09/07/2026
125TH ANNIVERSARY PHOTO CONTEST – 1st PRIZE IN THE SINGLE ENTRY CATEGORY
First Prize: "Monopoly of Motion" by Nathaniel E. Carampatana
Sibulan, Negros Oriental
On November 15, 2024, the interior of a Vallacar Transit bus moving through Ajong, Sibulan becomes a capsule of systemic inequality. The frame is tight, black-and-white, and claustrophobic. Commuters are packed shoulder to shoulder, their faces etched with the weary resignation of a long journey made longer by discomfort. A woman at the center stares forward, her expression a mix of exhaustion and endurance, while others cling to overhead bars like anchors in a sea of bodies.
This image highlights a critical, often overlooked facet of inclusive justice: mobility justice. In Negros Oriental, where Vallacar Transit operates as the primary—and often only—long-distance bus option, the lack of competition and alternative infrastructure strips the public of their right to dignified travel. When a community has “no other choice,” justice is compromised. Accessible justice means having the freedom to move safely and comfortably to work, school, or healthcare.
This crowded bus is a symptom of a near-monopoly that leaves the commuting public at the mercy of a single provider’s schedule and standards. The struggle captured here is not just about a lack of seats; it is about the absence of agency. A truly inclusive society prioritizes public utility over profit, ensuring that mass transit serves as a bridge to opportunity—not a daily trial of physical and mental endurance.
