SEOUL, 30 August 2014 –The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Committee for the Republic of Korea awarded in Seoul on Saturday, 30 August 2014 a Filipino musician working at an international hotel chain in Gyeongju the Grand Prize of an environment-themed international photo competition.

Philippine Ambassador to South Korea Raul S. Hernandez attended the awarding ceremony recognizing Mr. Ronnie Dayo for his work “Trying to Reduce the Fire” as overall winner of the “2014 Focus on Your World” International Environmental Photo Competition held at the Yein Hall of the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul.

“The accomplishment of Mr Dayo, a professional musician, demonstrates the versatility and talent of Filipinos,” said Ambassador Hernandez. UNEP Korea Vice President Kim Jong-wie, who was a former Minister of Environment, presented Mr Dayo with a certificate and the cash prize of 5 million KRW.

Winners of the competition submitted their entries based on the Competition’s themes: “Beautiful planet”; “Small hope”; and “Raise your voice, not the sea level”. Mr. Dayo was able to meet the three criteria which won him the grand prize of the competition.

Ambassador Hernandez had the honor to present the Silver Award to Mr. Woon Seob Shin for his work entitled “Abandoned ship buried in the mud”.

UNEP Korea sponsored and organized the competition with the objective of making people realize the environment they carelessly pass by and create an opportunity to sustain its beauty through photographs.

As this year is the International Year of Small Islands Developing States declared by UN, 2014 Focus on Your World Environmental Photography Competition was especially held to encourage a greater understanding of the importance of Small Islands Developing States and of the urgency to help protect the islands in the face of growing risks and vulnerabilities.