Zone V Camera Club’s New Member: Cenen ‘Happy’ Milan

ZVCC’s Newly Inducted Member:

CENEN “HAPPY’ MILAN

Zone V Camera Club has inducted a new Club member, Cenen “Happy” Milan, during the September meeting at the Clubhouse at Corinthian Gardens.

Corinne Blanco reached out to Happy and piqued his mind and thoughts for us to know more about Happy.

Please tell us about yourself: your family, your work, your hobbies and other interests.

I am Cenen “Happy” N. Milan, Jr.

I am a teacher, a humanitarian worker, and an aspiring photographer. I am the Program Manager for the Ayala Foundation’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Program.

I have two siblings, both female, and I am the eldest.

I love outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and joining marathons and ultra-marathons. I have already traveled to the 17 regions in the Philippines.

I am interested in documenting all my travel-related fieldwork, whether in an urban setting or the provinces.

Share with us some thoughts on your ZVCC Probee experience.

I joined ZVCC by asking my favorite photographer, Ate Arlene Donaire, to assist me during my study leave.

My ZVCC Probee experience taught me the 3 C’s: to communicate, be competent, and study composition. I shared with Ate Arlene before that I wanted to be a storyteller using my photography to document the many stories in my humanitarian work. To do that, I learned how important it is to communicate well with my subject. Photography is a continuing learning experience, and the monthly theme contests taught me to be competent in producing quality photos that communicate and tell stories of my subject in my humanitarian type of work. I also learned to study composition over and over again.

If you were given a chance to spend one day with a famous personality (living or dead), who would that person be and why?

I would love to spend one day with Jose Rizal. I have always admired his literary works (Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo). I would like to ask him, “why is it hard to love our dear Philippines?”

What is the most memorable lesson you learned from your parents?

To love our very own country by serving its people in any way I can.

What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment so far?

My involvement in “Hapag”—a developmental program we launched during the pandemic that sought to assist 10,000 displaced families in the National Capital Region. The program resulted in the provision of food packs among our 10,000 family-beneficiaries over a 13-week period and a livelihood program during the 2 year lockdown in the country.

If you could master one skill right now that you don’t currently have, what would it be?

I want to master filmmaking to compl犀利士
ement my skills in photography. Imagine what I could do with both photos and videos in creating my stories during my humanitarian fieldwork.

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?

I would take my everyday-carry multi-tool, a Bible, and the Philippine Flag.

Share 5 qualities that you appreciate most in people.

I appreciate people who have a positive outlook in life, are hospitable, hardworking, patient and those who love our country.