Prints | Martin San Diego - Documentary and Editorial Photographer based in Manila, Philippines. His work has been published globally on The Washington Post, The Guardian, VICE, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera. Martin is a National Geographic Society grantee, a Diversify Photo member, and an alumnus of the Angkor Photo Festival Workshops.

MARTIN SAN DIEGO

Filipino Documentary Photographer

Bio

sandiego.martin@gmail.com

A selection of Martin’s prints are available via ShelterFund, Tarzeer Pictures, Fotomoto PH. An NFT of one of his images is also available through The British Journal of Photography’s Edition 365 exhibit.

www.shelterfund.ph
www.tarzeerpictures.com
www.fotomoto.ph
www.opensea.io/collection/edition365

For specific photo print requests, please reach out via sandiego.martin@gmail.com

This time three years ago, our worlds stopped. The

This time three years ago, our worlds stopped. Theirs did not.

1, 2: Airway team of the Philippine General Hospital. They performed some of the riskiest tasks in tending to COVID-19 patients. @mrkgbsn90

3, 4: @flyingbyfaith, a Jamaican missionary pilot ferrying patients, doctors, and supplies to some of the most isolated communities in northern Philippines.

5, 6: @annatajannah, one of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Upon recovery, she spent most of her time aiding Muslim communities in Metro Manila amid lockdowns, especially during Ramadhan.

7, 8: @preciousimam, frontliner at the East Avenue Medical Center in QC. She spent much of 2020 away from her one year old son, who was in Iligan.

9, 10: @jjvbesa, Internal Medicine resident on duty at the Philippine General Hospital COVID-19 wards.

Grateful to have been entrusted to tell their stories.

#1,2,3,4,9,10 taken on assignment for the @washingtonpost, with @reginecabato @olivierclaurent
#5,6,7,8 reporting project made possible by @insidenatgeo

#everydayphilippines @everydayphilippines #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia @sonyphinc #sonyalpha #reportagespotlight

Recently, warm and fuzzy. @sweeneesajili 😉

Recently, warm and fuzzy. @sweeneesajili 😉

Sa dinami-dami ng puwedeng ending ng 2022 at panim

Sa dinami-dami ng puwedeng ending ng 2022 at panimula ng 2023, hindi ko inakalang lalabas ako sa isang TV commercial. Pero eto na nga. haha.

Sa maikling linya at ilang segundo, sana'y nabigyan ko ng maayos na representasyon ang mga photojournalist at journalists sa Pilipinas. Ang mga tao sa industriyang ito, tunay na hindi nauubusan ng tapang.

Salamat @nescafeph!

Salamat @joyorio sa rekomendasyon. Salamat @sweeneesajili sa dasal (???) Haha!

Panoorin ang buong TVC dito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WumsOHrxlCE or i-search ang 'May Tapang Para Bumangon sa NESCAFÉ ' sa youtube

(The absence of) Nuclear energy in the Philippines

(The absence of) Nuclear energy in the Philippines, in portraits.

There are as many faces to Nuclear as there are arguments for and against it. But one thing is certain: the strength of political and corporate interests has heavily shaped its course.

On The Washington Post, with @rebtanwp and @storiesbyjhesset:
https://wapo.st/3HudXlR

In the photos:
1. Willie Torres, caretaker at the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant
2. Carlo Arcilla, director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute
3. Mark Coujangco, Philippine congressman
4. Jersey Prepose, priest at a community that sits less than five kilometers away from BNPP
5. Cheryl Magracia, resident displaced by a coal plant in Bataan
6. Dead inhabitant of the BNPP

A photo I took of Rhea Mindal is published in @nat

A photo I took of Rhea Mindal is published in @natgeo's newest book, Inside the Curve: Stories from the Pandemic.

The book captures our shared history — the COVID-19 pandemic — through the work of over 300 journalists and storytellers around the globe. Each page takes us to a different part of the world, to immerse in deeply personal yet somehow universal experiences.

