Luneta’s litratista, also known as maniniyot, continue to thrive despite emerging digital technology, offering souvenir photos through camera lenses in Rizal Park, Manila.
The Manila Standard spoke with the Secretary of the Photographer’s group, Joseph Fernandez, who, despite his disability, continues to click his camera for tourists around the historical park.
“I’ve been here for almost 35 years, through rain and shine,” Fernandez told Manila Standard.
Fernandez and his group, the Flower Clock Photographers Association, Incorporated (FCPAI), offer photo services ranging from 50 to 200 pesos per set of photos.
Fernandez mentioned that they earn a 10 percent commission on every photo transaction, resulting in a daily take-home pay of approximately 500 to 600 pesos.
“Sometimes, we have nothing to take home because we are almost 100 photographers here,” he stated.
Erwin San Buenaventura, another member of the group, shares Fernandez’s sentiments.
“It depends; our income is not the same since some of us have our own cellphones to take pictures,” he explained.
Both Fernandez and San Buenaventura emphasized the importance of souvenir photos, especially when visiting historical places like the execution site of martyr Dr. Jose Rizal.
In addition to FCPAI, another photography group in the national park is the Samahan ng Malayang Photographer sa Luneta (SMPLI), which has been offering photo services in Ermita, Manila, since the 1970s.
