Aaron Favila’s LitraTalk: The award is just a bonus

By Allyana Barquira

Award-winning photojournalist Aaron Favila shared the story behind his acclaimed piece, “Wedding in the Flood,” during the Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines’ (PCP) LitraTalk forum on June 27, 2026.

Hailed as the World Press Photo winner for the year 2026, Favila received the prestigious award in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He was recognized alongside Jes Aznar, a fellow Filipino photojournalist. Favila and Aznar were the only Filipino photojournalists among the 42 global winners selected this year out of 3,747 photographers across 141 countries. 

As the forum kicked off, Favila recalled the day he covered the “Wedding in the flood.” He shared that he was already done for the day when he received a tip from his fellow photojournalist Maria Tan that a wedding was taking place amidst heavy flooding. 

Hearing the unusual situation, he quickly packed his gear and headed to the flooded Barasoain Church in Malolos, Bulacan. Traveling from Quezon City, Favila had only an hour to reach the ceremony through the storm and floods. While his service van could not make it through deep waters, he luckily managed to hitchhike on a rescue truck. 

Once he arrived, he quickly got off the truck and waded through the water toward the bride, who was already at the front of the church, just minutes away from her grand entrance. Favila took pictures with the mindset of a wedding photographer rather than a disaster beat photojournalist. The situation was unlike anything he had covered before.

“Never pa akong nakapagshoot ng kasal sa baha," Favila shared. "So first time ko, sigurado akong kakaiba ito.”

(I had never a shot a wedding in a flood before. This is my first time, I’m sure it would be unique.)

His instincts paid off. Out of the entire photo essay, his very first shot—the bride standing in front of the door with her wedding gown submerged in the water—captured the essence of climate change, failed infrastructure, and the everyday reality that couples like Jade Rick Verdillo and Jamaica Aguilar are forced to adapt to. Even on their wedding day, it almost felt like a normal scenario. 

“Nung nakunan ko yun, pinagpawisan ako,” he said, recalling the exact moment he knew he had something special. “Ito na yun.”

(When I took that shot, I started sweating bullets. This is it.)

Favila specifically focused his shots on the details of the wedding: the lace of the wedding dress submerged in the flood, the contrast between the white gown and the murky flood water, and the guests standing on knee-deep water. He emphasized the importance of capturing these specific details to make every shot powerful and distinct. 

A sequence from the award-winning photo essay “Wedding in the Flood,” showcasing Aaron Favila’s documentation of the ceremony amidst rising waters in Malolos, Bulacan.

Recognition as an award-winning Photojournalist

Favila is a photojournalist under Associated Press (AP) and has been in the industry for almost 30 years. As a veteran, he shared that winning in the World Press Photo competition was something he had never imagined. 

“Never in my wildest dream na mananalo ako diyan. Never kong inexpect,” he shared. 

(Never in my wildest dream did I think I would win that. I never expected it.)

Favila took the wedding photos last year, on July 22, 2025, but the road to the competition was unexpected. AP handled the submission process entirely, leaving Favila clueless as to when his piece was actually submitted. 

Before the award was finalized, the organization conducted a rigorous verification process, requesting his raw files to ensure journalistic integrity. For Favila, the priority in selecting the 10 final photos was ensuring each image had the independent power to carry the narrative. He made sure to encapsulate every small detail possible, ensuring every frame could speak for itself.  

“One detail can tell the whole story,” he emphasized. 

Despite the international acclaim surrounding the photograph, Favila revealed that he has not yet had the chance to speak with the newlywed couple featured in the image since winning the award, though he plans to reach out on the award’s first anniversary. 

Even with the global recognition, Favila remains remarkably grounded. On receiving the award in Amsterdam, his reaction was modest. “Parang wala lang. I have to continue my work, more especially mas madami nang tumitingin,”he said. 

(It felt like nothing major. I have to continue my work, especially now that more eyes are watching.)

Photojournalist Aaron Favila (right) discusses his experience and emotions upon winning the World Press Photo 2026 award, alongside PCP Chairperson Kathleen Lei Limayo (left) during the LitraTalk forum on June 27, 2026.

The forum also touched heavily on photojournalistic ethics and boundaries. Favila noted that standard rules often shift depending on the situation and a photographer's experience level.

“Pag nag sstart ka pa lang (bilang photojournalist), there is no such thing as a boundary,”he observed regarding the hunger needed as a beginner. 

(When you are starting [as a photojournalist], there is no such thing as a boundary.)

However, he noted that maturity and experience brings a sharper moral compass in building one’s ethics. “Mararamdaman mo yung boundary mo. Hindi pwedeng fixed, depende yun sa judgement mo,” he said, noting that this ethical judgement also applies after the coverage when deciding which photos to publish. 

(You will feel your own boundary. It cannot be fixed, it depends on your judgement.)

Closing the talk, Favila offered a lighthearted yet profound take on the competitive nature of photojournalism, noting that peers in the industry often have to be "professional frenemies."

Ultimately, he emphasized that journalists should never tell stories for awards, but out of deep purpose to inform. For Favila, his drive comes from a love for the craft rather than trophies.

“I work because I want to tell a story," Favila concluded. "(Yung award) bonus na lang yun.”

(The award is just a bonus.)

LitraTalk’s Photo Gallery

Photos by Grace Anne Jintalan

LitraTalk is a series of regular forums hosted by the Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP) featuring different photojournalists in the field. Conducted both onsite and live-streamed online, it aims to discuss relevant topics in photojournalism and share essential industry skills with the general public.