fontanos, who showcased his skills in a highly competitive and technically demanding contest. Participants were required to follow strict guidelines, including the use of DSLR or digital cameras only, with no post-editing allowed beyond basic camera adjustments. Mobile phones, computer editing, and photo enhancements were strictly prohibited.
Each college was allowed to field only one contestant and one watcher, and all entries had to prominently feature their department’s monologue performance. Contestants were tasked to capture a total of four photos that visually interpret the monologue’s message while adhering to competition rules—such as no camera flashes, no photos taken on stage, and immediate submission of raw images after the performance.
Fontanos’ chosen subject was Raizylle S. Kiaki, who performed a powerful original monologue titled “Threads of Change: A Call for Gender Equality Towards Sustainable Development.” Kiaki’s piece delivered a poignant message—that meaningful progress in sustainability is impossible if women continue to be marginalized in society. Fontanos’ photographs masterfully captured the intensity, emotion, and advocacy embedded in Kiaki’s performance, earning praise from judges for both technical execution and thematic depth.
The achievement adds to the growing list of artistic and advocacy-driven accomplishments of UC CON, further establishing the college not only as a center for nursing excellence but also as a strong voice in social and environmental discourse. With this silver victory, the College of Nursing continues to make an impact—one photo, one story, one voice at a time.
