03 January 2017 — The Philippine Consulate General, in partnership with the Philippine American Writers and Artists, Inc and the Filipino American International Book Festival, held the US book launching of “Blood, Sweat, Hope and QUIAPO Rodallie S. Mosende’s Story” by Rick Rocamora, Rene Ciria-Cruz and Dan Amosin at the Social Hall of the Philippine Center on December 19, 2016.                                                

The book is a collection of photographs depicting the life of Rodallie Mosende and residents of Quiapo. Mr. Rocamora is an award-winning documentary photographer who has had his photographs published in Asian American Journalist Association, SF Bay Area Press Photographers Association, the New California Media, and the Media Alliance. He was awarded a California Arts Council Art Fellowship and a Local Bay Area Heroes Award for his work with World War II veterans. Mr. Rocamora has dedicated his life to documenting issues about civil liberties, immigrant rights, human rights, and social justice issues both here and in the Philippines.

Consul General Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. congratulated Mr. Rocamora and Mr. Ciria-Cruz on their book, a photo documentary of Rodallie Mosende’s life, a homeless girl who, through the documentation of Mr. Rocamora, was given an education scholarship by benefactors that allowed her to finish college and lift her family off the streets and provide a better life for herself and her family.

He congratulated the documentary photographer for his vocation of bringing to light the life of ordinary, hard-working Filipinos who try to make the best of life, and for giving the Community a glimpse of what Quiapo was like in the past, and how it is today. 

Mr. Rocamora shared his experiences while working in Quiapo for eight months. He spoke of the cleanliness and kind-heartedness of people who, though having little, still managed to open their homes to others and maintained a life of dignity for themselves.

Long-time friend and collaborator, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Kim Komenich lauded his friend’s work, saying that Mr. Rocamora’s work shows “what one man and one camera can do” to change other people’s lives.

Guests were given an opportunity to ask Mr. Rocamora about his experiences surrounding the making and publication of the book, followed by a reception. END