Jomel Bartolome, Proud Chef-Photographer
/What makes us smile? Acts of kindness, heartwarming stories, lost loves found, music and food and the sweet memories that they bring forth, old photographs, family gatherings, heroes in our midst, remembrances of pets and experiences, etc. etc. Each of us have our own smile triggers. What's yours?
Send us a story that makes you smile, be it a vignette or an anecdote, a picture with an extended caption, even a screenshot.
Jomel Bartolome (center) with his son and award-winning photographer Xyza Bacani
From 2012-2013, he worked in Dubai in a fast food restaurant and made pictures during his days off. The year after, he moved to Kuwait to work as a demi chef in a Lebanese restaurant for two years, all the while doing photography on the side. It was in Kuwait where he shot the photo that was featured in the New York Times, following its inclusion in a photo exhibit at UP’s Vargas Museum that I curated.
Jomel’s photo which was featured in the New York Times
In 2015, Jomel returned to Manila and enrolled in a culinary school to be qualified to work in fine dining establishments. With his new credentials, he worked in Fiji Islands for a year, then moved to Cook Islands before finally getting his visa for New Zealand where he was able to bring his wife and son.
Jomel’s first year in New Zealand with his wife and son.
He started working in a fine dining place in Queensland as Senior Chef de Partie and was part of the team that got a 1 Hat, the equivalent of 1 Michelin star in New Zealand.
Jomel continued his culinary studies while working as a sous chef for three years. Now he is Executive Chef to two high-end restaurants in Wellington CBD, creating menus with Filipino and Asian ingredients.
Jomel at the Lee Kum Kee competition.
He is still doing photography and has won awards, while slowly making a name for himself as a chef. I have been constantly following his career and life as an OFW, and from time to time, I consult with him as I try to cook new recipes and healthier food.
Jomel’s “Cloud 9” Sony World Photography Award 2018, Sony Alpha Awards 2019 New Zealand-Australia
Congratulations, Jomel. It is important to share your story to inspire others.
First posted in the author’s Facebook page. Additional information provided by Jomel Bartolome.
Rick Rocamora is an award-winning documentary photographer and author of 5 photo books. His works are part of the permanent collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. His images about Muslim-Americans will be published by Tokyo University for Foreign Studies before the end of 2022.
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