Basilio Sepe

Basilio H. Sepe is an independent photographer based in Manila, Philippines. His coverage focuses on national and regional concerns. He has done multimedia work for various international and local outfits such as ABS-CBNNews Online, UCANews, European Press Photo Agency (EPA), Getty Images, Associated Press (AP), Agence France-Presse and more. He is also an active member of the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines (PCP) and an alumnus of the Angkor Photo Workshops 2016.PHOTOGRAPHS BY BASILIO SEPE NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PHOTOGRAPHER'S PERMISSION. E: [email protected] | [email protected] T: [phone] W: www.basiliosepe.com

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Devotees of the Black Nazarene join the 'Traslacion', its grand procession to celebrate its feast day in Manila, Philippines that started early morning on Wednesday. January 9, 2019. Thousands of devotees took part of the annual procession transferring the venerated statue of Jesus Christ from a park to a church in the Philippine capital. #everydayphilippines #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere #instagram #exifphotos #traslacion #procession #devotion #faith #religion #catholic #photography #photojournalism #manila #philippines Photo/Basilio H. Sepe (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsaqd6-Bl5y/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=xxbxoz0a7hlz

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It is slow in modernization but tens of thousands of Filipinos are still using the Philippine National Railways or the PNR everyday. Yet, it remains behind other transportation systems in the country – giving a lot of commuters a hard if not a dangerous time getting to their destinations Around 75,000 commuters take the PNR trains everyday. It is the oldest commuter train system in Southeast Asia, tracing its history back to the Spanish colonial period. It officially began operations on November 24, 1892 as the Ferrocarril de Manila-Dagupan. It became the Philippine National Railways on June 20, 1964 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4156 but due to neglect, the PNR declined severely through the decades. Arthur Tugade, Secretary of the Department of Transportation said in September that the system is undergoing modernization but it will take two and a half years. The Philippine government also initiated a rehabilitation project aiming to remove informal settlers from the PNR right-of-way, revitalize commuter services in Metro Manila, and restore the Manila-Bicol route as well as lost services in Northern Luzon, according to the PNR website. Government actively pursued the rehabilitation and revival of Philippine rail transport through various investments, despite the numerous problems involved. Tugade said it’s not an easy task because the tracks are either being sold or stolen and there are informal settlers who do not want to leave. Today, the government is trying to modernize the system but it is taking time. Meanwhile, the tens of thousands of commuters have to endure the daily hellish ride — from slow trains to no trains at all. This documentary was done in collaboration with @eyesgonzales. See her story here: https://www.philstar.com/business/2018/12/22/1878902/pnr-rolling-coffins-languish-snail-paced-modernization #everydayphilippines #everydayasia #instagram #dailylife #exifphotos #pnr #train #railway #modernisation #documentary #photojournalism #photography #manila #philippines (at Manila, Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Br21f6FhIOS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rbsit1geq4s9

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Filipinos mark ‘Feast of the Sacrifice’ - Thousands of Filipino Muslims mark one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar in suburban Marikina in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday. Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice is celebrated by millions of Muslim devotees around the world. Aside from prayers, devotees sacrifice or slaughter animals to commemorate the prophet Ibrahim’s faith in God in being willing to sacrifice his first-born son.

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

More photos here: https://www.ucanews.com/gallery/filipino-muslims-mark-feast-of-the-sacrifice/393

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Monsoon rains in Manila  - Heavy rainfall and strong winds brought by the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm Yagi, displaced thousands of people and left many parts of the metro flooded in Manila, Philippines. Thousands were forced to flee to temporary shelters as flood waters inundated homes and communities in the outskirts of Manila.

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

More photos here: https://www.ucanews.com/gallery/monsoon-rains-cause-widespread-flooding-in-manila/391

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2018 SONA Protest - Filipino activists march towards the Philippine Congress during President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Quezon City, Philippines on Monday. July 23, 2018. Various of militant groups protested against the current administration for its failed promises such as ending contractualization, alleviating poverty and their so-called war on drugs that has killed thousands, mostly the poor.

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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Philippines Mud People Festival - Filipino Catholic devotees cover themselves in mud and leaves in an early morning ritual to mark 'Taong Putik Festival' (Mud People Festival) and the feast day of Saint John the Baptist in Bibiclat village of Aliaga town in Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines 24 June 2018. The annual ritual followed by a morning mass is held by devotees largely to give thanks for answered prayers and a bountiful harvest. Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/06/24/18/in-photos-devotees-slather-themselves-in-soil

https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/world/2018/06/24/filipino-mud-people-honor-john-the-baptist/36340111/

https://www.thenational.ae/world/world-in-focus-best-photos-for-june-24-2018-1.743576#5

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Authorities Search for Contraband - Thousands of inmates gather outside their jail cells as they undergo a surprise inspection conducted by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology together with members of the Philippine National Police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at the Manila City Jail in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday. June 20, 2018. More than 5,000 inmates were herded out of their jail cells as authorities search for contraband.

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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FIlipino Muslims celebrate Eid’l Fitr - Thousands of Filipino Muslims gather at Rizal Park in Manila, Philippines to attend morning prayers to celebrate the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, known as Eid’l Fitr, on Friday. June 15, 2018. The Eid is one of the most important holidays in the Muslim world celebrated with prayers and family reunions. 

