In a world painted with light and shadow, John Uy is a master storyteller, weaving the visual narratives that span continents and cultures. He is Asian American photojournalist and visual information specialist, whose soul resonates with the vibrant tapestry of two worlds - the dynamic heartbeat of the United States and the rich, colorful mosaic of the Philippines.
Born into the silent embrace of profound bilateral deafness, his world might have been forever confined by the absence of sound. Yet, through the miracle of a cochlear implant, John courageously stepped into a realm of auditory wonders, transforming his unique perspective into an extraordinary gift that transcends barriers.
Covering Dula Kadayawan on August 2018 in Davao City.
The crumbling remains of Tacloban City in the Philippines, frozen in a state of desolation three months after being ravaged by the formidable Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda.
But his journey is far from ordinary. His disability gifts him a rare perspective, allowing him to capture the essence of the world through his lens.
With his camera as an extension of his heart, John passionately captures the tender moments of the human spirit as he journeys across the globe, discovering the hidden gems that lie within the heart of each country.
For over a decade, he has ventured across the diverse landscapes of Asia, the Middle East, Americas, and Europe, forever engraving the beauty of these cultures upon his soul.
John's work is a intimate exploration of human emotions and relationships, a visual celebration of the threads that bind the human tapestry together. His insatiable curiosity and passion for adventure shine through in his images and videos, revealing the raw, unguarded essence of humanity.
As a skilled visual information specialist who is also adept in editing and analyzing data, John crafts evocative visual narratives that kindle the flames of peace, unity, and love across communities worldwide.
Throughout his journey, he had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed organizations such as Rappler, CNN Philippines, Biola University’s The Chimes, Taclob, the Philippine Ballet Theatre, Rita Neri Event Planners, Rest of World, and European Chamber of Commerce-SMBC. He has also joined forces with government agencies and foreign consulates, including those of Finland and Japan.
At the core of his passion, John's dream remains steadfast - to use his unique abilities to create visual stories that inspire profound change. A change where fear gives way to hope, hatred transforms into love, and chaos finds solace in peace. Through his work, John strives to touch the hearts of others, empowering them to help, create, teach, and guide their societies towards a more harmonious, compassionate future - a future where every individual has the power to make a difference, and where the human spirit shines brighter than ever before.
For my inaugural assignment with CNN Philippines, I captured an intimate conversation between our esteemed journalist, Mitzi, and the legendary actress Nora, as they engaged in a captivating episode of "Profiles with Mitzi" – a renowned TV documentary series.
Humanity
"In the divine tapestry of humanity, masterfully woven by the hand of God, each compassionate act we share serves to elevate and inspire others, creating a harmonious resonance that touches our own souls, enriching our lives with the blessings of divine grace.” - John Uy
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Testimonials
O'Brien-Lichauco Heritage House
I proposed the concept of an interview with Jessie Lichauco (pictured on the right) to CNN Philippines. Following due approval from the network and the requisite consent from Ms. Lichauco's children, I orchestrated a rendezvous for journalist Mitzi to conduct the interview, which took place at the Lichauco family's celebrated ancestral residence. The venue's distinguished historical and cultural value rendered it an apt choice for the interview.
“I had the privilege of working with John when he interned at CNN Philippines in 2016 and participated in some production aspects of my weekly current affairs show “Profiles”. I was immediately impressed by John’s professionalism, maturity, and teamwork. He was always generous in sharing his equipment and images.
Apart from his exemplary photography skills, John showed good journalistic editorial judgement, taking the initiative to pitch stories and seek out interesting subjects to feature on the show. We were all greatly inspired by John’s positive energy, drive, and dedication to rise above his hearing disability, which never posed issues, in fact, we found communicating with him to be very easy. John’s attentiveness, pleasing personality, patience, humility, and thirst for new experiences and knowledge are surely an asset to any individual or team who works with him.”
ECCP-SMBC Meeting
During a recent meeting of businesspeople and leaders, Antonio S. Peralta, Chairman of ECCP-SMBC (pictured in the middle), engaged in a discussion with Mercedes Zobel, a Board Director of ECCP (pictured on the right).
“John Patrick’s work with his photography has been a true reflection of clarity and life at its best. His work with our ECCP Mindanao Golf Tournament and the ECCP SMBC Meetings has been very precise and professional. It is a pleasure working with John and we will continue to engage him in our future activities. He is certainly the best photographer we have worked with. ”
Art District, Los Angeles
As part of my Urban Storytelling project at Biola University (Bible Institute of Los Angeles), I captured this image from the corner of the renowned Art District to the historical Street of Olvera in Los Angeles. This photograph is one of many that I took, showcasing the vibrant cultural tapestry of the city.
“John has been one of my students and advisees for several years during his time at Biola University. When I first met John, I was amazed at his strength of character, his visual ability and his attentiveness to learning and growing from the direction of professors (and even peers) around him. John approached his assignments with seriousness and diligence. He did struggle at times with courses but never made excuses, even when it seemed it may have been justified with his disability.”
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Capturing the Soul of Humanity
