In 1976 Peping Cadapan and Alex Baluyot worked at the Philippine Nuclear Power Plant. Alex against the wishes of the administration built a darkroom in the clinic at the plant. Alex says It was a communal darkroom atmosphere there. It was the heyday of film photography. Among those who dropped in was Peping Cadapan from Paete Laguna.
Peping had been married for several years. When his father saw his serious interest in photography, sold one of the family carabaos so he could buy a camera. Peping bought his first gòod camera in 1978, a twin lens reflex. He was 31 years old.
Alex went on to the Associated Press and became part of the history of photojournalism In the Philippines.
Alex and his wife Precious have been providing emergency food aide in the Philippines for several years now as AMRK. Recently, they have been invited to speak at the University of Wisconsin on the subject of humanitarian food aide.
Peping currently does event photography in Laguna Province. Alex and Peping reunited during a casual visit August 14, 2023. Peping got to taste authentic ARMK Sinigang and Sopas. Precious says from their days at the nuclear power plant, "They still glow in the dark."
