August 29, 2026 · Plaza Heneral Santos, General Santos City
A Morning of Remembrance at Plaza Heneral Santos
Life of Gelosaurus got up early on August 29, 2026, to photograph the commemoration of General Paulino Santos's 81st death anniversary at Plaza Heneral Santos. As someone who lives in General Santos City, he wanted to be there and document this part of his hometown's history.
The plaza was already busy when he arrived. Army and Navy personnel, police officers, firefighters, members of special forces, and other public servants were there ahead of him. The commemorative Mass was still a few hours away, so he started taking photographs of the people around him.
Gathering for the occasion
Media crews had started recording, and he was moving around with his own camera, looking for different angles. He wanted to photograph as much as he could, taking wider views of the plaza and moving closer to the people taking part.
Around the ceremony
A salute caught his eye, as did a musician playing the trumpet and the rows of personnel standing in formation. Walking around gave him other angles, too. In a few photographs, faces appear through gaps between the wreaths.
At the monument
The wreaths around the monument were part of the morning he wanted to remember, too. He photographed them alongside the statue of General Paulino Santos, keeping a record of the place and the person being commemorated.
He was glad he'd come. Along with photographing a day that mattered to him as a GenSan resident, he got to know some of the local photographers covering it. That made getting up early all the more worthwhile.
Photographs from the commemoration of General Paulino Santos's 81st death anniversary at Plaza Heneral Santos, August 29, 2026.