PROFILE: Who is Mr. Edwin Cortero Tuyay?

Franz Embudo

EDWIN CORTERO TUYAY

“Photographs open doors into the past, but they also allow a look into the future.” -Sally Mann
In a small village later was elevated into a status of town, and a home to a lake teeming with various kinds of fishes where Sinarapan, the world’s smallest commercially harvested fish, occupies the waters of Lake Bato, a passionate, dedicated, and ‘rakista’ photojournalist was originated. His name is Edwin Cortero Tuyay, 61 years old. He was born December 13, 1957 in Bato, Camarines Sur. He was married to her loving wife, Ellen. They have six children namely Led, Queen, Filidan, Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger, and Nirvanna. They are a family of musicians, singers and fencers. He is currently a freelance photojournalist and corporate photographer. He shoots for international publications.
He likes music so much particularly rock songs. He usually wears hippie and jeproks clothes, and an afro hairdo during his teenage days. After high school graduation in 1977, he met the love of his “life”, Ellen, her wife, got pregnant later on. For this reason, he left his first job in Metro Manila Commission (MMDA today) where he covered accidents on the roads and streets around Manila.
FILM PRODUCTIONS AS STEPPING-STONE
Mr. Tuyay started off his career as a still photographer for local and international film productions. He then entered Regal Films Productions under Lily Monteverde also known as Mother Lily. He had no camera yet that time. He had only a point and shoot camera borrowed from the productions during his first professional job. He worked there as a still photographer who shoots scenes for film promotions. He learned the hard way in his first productions experience. He experienced to be cursed by the director, had been shouted several times, because he knows nothing in the first place but as the time progressed, he eventually mastered his workplace.
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Mr. Tuyay ended his career in doing films after Marcos regime. He became a photojournalist in 1986. From the scene behind the camera in film productions, he then got inspired by Andy Hernandez, a Mexican-American photographer of News Week, to do reportage through photos. News Week is an American weekly magazine founded in 1933. One photo of the said news magazine captured Mr. Tuyay’s curiosity in photojournalism. An image of an ambush made by the rebels against Armed Force of the Philippines (AFP) happened somewhere in Quezon Province. The photo was visually good because of its story, dramatic, and thought-provoking, but also a sad scenario of Filipinos fighting each other. He also looked up to its writer, Belinda Liu, a Chinese-American, considered as one of the finest writers in that magazine. From that moment, he dreamed of making his name be known in the field of photojournalism, someday. He didn’t fail that promise. He made it happen through his passion and determination that brought him to the peak of his success.
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHY AS HIS FIRST LOVE
Fashion photography is also one of his interests. He was deeply in love with glamour and fashion that time. In his confession, he said he was following Vogue, an American fashion magazine. He devotedly studied the proper lighting, posing, and even the smallest details in that particular field. He prefers fashion photography more than news coverages.

MANILA CHRONICLE JOURNEY
Even if Mr. Tuyay was not a graduate of any journalism course, when he knew that there was an opening job in Manila Chronicle, newspaper during pre-martial law era, he applied and expectedly got accepted just through his experience, brilliance, and perseverance. He once again proved that just by passion we can do impossible things.
During Martial Law, newspaper like The Manila Times, television network like ABS-CBN Broadcasting Company, and such were taken down by former President Ferdinand Marcos. Don Chino Roces, publisher of The Manila Times, walked out together with other employees in the said company. Roces tied with Eugenio Lopez, chief executive officer of ABS-CBN, to revive Manila Chronicle after being shut down by then President Marcos. The Manila Chronicle became Times Journal later on when Corazon Aquino was elected as the new President in 1986.
FIRST PUBLISHED PHOTO AND SALARY
Mr. Tuyay’s first photo in Manila Chronicle was published on June 1, 1986- also the first issue of the said newspaper. A photo of then newly-elected President Aquino being interviewed by the media was printed on the front page of the Manila Chronicle. He was compensated an amount of 3,500 pesos a month while his colleagues received 5,000 pesos. He shared also that for every published photo, he gets 30 pesos. But for Mr. Tuyay, that amount was enough for living that time. He was assigned in Malacanang beat for three months because of that photo of Cory. He also witnessed the corruption between police officers and journalists inside the police beat- his most hate beat. Some business and sports reporters and correspondents also get bribes as he recalls typical circumstances in the field. He was a staff photographer of Manila Chronicle from 1986 up to 1988, covering the Senate military, conress, and beats prior mentioned. What he did that time was he resisted all the temptations and stayed with his principles. In 1988, he resigned after two years in service. He even peddled his pictures to his contacts overseas. He sold Cory’s photo in Hong Kong. After a week, Asia Week featured his photo in their magazine cover. He was paid for that more than a thousand, in 1988.
SPRATLY ISLANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES THRU ASIA WEEK
He was sent to Spratly Islands by the editors of Asia Week and covered the hot spot group of islands. After that assignment, he was eventually hired as their first staff photographer by the Time-Warner company based in Hong Kong. He covered major events like the ASEAN Summits, SEA Games, and photographed movers and shakers of the region.
AS FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
He likewise freelances for News Week, Time, Fortune, Paris Match, New York Times, Esquire, etc. He did four covers for Reader’s Digest magazine that were printed in the magazine’s 19-editions.
His corporate accounts are Ayala Group of companies, Metrobank, Landbank, STI, Lopez, Inc., BancoDeOro, Jollibee, JG Summit, and Manila Water, etc.