For one of my two projects funded under the @insidenatgeo's COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists, I travelled to Lake Sebu in Mindanao on August 2021 where I met the T'boli. Through the stories of Maria Todi and her family, I learned how they were then rediscovering their roots amid the tourism void.

"If not for the pandemic, reconnecting with our ancestral land may not cross our minds. Now we've [re]learned how important our land is," Maria shared.

The book is available to purchase via Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Learn more here: https://books.disney.com/book/inside-the-curve/

Published in it as well are images by friends and colleagues in different time zones: @rosemmorton, @villanuevapau, @deb_shuddho, @joshirwandi, @davillasana, and many more!

Thank you for the work you do, @sanauphoto, @claudicarreras, @rstrec. Thank you @ida.oftheworld for introducing me to Oyog!

Grateful. Just grateful.

Closing the year with @storiesbyjhesset and @rebta

Closing the year with @storiesbyjhesset and @rebtanwp for the @washingtonpost!

We looked at how Filipinos, whether by force of habit or by Christmas tradition, are continuing to spend despite the steep inflation.

Jhesset and Rebecca wrote "For many Filipinos, however, Christmas brings some magic that, for at least for a few weeks, can distract from the hard times that may lie ahead. "

The photos and clips in the story make our little love letter to Manila. May you get to smell Divisoria through them!

On the Post: https://wapo.st/3Wp4JMU

The sunrise in Sulu is simply majestic.

The sunrise in Sulu is simply majestic.

One day “the only remainder of their land could

One day “the only remainder of their land could be the mud on their feet,” Dumagat chieftain Cipriano Dela Torre warns for his people.

Indigenous communities have been guarding our forests and seas for thousands of years, yet today, many see them as mere hindrances to economic progress. The Dumagat and their ancestral domain in the pacific coast of Aurora in northeastern Philippines are one of such facing the same plight around the world.

Wide roads meant to serve outsiders, not them, are coming.

To save their land, the Dumagat turn to the skies.

My latest with @reginecabato on the @washingtonpost : https://wapo.st/3zNvIaI
Editing by @olivierlaurent, @reemakkad, Alan Sipress

31M #everydayphilippines

31M

#everydayphilippines

No, these photos are not from 2016 or 2017. They w

No, these photos are not from 2016 or 2017. They were taken just this month, all on the same day, when two men were laid to rest while five others were exhumed from their tombs.

Duterte's drug war has killed thousands through the hands of police and vigilantes, many in gunfights that witnesses say never happened.

If our conversations with victim's families, witnesses, a priest, and a forensic pathologist are any indication, there is no end in sight.

This is #DuterteLegacy

On The Washington Post: 24 hours full of pain and anger but few answers: https://wapo.st/3OvOARG

With words by @reginecabato and @mikemillerdc, editing by @olivierclaurent

Puwede bang maki-"para sa Bangsamoro" kahit minsan

Puwede bang maki-"para sa Bangsamoro" kahit minsan lang?

I am deeply honored to be chosen as a finalist in @the_aftermath_project 's 2022 Post-Conflict Grant cycle, along with work from Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, and Italy. This recognizes my and many others' work's call on intently understanding and addressing the roots of armed conflict, more so 'terrorism', in the Philippines and beyond.

With this ongoing body of work, in the eyes of the Moro youth, I attempt to convey that we all should first acknowledge and address the fact that the state and our social structures have lacked in providing the needs and honoring the rights of our marginalized populations. When these are adequately answered for, violence and extremist ideologies will be irrelevant, even to the most ardent of rebel fighters.

I have always had a small doubt about the relevance and importance of working on this topic in Mindanao, particularly in the Bangsamoro. This recognition erases that. Nothing but gratitude to the jury and TAP founder @saraterry13. This may not equate to a financial reward (yet!), but for a project that has been self-funded for years this is a huge boost.

