Since 1978: Photo-Story: Ziyang City (Chengdu, China)

It was almost midnight by the time we arrived in Chengdu for the last leg of the trip. The local Lien Aid staff, Yang Peng fetched us from the airport. It felt abit weird to be sitting in a luxurious car travelling on the wide boulevard in the city centre and checked in at a comfortable hotel. Later, I learned that Yang Peng borrowed the car and the hotel was not too ex. As a journalist travelling on stories about the rural peasants, I did not expect to have such luxury. But it was because a donor for the projects in Chengdu was travelling with us and the project that we are visiting the next day is different from the previous ones.
A Mr Khoo donated more than S$300,000 for the construction of new toilets for 5 schools in Ziyang City. The 2 schools that we visited had a opening ceremony for Mr Khoo where local government officials and media are invited. As a low-profile individual, Mr Khoo was willing to chat, but declined to be interviewed or quoted. I was told not to reveal my identity as a foreign journalist, and to say that I was a Lien Aid staff, as there was no approval for foreign journalist to cover this story and the restriction on foreign media arose from the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, during which there were bad press on the government relief efforts from foreign media. It was rather shocking to learn that the restrictions were still in place and even for a NGO community service project. I did not expect to gather much information or take many pictures from a official setting and hence would have no problem behaving like a Lien Aid staff. In fact, the story from this last leg is just not strong enough to make it the main piece.
We were welcomed by rows of children shouting "欢迎,欢迎,热烈欢迎"(Warmly welcome) in unison. I could see that even Mr Khoo was not used to the VIP reception. The ceremony followed a strict sequence of events, from speech to presenting of flowers and donated books. Frankly, all I had in mind was a photo-story of the first 2 villages we visited, and I just could not figure out how this is going to fit into the story. Plus the restriction placed on me was not very encouraging. I thought this "hidden identity" thing was not necessary if clarifications were made to the local officials prior to our visit. What damage could a journalist with no hidden agenda do on such "official" opening ceremonies? I was told not to give away namecards during lunch even though I was seated with the local media.
All was well and good during the 1st school that we visited. I just wondered around, taking unofficial shots for Lien Aid, and checking out the condition of a typical rural school. To make it a worthwhile trip, I asked for some quotes from teachers and students. At the 1st school, I had to bring them to a corner to ask my questions, whereas at the 2nd school, I was discovered by the official and a Lien Aid staff had to shield me from their view. Fortunately, these restrictions were non-existent in the villages, where I got the strongest stories.

The last night in Chengdu was spent eating the tongue-numbing Mala steamboat and foot massages. Luxuries before slogging to get the stories out in a few days. That was quite a feat given my limited ability in written chinese. I managed to finish half the story in 3 hours at the SPH library and it was published on a Sunday edition. Not too happy with the layout and size of photos though. I hope this will be the start of more such social stories to come. Even though the time spent on each place is short, I felt that I was doing what drew me into photojournalism years ago. Daily mundane jobs has taken its toil on the passion that I had, and Its refreshing to be able to feel it once again.