United States: Picture of a Procession in the Philippines after the Typhoon Awarded
The American Magazine Time counted a shot by AFP photographer Philippe Lopez, taken after the typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, in the ten most poignant pictures of the year 2013. The picture, taken on November 18, 2013, shows some women in a procession on the island of Leyte, which was hit very hard by the typhoon. (See DICI no.285 Nov. 22, 2013 and DICI no.289 Jan. 31, 2014.)
On our way back from a photo coverage of the fishing communities that lost everything after typhoon Haiyan hit the island of Leyte, explained the photographer, we were driving towards Tacloban, the island’s capital. Clouds were starting to form before the setting sun. Along the road, the habitants had lit fires to burn the debris left by the typhoon, creating a sparse white fog. The devastated landscape took on a rare beauty for a few moments. And at that very moment there rose before us on the road a small group of women and children walking in prayer with icons in their hands. This religious procession in the village of Tolosa, probably impromptu, but well-ordered, was a strong contrast to the surrounding chaos.”
"After a tragedy, says Jason Gutierrez, a Philippe Lopez colleague, it is common to see villagers gather to pray for those who are dead, and thank God for those who survived. Mary and Santo Nino, the Child Jesus, are particularly popular in Leyte and in many other parts of the country. "
(sources: blogs.afp.com/time – DICI no.290 Feb. 14, 2014)