@sweeneesajili definitely helped set a clearer direction with the sleepless writing nights approaching the deadline. Many thanks too to everyone I bug for proposal review, especially those for this most recent cycle: @elsija, @vjvillafranca, @ronin.bautista, @ciaravenezia, @villanuevapau. And my hosts @jaiijamm, Nam Ambor, @lakbaynidah, @hanaanaxx ++!!

Please read more about the project here: https://theaftermathproject.org/project/children-lake-rebirth

Tondo, Manila Children play near the wake of two

Tondo, Manila

Children play near the wake of two of their uncles, the latest and hopefully some of the last killings in Duterte's Drug War.

Side notes while on a recent assignment for the @washingtonpost with @byreginecabato

#everydayphilippines #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere #reportagespotlight #onassignment #everydaysocialjustice #everydayimpunity #duterte

Did someone just say you’ll get kidnapped when y

Did someone just say you’ll get kidnapped when you go to Mindanao??? If she meant its rich heritage will take your breath away, I definitely agree.

Here’s Tawi-tawi (taken 2021) for starters:

#everydayphilippines #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere #wtnadventures @wtn_wheretonext @sonyalpha @sonyphinc #SonyA9 #everydaymindanao #bangsamoro #tawitawi #mindanao

A vessel of hope. In the past six years we have a

A vessel of hope.

In the past six years we have all witnessed how hate became the primary driver for political shifts (deterioration, actually) around the world. In the Philippines, @bise_leni ’s Presidential run pierces against this trend.

Her campaign culminated last night in Makati City with a sub million-strong crowd rally. In the weeks leading to this moment, volunteers from all social classes invested time and resources to push VP Leni Robredo’s message of hope to the narrowest of streets and the farthest of mountains.

The Filipino votes on Monday, May 9. Robredo is facing nine male candidates for the Presidency, with the son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., ‘Bongbong’ leading surveys.

Favorable results or not, may this contagious hope never wane.

As the song titled ‘Rosas’ written by @nicadelrosario in a first-person voice goes, “hindi ako magpapahinga hanggang hindi mo pa magawang muling ipagmalaki na ika’y isang Pilipino (I will not rest until the moment you can once more proudly say you are Filipino).”

All images by Martin San Diego

#everydayphilippines #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #ipanalona10to #lenirobredo #halalan2022 #eleksyon2022 #phvote @sonyphinc @everydaysocialjustice @aicadioquino #wtn_wheretonext #wtnadventures @support.photojournalism

Here's a little Ramadan story from Morocco: It

Here's a little Ramadan story from Morocco:

It was around seven in the evening and I was wandering aimlessly in the city of Fes when a man stopped me and handed a croissant (a kouign-amann says the internet). I then remembered it was just time for Iftar, when Muslims break their 14 plus hours of fasting with a huge meal, often with others right after sunset.

I haven't even taken a bite when he gave me another round-shaped pastry, and poured me a mug of milk.

The man in orange vest was Abdou, he is a security guard at the corner building which I was passing by when he invited me to share the meal. With him were Suleiman and Dreiz. They all spoke French, not Arabic. While trying my best at the Asian squat, we conversed through Google Translate. They asked where I was from and who I was with, I asked what they do and why they were at that corner. We laughed and pretended to understand what each other was saying.

Ramadan and Iftar in a nutshell, rather, a humble corner.

Eid Mubarak to all!

City of Fes, Morocco, 2022

#eidmubarak #ramadan #iftar #everydayafrica #everydayeverywhere #morocco #fes @everydayafrica @everydayeverywhere @sonyphinc @wtn_wheretonext #sonyalpha #wtnadventures #bealpha

Faded lines between old and new, race, language, r

Faded lines between old and new, race, language, religion, and geography.

