SPOTLIGHT: Vic Rodriguez, A Zone V Pillar and Pioneer

SPOTLIGHT: Vic Rodriguez, A Man of Many Firsts

Prelude – by Leys Masangcay

He cuts an imposing figure in any room as he towers at 6’2”. He stands tall as a great pillar of Zone V Camera Club by virtue of his accomplishments and service to the Club. Rising above the rest, this gentleman has generated a lot of ‘firsts’.

It is quite fitting that we put the spotlight on him. He has earned his rightful place in the hallowed halls of the Club as ZVCC wouldn’t be where it is today without Mr. Victor Rodriguez.

So who is Victor Rodriguez?

Born on August 26, 1928, Vic, as he is fondly called, was raised in Manila from a refined and supportive family. A proper upbringing from that genteel era made him pursue his undergraduate and pre-law education in Cleveland, USA.

After returning to the Philippines, Vic furthered his post graduate studies at the University of the Philippines, this time, taking up law. It was at the college grounds where he met Corazon Barrion, a lovely lady from Taal, Batangas. The beautiful couple became campus sweethearts and dutifully both graduated from law school in 1953 which eventually led them to the altar as they tied the proverbial knot.

Vic Rodriguez became known in the corporate world and held various high profile posts. For three decades, Vic worked with the Ayala Group of Companies. Vic at a time was assigned in Hong Kong and worked for The China Underwriters Insurance Company.

While in Hong Kong, Vic bought for himself a Nikon camera. And that was the beginning of his love affair with photography.

Vic Rodriguez’s Zone V Years – by Angelo Amistoso

Our Club owes much to Vic Rodriguez for jumpstarting our first year. Like the rest of the founding members of Zone V Camera Club, Vic Rodriguez also attended the five-day basic photography training under the late Engr. Valenciano (also named Vic, and the father of Gary V.), who was then conducting photography workshops.

Several batches attended the basic photography training. On the third week of February in 1978, I received a letter from Vic Rodriguez calling those who attended the photography seminars to meet at 2pm behind the Folk Arts Theatre Cafeteria for a pictorial of what would become a budding movie starlet.

An hour later, we proceeded to the Metropolitan Club for an organizational meeting and to form a camera club. Vic Rodriguez, then CEO of Filipinas Life Insurance Company, proposed three names for the Club. After our discussion, the tag Zone V Camera Club was chosen.

We were told to come back to the same venue for the first-ever club organizational meeting and a monthly contest on 11×14 black and white prints. After that meeting, we left with high spirits and a sense of belonging, looking forward to each second Thursday of the month.

Photos above by Vic Rodriguez

By April of the same year, Vic Rodriguez presented the Club’s activities for the year, which included two on-the-spot photo contest and a two-day shoot at Villa Adelaida in Tagaytay.

Photo above is with the first ‘Out of Town Shoot’ model, Cielito Del Mundo

Vic Rodriguez became the first ever Club president and also holds the title of being the first Photographer Of The Year for ZVCC.

Photo above shows the first Top 10 POTY of ZVCC, 1978

As a photographer, Vic Rodriguez delights on subjects that play on lights and shadows. That first awards night was held at the Manila Polo Club.

Photo above by Vic Rodriguez, a photo of a ‘kasama‘, a tenant, from the Rodriguez farm in Tuy, Batangas. Portraits of ‘interesting people’ were Vic’s favorite photo subjects

This is long overdue, but let me express my gratitude to Vic Rodriguez for his guidance and leadership. He laid the foundation for our beloved ZVCC and earned its esteemed place in the Philippines photography community.

I also would like to thank ZVCC’s great first team of club officers (Ding de Jesus, Peachy Rodriguez, Jess Lacson, Pete Hernandez, Bing Cruz and Patrick Shima) whose work made Zone V Camera Club the sturdy well-oiled machine that pushes aside all obstructions that comes along its way.

Postscript – by Leys Masangcay

Through the years, Vic kept abreast with the goings-on at the Club through his nephew, Manny Inumerable, a Zone V pillar himself. About a decade ago, Vic who is fond of his Nikon EL, and one of his favorite lenses is a 200mm, f4, this treasured piece he lent to Manny. Wondering whether his Tito Vic would forget about it, fortunately or unfortunately, Vic did not forget!

Today, at 93 years old, Vic is as sharp as when he was shooting film. Vic even graced ZVCC with his online presence during the January Zoom meeting of the Club.

Vic still maintains a farm in Marinduque and oversees his investments portfolio. Together with his wife Cora, they live together in Bel-Air Makati and have been blessed with six children, all professionals in their own right, with ten grandchildren plus two great grandchildren, to complete the round-up.