Cover Michael Varcas (Photo: Michael Varcas)
Michael Varcas (Photo: Michael Varcas)
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Meet the photojournalist who won the 2024 World Press Photo Contest
“As long as I’m holding my camera as a photojournalist, I feel that it’s my obligation to shoot social issues for the better,” quipped Michael Varcas, journalist and news photographer for The Philippine Star.
Whether he’s documenting the horrifying war on drugs of the Duterte administration or keeping the people up to date on the West Philippine Sea dispute, Varcas makes sure to show Filipino citizens what’s happening behind the scenes. His feature stories and photographs don’t romanticise our everyday lives—they shed light on what gets hidden by people in power.
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The Philippines is plagued with many complications, and Varcas isn’t afraid to show our nation’s issues in their rawest form. His main drive is the people who need his help and will not stop for anything. He has travelled around the country to capture rallies, military operations, and slice-of-life moments that the Filipino people are familiar with. “If I’m not shooting what I’m supposed to be shooting, I should probably go elsewhere and give my spot to someone who has more grit and passion,” says Varcas.
After winning the 2024 World Press Photo Contest in the Southeast Asia and Oceania region for the Stories category, Varcas feels validated for his work. His entry, Battle for Sovereignty, exposes China’s gunboat diplomacy tactic when contesting our territory over the Scarborough Shoal. Our fishermen are left defenceless against Chinese military vessels and are, to this day, locked in a standoff. “It’s the icing on my photojournalism career in this social media era where you get the real-time response of your audience to your work. The award is the biggest validation that I did something not for likes and shares but for the truest essence of photojournalism,” says Varcas proudly.
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Varcas’ creative process starts early in the morning. He prepares a cup of black coffee and starts reading the news. “Big news usually has to be taken care of first. Then, the most pressing issues, and I balance it if we can produce a good image out of it and then execute it if it’s feasible,” he shares.
His proudest moment comes from his coverage of the filming of the movie Bourne Legacy in 2012. Varcas hadn’t been feeling well then but still found the time and energy to visit the shoot location. From 1pm to 11pm, he patiently waited to capture shots of the cast and crew filming. His dedication to getting the perfect shot had him moving from house to house to evade security personnel sweeping the area for any hiding media entities, all while suffering from an illness. He fondly looks back at this time as if he could “pull it off despite adversities”. “It serves as a metaphor and a measuring stick, indicating that I have enough patience having experienced the worst,” shares Varcas.
“You need to be hungry; do it with passion.”
Inspired by social issues and ordinary Filipino people, Varcas is the essence of journalism made manifest. He does not pull punches or sugarcoat what he sees—he gives us pure, unadulterated truth, no matter how ugly or horrifying it may be.
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About
Gabriel found his passion for writing through poetry in high school. He sharpened his skills at Ateneo de Manila University and hopes to write a play worthy of Broadway one day. A self-proclaimed geek, he loves to spend his free time playing video games and board games. When he's not clicking heads on Valorant or roleplaying as a barbarian in Dungeons and Dragons, you can find him exploring art galleries or watching stage plays.
Work
A creative writer who writes about anything and everything, Gabriel loves to dive deep into the arts and culture scene—as well as going on long road trips for travel pieces.
You can reach him on Instagram at @gbohol for any leads, casual conversations or game invites.