Morocco, 2022

#everydayafrica @everydayafrica #Everydayeverywhere @everydayeverywhere #Morocco #marrakech #chefchaouen #ramadan @sonyphinc @sonyalpha #wtnadventures @wtn_wheretonext #streetdreamsmag #yourshotphotographer #EverydaySocialJustice #capturestreets #ReportageSpotlight

The crowd here at the @bise_leni Robredo-Kiko Pang

The crowd here at the @bise_leni Robredo-Kiko Pangilinan campaign rally in Pasig City as of 4:15pm.

Images by Martin San Diego

Maligayang araw ng mga pusa! @sweeneesajili + @pa

Maligayang araw ng mga pusa!

@sweeneesajili + @pandakot

#valentines #cats

Closed the year of January with friends, the sea,

Closed the year of January with friends, the sea, smoked salmon, and a shooting star.

@sweeneesajili @adibonts @juricuuuh @ciaravenezia @kevinprudon (plus @pandakot )

Underwater images made with @sonyphinc A7RIII inside a @seafrogs.com.hk housing

#everydayphilippines #everydayeverywhere #zambales #anawangin #underwater @wtn_wheretonext #wtnadventures @sinopinas #seafrogs

The first hours of 2022, sans context

The first hours of 2022, sans context

Indigenous Mangyan and Rangers protecting the Phil

Indigenous Mangyan and Rangers protecting the Philippine Tamaraw cross this bridge to transport goods and reach their patrolling stations daily. During the rainy season, the river below rages and makes crossing deadly.

Over the years, the Apton Hanging Footbridge, located within Mts. Iglit-Baco Natural Park in Mindoro has been deteriorating causing dangers to the lives of the people who need access to it everyday.

@phparksandbiodiversity is raising Php 50,000 to repair this bridge essential to the protection of the Tamaraw and the livelihood of the Mangyan in this part of Mindoro.

I've personally crossed this bridge twice and it's... not fun.

To donate, please head over to bit.ly/bridgerepair2021

@wtn_wheretonext @ecoexplorations #everydayphilippines #wtn_adventures #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere @sonyphinc

Honored to share that this image is part of a glob

Honored to share that this image is part of a global exhibit and NFT collection by The British Journal of Photography @bjp1854 , Edition365: a portrait of the year that changed everything.

All the images in the exhibit were created between 11 March 2020, when the World Health Organization officially announced a global pandemic, and 10 March 2021. 365 days in 365 artworks from around the world.

See the virtual exhibit: https://newart.city/show/edition-365/
Own the NFTs: https://opensea.io/collection/edition365/

In this photo is @jjvbesa, an Internal Medicine resident at the Philippine General Hospital, on his way to the COVID-19 wards in the early days of the pandemic.

Drove the fam to Batangas for their first sun and

Drove the fam to Batangas for their first sun and sea (a lake, actually) since the pandemic began.

For two straight days, we saw a bright glimpse of

For two straight days, we saw a bright glimpse of the future the Philippines might just get. And strong women definitely are in it.

@maria_ressa @bise_leni

Maria Ressa photos from her 2019 arrest; Leni Robredo photos from her 2016 post-election thanksgiving

On the night before Metro Manila imposes its stric

On the night before Metro Manila imposes its strictest lockdown measures since May of 2020, hundreds showed up at the Quezon City Hall in the hopes of getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The night was designated for office workers, but many, without appointments still lined up only to be told to go home.

The rush, officers on the ground say, might have been fueled by a rumored police order that unvaccinated individuals will be barred from leaving their homes, and a threat that those who refuse to get inoculated will be arrested. Both came straight from the mouth of President Rodrigo Duterte.