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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Filipinos Observe Ramadan - Filipino Muslims join the Islamic world in the observance of the month of Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayers. Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims spend the whole day in prayer and reflection.

"The message of fasting is to be more disciplined. Fasting is some kind of spiritual, moral, and psychological training for man to become strong to face the challenges in life," said Grand Mufti Abu Hureira Udasan of Cotabato City.

During the Islamic holy month, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and from sex from dawn to dusk. Text and photos by Basilio H. Sepe for ucanews.com

https://www.ucanews.com/gallery/Filipinos-observe-Islamic-holy-month-of-Ramadan/378

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Barangay Vasra Fire - Firemen battle a blaze razing a residential area in Quezon City on Wednesday. May 23, 2018. The fire reached fifth alarm displacing more than three hundred families. A day after the fire residents look for recyclable materials. Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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The Rainbow Warrior - Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace’s iconic and environmental campaign ship, arrived in Manila on Wednesday for a 20-day “Balangaw: The Climate Justice Ship Tour,” which includes port stops in Tacloban, Leyte and in Guimaras Island until March 5.The tour, which focuses on climate justice, emphasizes people’s rights to a stable climate and safe environment so they can have clean air, clean water, safe food, among others, according to Rainbow Warrior captain Hettie Geenen.Known to be the heart and soul of the global campaigning of Greenpeace, Rainbow Warrior will highlight stories of different people affected by climate change and human rights.Designed and specifically built for Greenpeace, Rainbow Warrior is primarily powered by wind energy, and it only uses its electric-based drive engines in harsh weather conditions. It is built for energy efficiency, with biological treatment of wastes, central ventilation, and environment-friendly paint.Rainbow Warrior prides itself not just as an eco-friendly vessel, but a powerhouse in terms of reliability and features. The ship contains a helicopter-landing pad, rubber boats, and specialized equipment designed for scientists so they can spot illegal environment activities.The original Rainbow Warrior sank in 1985 at the Auckland Port in New Zealand after a bombing incident executed by the French foreign intelligence. It was followed by Rainbow Warrior 2, which was decommissioned in August 2011, and replaced by the third ship, which was christened in October 2011.Greenpeace is an independent, global organization that aims to spearhead change towards a cleaner and safer environment and to promote peace. Text and Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

More photos here: http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/multimedia/slideshow/02/15/18/slideshow-the-rainbow-warrior

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Chasing Mayon - Mount Mayon, the Philippines’ most active volcano, erupted late January 2018 releasing ash and lava fountains into the sky for more than a week in the province of Albay in the island of Luzon.Known for its symmetric conical shape, Mount Mayon ejected lava fragments, ash and smoke displacing thousands of villagers and prompting authorities to raise alert level to four on a scale of five.Residents living in the slopes of the volcano were sent to evacuation centers as authorities warned a violent eruption is possible within hours or days. However, many still went back to their homes and farms inside the danger zone to work. Famous for climbers and tourists, Mount Mayon has erupted at least 50 times in the last 500 years. In 2013, five climbers who wandered near the peak of the volcano were killed despite warnings. Mayon’s first recorded eruption took place in 1616 and 1814 where 1,200 people were buried in volcanic mud in the town of Cagsawa. Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

More photos here: https://www.basiliosepe.com/chasing-mayon

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Traslacion 2018 - Millions of Filipino Catholic devotees join the 'Traslacion' or the annual  procession of the Black Nazarene in Manila, Philippines on January 9, 2018. The Traslacion commemorates the Black Nazarene's first transfer from its original home in Intramuros to the St. John the Baptist Church in Quiapo, Manila in 1787. Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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Devotees join the  raise their hands and towels to receive blessings as priests shower them with holy water during the procession of replicas of the Black Nazarene, a prelude to the annual procession of the actual Black Nazarene, in Quiapo, Manila. 

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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Christmas Rush - People fill the streets of Divisoria in Manila on the last Friday before Christmas. December 22, 2017. Divisoria is known to be the shopping capital of the city where many do their last-minute Christmas shopping. 

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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One Year Later - Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s victory in the 2016 national elections was built on the back of promises to eliminate the drug problem in the country. The centerpiece of his program of government was suppressing crime, illegal drugs and corruption. He believes these are the problems holding back the growth of the economy.

To install law and order, the president launched a war against criminals, drug lords and corrupt government officials using the forces under his disposal - the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Since taking power, his mantra of making the country free from illegal drugs and criminality at any cost has been unchanged. More than a year into his term, the government’s anti-narcotics drive has resulted to more than twelve thousand deaths. The president even went as far as to declaring the innocents killed in his war on drugs as collateral damage, either dying during encounters with local authorities or being killed by unidentified gunmen.

Despite local and foreign allegations, the killings continue claiming more lives everyday and leaving families in mourning.

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe

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Independence Day protests - Activists rally in front of the Chinese consulate in Makati City on the 119th Philippine Independence Day. It was followed by another protest as militants are blocked by policemen near the U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines. Various militant groups called on the government to take immediate action on China’s aggressive stance on the West Philippine Sea dispute. 

Photos/Basilio H. Sepe