• ANDREW ALTAREJOS
In the travel industry, a picture isn’t just worth a thousand words—it’s often the reason someone books a ticket. The next generation of tourism professionals from STI West Negros University is proving they have the eye to inspire those journeys.
The College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM) officially opened its highly anticipated travel photography exhibit, “Stories in Frame: A Journey Through Culture and Community,” at the GT 888 Mall Event Center in Bacolod City on April 8.
The event marks a significant milestone for the university, as it is the first time the tourism students have taken their academic work beyond the campus gates and into a major commercial center, bringing their travel narratives directly to the heart of the Bacolod community.
With a total of 350 photographs on display, the exhibit transforms the Event Center into a vibrant visual diary of exploration and local heritage. The showcase is part of the Travel Writing and Photography subject for third-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM) students, offering mall-goers a unique glimpse into the world as seen through the eyes of young, aspiring travel curators and event organizers.
Each photograph demonstrates a mastery of visual storytelling, a critical skill in today’s digital-first tourism landscape where social media and online content drive destination appeal.
The 350 entries are categorized into five compelling themes allowing visitors to navigate through different facets of the travel experience: People, Landscape and Wildlife, Urban Environment, Food and Drinks, and Artistic Photography.
CHTM Dean Genevieve Tan delivered a welcome address and a very inspiring message to the students. She noted that the ability to capture a destination’s “sense of place” is an essential tool for modern tourism professionals, whether they are designing travel packages, managing events, or guiding guests. “The photographs on these walls do more than just decorate a space,” Tan said.
Representing the venue partner, GT 888 Mall Manager Angie Felomine also took the podium to voice her enthusiastic support for the student initiative.
This year’s panel of judges for the Travel Photography Exhibit were creative director of ArkyPila GO Rey Leones, news photographer of Digicast Negros Ronnie Baldonado, and photojournalist and writer Andrew Altarejos.
The event was well-attended by the guiding forces behind the BSTM program, including faculty members Ma. Ivette Heart Salazar and Michael Tiongco.
Also present to show their support were MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) adviser Joel Magalgalit and program head Leah Rose Gacuma. The Travel Photography Exhibit will run until April 10.*
