August 19, 2018 marks CCP’s 9oth Anniversary. On August 17, the club celebrated the occasion with a nostalgic theme dressed in the 20’s. The article below was adopted from the Viewfinder written by lifetime member Quincy Castillo.
The Saints came marchin in after puttin on the ritz, to altogether break bread, drink, laugh, sing and dance last August 17, almost exactly 90 years after our club was founded. The lifetime members presented two numbers, a medly of “Moonlight Bay and Silvery Moon” both songs reminiscent of the 1920’s. The last number was “Saints”, which was preceded by a phrase lifetime member Ernie Fajardo wrote especially for the celebration. Lyrics follow (We are walking in the footsteps, of those who’ve come before. 90 years had gone too long, but the Camera Club stands strong. Since we all click together, we shall bond forever more), followed by the actual song number and the last phrase was interpreted with fake wind instruments (Kazoos).
There was also a song “Camera Club Blues” composed and sang by lifetime member Tom Colvin. Tom, now retired, used to be an executive of the Asian Development Bank. Tom brought the house down especially when he got up and played his harmonica. He owns dozens of harps and his a gifted performer.
Anniversary performances are really part of the spirit of the club. In manny anniversaries past, some members were dressed as Geishas and women all in the spirit of fun. There was also a gifted band that plaed the saxophone as well as dance music which made members dance the night away.
One of the highlights of the night was a gift presented by Manny Gaite to the club. It was a cartwheel carved out of Narra, featuring the CCP original logo. It is meant to be a testimony of the lifetime members’ deep love for our club so that the future generation of members will have an idea of the intimate bonds which form the foundation of our beloved club.
A historical video which lifetime member Felice Sta. Maria wrote and produced by another lifetime member Quincy Castillo was shown as another highlight of the celebration. The video traced the earliest documentation of club activities and the earliest out of town photo safaris now known as OTS. It featured images made by members from the founding to the present. Many members’ works were featured including recent exemplary works of Mastercup winners Javi Flores and Jijo de Guzman.
Many thanks to the CCP Board, headed by the very generous president Paul San Pedro and special thanks to director Jorge Buenaventura for organizing a well executed party.
To reiterate the gist of the message of Dr. Alejandro Legarda, who be came a member in 1929: “The Camera Club is first and foremost a social club. Photography was a good excuse to come together and have fun.” Dr. Legarda, in his trademark white suit attended all the monthly meetings and club events throughout his golden years. He is one of our icons.
“Camaraderie”, that is the spirit of our club. It is the reason our club came to be. This spirit is obviously alive and well and hopefully will continue to be nurtured and protected by all future members of the Camera Club of the Philippines.
