Flea Market in Malacca (Andy Samaniego)

The recent “Hello Malaysia” exhibit at the SM Mall of Asia gave mall-goers the rare opportunity to get a glimpse of the scenic beauty, people, lifestyle, and culture of this Southeast Asian country through 100 compelling photographs taken by some of the country’s leading photojournalists.

The exhibit captured the diversity of Malaysia through photographs of the Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur, the streets of historic Malacca, the Genting Highlands (the city of entertainment on a hill), and the Kota Kinabalu River (famous for river rafting and island hopping). It also featured portraits of its people, as well as modern Malaysian attractions like the F1 Race, and the iconic Petronas Towers – a symbol of man’s ingenious imagination and a source of inspiration for many architects around the world.

No less than H.E. Dato Ahmad Hazizi, Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines, graced the exhibit’s opening ceremonies. Tourism Malaysia director Masrinas Mohd Bakri, Malaysia Airlines sales manager Nikki Confiado, ABS-CBN’s VP for News Gathering Chari Villa, and Melanie Ediza (representing Senator Loren Legarda), joined him in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Travel Light group members – Chito Vecina, Edwin Tuyay, Jorge Maniquis, Nelwin Uy, Ellen San Pedro Tuyay, Andy Samaniego, Jun Garcia, J. Lucas Reyes, Melvin Gobaco, Madge Lejano, and Anne Jambora – were also present.

Hello Malaysia, organized by Travel Light (a group of award-winning photographers), was sponsored by the Tourism Malaysia and Malaysian Airlines, in cooperation with the SM Mall of Asia. Canon, PCCI, i-Mag Photography Magazine, Aperture, MSD Godspeed Exhibits, Angels Delight Catering, and Design Manila were the other sponsors.