Unmasked

I won a local photography contest, ranked 2nd out of 179 entries. Winners were announced last November 5, 2009. But until this very moment, I haven’t received the prize money of 20,000 pesos (equivalent to US$450 or 40,000 Yen).

behind smiling masks
inner colors dimmed and dark
emotions unmasked

Last October 2009, I went home to attend my brother’s wedding and at the same time, to experience the revelries of MassKara Festival. I saw a poster about a MassKara-related photo contest. To make the story short, I joined and submitted my entries and other requirements before my flight back to Japan. Bodyshot Photography is the contest organizer (though on articles it says PhotoPROS, Inc) and informed me that all entries will be exhibited at SM City Bacolod from Nov 2 to Nov 8. Judging and announcement of winners will be on Nov 5.

November 7, 2009. My brother went to SM to check whether the exhibit is still on-going. And then he thought that one of the winning photos was mine. He went home immediately, took his camera and sent me this photo. It was my shot. I told him that maybe the organizers will send a notification mail or will make a call informing that I won. Nothing. No call. No mail. For the past 14 days.

I started to think that maybe it wasn’t my photo after all. Perhaps somebody submitted a very similar photo to mine. Since I didn’t receive any notification, I googled the theme and lead me to this site, Winners of MassKara Photo Contest. This is the only confirmation I have. My only evidence even with my name incompletely written. It was my photo and made me wonder why I haven’t received any sort of notice.

Moving on, I instructed my younger brother to call Bodyshot Photography for confirmation. After asking my brother loads of questions, they confirmed that I won but advised my brother to wait for the official notice / call from the sponsor since they didn’t have the prize money yet. After three days, my brother called again to follow-up the status. This time they told him to check the Negros Daily Bulletin, a local newspaper, since they will be publishing the names of winners soon. Since then, my brother bought newspaper every day for two weeks. Nothing. Negative. I told him, just call them one more time and asked them about the status. He obliged. The organizer told him to contact EPSON, the main sponsor, for the said prize.

Next chapter. December 10, 2009, I sent an email to an EPSON representative (ER) and after some introduction, I ended my mail with

“In this regard, I would like to know how can I claim my prize? Or will EPSON send some notification to the winners?”.

And within minutes, I received a reply from her, thanked me for participating and congratulated me for winning. That was my second evidence. A good start, I thought. A little later, she informed me that she contacted NIKON for my prize money. Come again? From EPSON to NIKON through Columbia Digital. According to her, NIKON is in-charge of my prize will be contacting me as soon as.

December 14, 2009. ER asked me for my account number and bank information as required by NIKON guy (NG). She ended the email with

“Maybe I'll just email you once Nikon has deposited the prize already”.

I was still hopeful and sent the required details immediately.

December 27, 2009. I inquired about the update. The next day, ER told me that she’ll follow up with Nikon and will give me feedback ASAP.

Then it was 2010.

January 11, 2010. I followed-up the status again to ER. She was surprised that NIKON hadn’t contacted me yet. She thought everything was settled.

January 18, 2010. Another follow-up was sent.

January 29, 2010. This time, she gave me the email of NG. I told her I’ll wait for another week before I’ll email NIKON. Still no word from the sponsor.

February 10, 2010. I decided to email NG, summarizing what has transpired between me and ER since December 2009. But I haven’t received any reply from him. Zilch. I emailed him again last February 15, 2010 asking for some acknowledgment. Nothing. I am not sure if its too difficult for him to hit the reply button or he is just too lazy to do it.

Feb 19, 2010. I informed ER about this (although she might very well knew since she was included on those emails). I told her that I am already getting frustrated. The EPSON rep told me that even she transferred division already she still followed-up NIKON every time I sent an email.

March 8, 2010. I sent another follow-up mail to ER. No reply from her. Sent one again last March 22, 2010. A part of her email, baffled me actually

“I really don't know what's happening. Epson gave the prizes to the others (the ones we were supposed to give prizes to last year already)”. So, all winners received their prizes other than me. WOW! "

March 22, 2010. A friend of mine contacted EPSON via its website and was able to talk to ER. She reiterated that NIKON was in-charge of my prize.

March 23, 2010. ER informed me that her colleague will have a meeting with NIKON and will raise this issue.

March 25, 2010. A rather disturbing email came from ER.

“We followed-up with Nikon and they said it's being processed. No date was given still. :(“

April 3, 2010. I expressed my frustration and puzzlement about this. And last April 4, 2010 I received an email from ER.

“I'm honestly personally frustrated as well. It is truly surprising that they cannot award this right after the announcement of winners. Epson has done it. We have awarded our winners. I'm truly sorry for this.

I really have no means of doing anything more. All we can really do is follow-up with Nikon. I don't know what to say. They have been telling us since the first time you emailed me that they are processing the payment already. “

That's it. That triggered me to write this blog entry.

From here on I don’t know how to follow-up anymore as more or less I will be receiving the same replies. In 6 months time, Bacolod City will be having its MassKara Celebration again yet my prize money is still in limbo.

And as mentioned earlier it seems that I am the only unlucky winner of this event as everyone else received his / her prize.

This is my first win in any photography contest and thought it would be special. But it turning out to be the other way around.

Who is to be blamed here? I am really disappointed and frustrated about how this contest was handled. As a participant I have done my share and organizers as well as sponsors should do theirs too. First, the organizers should have anticipated issue like this and have done any counter measures to avoid it.

To the sponsors, this is one of your marketing strategies. Your names are displayed on the posters and I guess that’s one way of returning the favor from your sponsorship. Once you commit, have your word to it.

I am not yet sure what would be my next step in order to claim the prize. Yes, that 20,000 pesos which I won fair and square.

Any advice?

/totomai
04/12/10