Gab Mejia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Gab Mejia
Born
Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Alma materUniversity of the Philippines
Occupation(s)Journalist, Photographer
Parent
  • Saturnino Mejia (father)

Gab Mejia is a Filipino conservation photographer based in Manila, Philippines.

The focus of Mejia's work is for the conservation of wetlands and wildlife.

World Wide Fund For Nature International President's Youth Award.[3] Mejia was listed on the 2021 Forbes Under 30 List for The Arts in Asia for photography.[4]

In 2017, he was the highly commended finalist for the Global Wetlands Youth Photo Contest by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.[5][6]

Personal life

Mejia was fathered by Saturnino Mejia in the Philippines, and has three older siblings.

PADI scuba diver, and took on professional photography to document nature in the Philippines.[4]

Early life and education

In 2016, he was selected to be part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative for marine conservation in the United States Aid Oceans Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia.[8]

Mejia completed his Bachelors of Science degree in Civil Engineering specialising on research on Environmental and Energy Engineering in the University of the Philippines.[1][9] He co-authored an academic paper in the Wetlands Science Practice Journal (January 2020).[10] He joined environmental organisations such as the Marine Biological Society,[11] and was chosen as an Ambassador for Sustainability for the Eurail Europe on Track Program. In 2019, he joined the Jackson Wild Media Lab Fellowship in the Jackson Wild Summit for natural-history filmmaking and science communication.[1][12] He was accepted in the Emerging League Program Fellowship of the International League of Conservation Photographers in 2021.[13]

Photography

He won the Global Wetlands Youth Photo Contest 2017 with his photo of the Gabaldon floodplain in Mt. Sawi, Nueva Ecija.[1][5]

Mejia has published photographic stories on National Geographic,[14] the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), CNN,[15] and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).[16]

He is a National Geographic Explorer, Nikon Asia Ambassador, and a columnist for The Manila Times.[1][2]

Social work

In 2018, he received an Early Career-Grant from National Geographic Society. In 2018, he joined the World Wildlife Fund National Youth Council, and co-founded Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW).[17][18]

Mejia co-founded the international non-profit environment youth organization for the conservation of wetlands and migratory birds named Youth Engaged in Wetlands.[19][20] In 2018, he joined the 13th Conference of the Parties (COP13) of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in Dubai, UAE to involve the youth sector in the decision-making processes.[21] Mejia is also part of the National Youth Council of the World Wide Fund for Nature, that engages youth through environmental education programs in schools around the Philippines such as the Far Eastern University.[22] He has presented environmental stories in TEDx talks and other international platforms.[18] Mejia is a supporter of the Scarisbrick Hall Global Classroom.[23]

Between 2018 and 2020, he worked in the Agusan Marshlands to document the struggles and progress of the Manobo Tribe in the Philippines amid climate change.[24][25] Additional projects include documenting the endangered wildlife such as the Tamaraw in the Philippines.[16]

In 2021, he has been awarded the World Wide Fund for Nature International President's Youth award.[26] Mejia is the first Filipino to win this environmental award.[3][1][27]

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Meet Gab Mejia, the Filipino photographer advocating for our wetlands". Rappler. 3 July 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  2. ^ a b c Cua, Aric John Sy (2020-10-15). "Times columnist named to Tatler Asia's Top 400 Leaders Before 40". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  3. ^ a b Eugenio, Ara (June 24, 2021). "Gab Mejia Makes History As the First Filipino to Receive WWF International President's Youth Award". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  4. ^ a b c Grana, Rhia. "This Filipino 'Forbes 30 Under 30' honoree shoots pictures to protect the world's lakes, rivers". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  5. ^ a b Gonzales, Yuji Vincent (2017-04-24). "UP student wins int'l wetlands photo contest". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  6. ^ a b https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2017/04/13/global-wetlands-youth-photo-contest-2017-winner-and-highly-commended-finalists/ , [1] Global Wetlands Youth Photo Contest 2017: Winner and Highly Commended Finalists. Retrieved February 02, 2021.
  7. ^ "Gabe Mejia's pictures paint a thousand words". l!fe • The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  8. ^ a b Sarfraz, Hafsah (2019-07-29). "Open Apertures, Open Minds: YSEALI Alum Photographs for Advocacy". Cultural Vistas. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  9. ^ "'사진'으로 환경 운동에 앞장서는 필리핀 대학생". Ebs (in Korean). Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  10. ^ "Meet the Team | Youth Engaged in Wetlands". YEW. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  11. ^ "Ocean advocate Alexandra Cousteau to youth: Earth's future lies with you". Rappler. 5 September 2016. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  12. ^ Arnold, Billy (2 October 2019). "Jackson Wild Media Lab creates stories, community". Jackson Hole News&Guide. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  13. ^ "New iLCP Emerging League Members! by International League of Conservation Photographers". Visura. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  14. ^ Francisco, Isabel Martel (2021-06-29). "Conservationist And Photographer Gab Mejia On Overcoming Your Fears On Assignment". Generation T. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  15. ^ "Saving Mindoro's last tamaraws amid tragedy and pandemic". Archived from the original on 2021-02-07. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  16. ^ a b "How this Filipino photographer is documenting the effects of climate change". cnn. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  17. ^ Topp, Samantha Mei (2021-01-22). "In A Country Where Environmental Activism Can Cost You Your Life, One Campaigner Is Using The Power Of Storytelling To Effect Change". Generation T. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  18. ^ a b c Francisco, Isabel Martel (2021-04-16). "8 Filipino Photographers On The Gen.T List You Need To Know". Tatler Philippines. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  19. ^ a b "Gab Mejia". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  20. ^ "Youth declared for global stand to conservation of wetland and migratory waterbirds during the Flyway Youth Forum". Eaaflyway. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  21. ^ https://www.ramsar.org/sites/default/files/documents/library/yew_cop13_e.pdf , Report of Youth Engaged in Wetlands at Ramsar COP 13. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 2018. Retrieved February 02, 2021.
  22. ^ "The WWF-Philippines National Youth Council Celebrates Tamaraw Month with FEU". Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  23. ^ "Gab Mejia | National Geographic Supporter". The Global Classroom. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  24. ^ "Meet the Gen Z Photographer Who Captures the Struggle Between Progress and Nature". Reportr.world. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  25. ^ Ichimura, Anri (November 17, 2020). "This Indigenous Tribe in Mindanao Could Teach Us All a Lesson About Living With-Not Against-Nature". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  26. ^ Cua, Aric John Sy (2021-06-24). "Times columnist wins environmental award". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  27. ^ "Filipino advocate is WWF's top youth conservation awardee". Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  28. ^ "Gab B Mejia - National Geographic Society". www.nationalgeographic.org. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  29. ^ "I AM MY NIKKOR - Gab Mejia". I AM MY NIKKOR. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  30. ^ "Gab Mejia". 15 October 2020.
  31. ^ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200803005216/en/National-Geographic-Unveils-the-First-Field-Ready-Class , [2] National Geographic Unveils the First Field Ready Class. Retrieved February 02, 2021.
  32. ^ "National Geographic Unveils the First Field Ready Class". www.businesswire.com. 2020-08-03. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  33. ^ "National Geographic Unveils the First Field Ready Class". au.finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  34. ^ "Photographer Gab Mejia, 24, is First Filipino to Receive WWF Youth Prize". Reportr.world. Retrieved 2021-07-27.

External links