A self-confessed dreamer and traveler from Lumban, Laguna took home the grand prize in a Facebook-based contest that successfully used the now popular and very personal selfie shot to give honor to mothers.
Reydante Gotia Banag’s entry of a wacky and fun selfie photo of himself and his mother, Angelina, got the nod of the “Selfie with Nanay” photo contest judges, besting more than a hundred entries from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Banag works as a customer care experience officer in a BPO company. His mother is a social worker who spent many years in charitable organizations like World Vision Philippines.
“For years, I stayed in the United States, and later Singapore, far away from my parents. But I noticed that my mother was happiest and proudest when I was here in the Philippines, with them. That is why today, I take the time to be with them, especially with my mom,” Reydante Banag said.
The “Selfie with Nanay” contest is a project of Make Your Nanay Proud (MYNP), a foundation established by award-winning host Boy Abunda to honor mothers all over the country.
“MYNP believes that a child’s love for his or her mother is one of the most transformative forces in Filipino society. We want to encourage Filipinos to be the best that they can be and become model citizens that their moms can be proud of,” Boy Abunda said.
Bemz Benedito, MYNP managing director and overall facilitator of “Selfie with Nanay,” said their official MYNP Facebook Fan Page drew more than 3,000 likes in the little more than two months that it posted all contest entries.
Other winners were Teresa Danez Ella, Angelo Esperanzate, Dindo Cabatingan and Ghermeline Bascug.