27/09/2026
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1646036854200176&set=a.477285064408700
ALUMNI NEWS | ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป: ๐ง๐๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ, ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ด๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
Photography has a way of preserving the most significant moments in memoryโbut sometimes, it also brings focus to those who remain unseen.
For Vincent Dwight Rafil and Jaypee Canja Peruelo, alumni of John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Arevalo), Inc. (JBLFMU-A), photography became their way to bring life at sea beyond the ship and onto the international stage. They have gained recognition in the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) Seafarers Trust Life at Sea Competition in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Their passion for photography began at JBLFMU-A, where they honed their talents through campus activities, events, organizations, and competitions before carrying the craft into their lives as seafarers.
Vincent Dwight Rafil of Batch 2014, began photography during his college years as a hobby and personal interest. He served as president of the Lapis Guild Organization from 2013 to 2014 and participated in various photography competitions.
Rafil continued photography onboard as he pursued his maritime career.
In 2021, one of his photographs was selected among the 40 portraits featured in the ITF Seafarersโ Trust โOut of Sight, Not Out of Mind โ 40 Portraits of Seafarers by Seafarersโ project. In 2025, his photograph โSteel and Saltโ was recognized as Highly Commended in the ITF Seafarers Trust Life at Sea photography competition.
"Photography has since become more than just a hobby for me. It has become a way of documenting the people, work, sacrifices, and everyday realities of seafarers, while sharing their stories with people beyond the maritime industry," Rafil said.
Moreover, photography was also something that Peruelo enjoyedโinitially taking photographs simply for himself.
Peruelo graduated from JBLFMU-A in 2018, and was active in campus as a Handumanan Circle president, Unit and System Model Cadet, and one of The Ten Outstanding Students of the Maritime Philippines (TOMSP) nominees.
His approach to photography changed when his senior, Rafil, encouraged him to join the ITF Seafarers Trust Life at Sea 2026 Photography Competition.
Rafil, having previously received recognition in the competition, guided and encouraged Peruelo to submit his work as a first-time participant.
"I never imagined entering a competition, much less an international one," Peruelo said.
That first attempt eventually brought Peruelo to the international stage, where he placed third in the said competition.
"He pushed me to believe in my work, guided me along the way, and reminded me that I had nothing to lose by simply trying," he added.
For both Lacsonians, photography has grown beyond personal interest. Through their lenses, the people, work, sacrifices, and everyday realities of seafarers become visible to audiences beyond the maritime industry.
Story by Dwight Ian Onglatco
Pubmat by Wiency Andrei Mondejar
