A JOURNALISM graduate and former The Flame photographer earned a special merit citation in the 2026 World Sports Photography Awards for a close-up action shot of a volleyball game.
Aaron Favila’s photograph captures a high-intensity moment in men’s volleyball where an athlete’s eye is framed by the hands of other players, highlighting his concentration during competition.
His entry under the competition’s “other” category was chosen from a global field of over 23,100 images submitted by 4,100 photographers.
A member of the Associated Press for 28 years, Favila’s recognition follows a career of international accolades and extensive coverage of Philippine events, ranging from cultural festivals to humanitarian reporting on natural disasters.
His previous honors include the Ani ng Dangal Award for Visual Arts from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and a first-place finish in the Environmental Issues category at the 5th Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand and OnAsia Photojournalism Contest.
Favila obtained his Journalism degree at UST in 1996.
He was a photojournalist for The Flame, the official student publication of the UST Faculty of Arts and Letters, during his undergraduate studies.
Launched in 2020, the World Sports Photography Awards features 24 various sports categories and awards photographers with gold, silver, bronze, and special merit citations.
The jury of the 2026 edition, which is the competition’s largest to date, was composed of individuals with expertise in sports, media, brands and photography across the globe. F