#everydayphilippines #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere #covid19 #reportagespotlight #onassignment

Tawi-tawi is all the bits of Mindanao we were neve

Tawi-tawi is all the bits of Mindanao we were never told about. Overshadowed by the narrative of armed conflict in nearby islands, this gem has so much stories to add on how we define what and who is the 'Filipino'. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
@sweeneesajili and I were fortunate to witness the Tausug wedding of Farhaina (@imhaina1819) and Aljie while we were there a few weeks back. The simple yet vibrant union speaks volumes on what we do not know about the Philippines. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
#EverydayPhilippines #everydaybangsamoro #everydaymindanao #everydayasia #Everydayeverywhere #wtnadventures @wtn_wheretonext #SinoPinas @sinopinas #ReportageSpotlight #SonyAlphaA9 @sonyphinc #tawitawi @everydayeverywhere @everydayphilippines #yourshotphotographer

Today marks World Refugee Day. Around the globe, 8

Today marks World Refugee Day. Around the globe, 82.4 Million individuals are displaced mainly due to conflict, violence, and persecution.⁣
⁣
In Southern Philippines, decades of armed conflict and displacement mark the lives of many. There, over 267,000 are currently internally displaced. Some continue to be forced to leave their homes due to protracted and renewed conflicts, while a number of communities have been able to return and rebuild their lives, showing glimpses of resilience and hope.⁣
⁣
The @unhcrph has been catalytic in these communities’ path to healing and growth. ⁣
⁣
Two months ago, we visited communities of displaced in Maguindanao and saw how they have become empowered to weave their way to a brighter future.⁣
⁣
#EverydayPhilippines #EverydayEverywhere #EverydayAsia #EverydayRefugees #EverydaySocialJustice #OnAssignment #ReportageSpotlight @sonyphinc

Happy Independence(?) Day, Philippines! Get this

Happy Independence(?) Day, Philippines!

Get this print via @shelterfund. Link on bio.

#independenceday #everydayphilippines #EverydayEverywhere #everydayasia

Made a quick visit to Marawi City last December 20

Made a quick visit to Marawi City last December 2020 to see how everyone's doing (and to escape Manila pandemic stress).⁣
⁣
Met old friends and earned new ones.⁣
⁣
Today we mark the fourth year when the Marawi Siege erupted. Some buildings and roads may have been rebuilt (as you probably have seen from government pages and @jeffcanoy ), but tens of thousands still can't go home. Researchers and peace advocates fear the 'rehabilitation' will only give birth to a myriad of problems if selfish interests prevail.⁣
⁣
#everydayphilippines #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #MarawiCity #reportagespotlight #everydaysocialjustice #SonyAlphaA9 #SonyA9 @sonyphinc

Eid Mubarak to my Muslim friends! And for everyon

Eid Mubarak to my Muslim friends!

And for everyone else, let's all take the time to understand the conflict happening between Palestine and Israel at the moment. It's one of the saddest legacies of colonizers.

Just because we're Catholics doesn't mean we have to cheer for Israel 😉

-

Images from Ramadhan and Eid 2020, taken with support from @insidenatgeo

#eidmubarak #everydayphilippines #freepalestine #everydaysocialjustice #reportagespotlight

Drove my mom and her best friend to a nearby vacci

Drove my mom and her best friend to a nearby vaccination site and thought, might as well take photos 😆

They lined up for a total of 3 hours, went through 5 stations/interviews, and were given their first dose of Sinovac.

The process felt disorganized and primitive as expected, but vaxx is vaxx.

This assignment got me biking (well, for a few day

This assignment got me biking (well, for a few days).⁣
⁣
Cycling has definitely transformed Manila streets a lot in less than a year. ⁣
As COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surge to its highest numbers, it has become the only means for many to continue working, and for some, to keep their sanity. ⁣
⁣
My latest with @reginecabato on @washingtonpost : Filipinos are cycling their way through the pandemic

Lovely edit by @olivierclaurent

Link on bio

#everydayphilippines #everydayasia #everydayeverywhere #everydaysocialjustice #reportagespotlight #sonyph @sonyphinc @sony #spicollective #wtn_wheretonext #sinopinas #nativphotograph #cycling #biking

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