TECNO Unveils Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 Jointly with Lonely Planet in Philippines

Calling on TECNO CAMON users nationwide to capture real life moments under the theme "Seeing is Believing" — with global travel awards and filipino special  prizes up for grabs.

Today, Lonely Planet, the world-renowned leader in travel advice, and TECNO, the AI-driven revolutionary technology company, announced the co-hosted Shot On CAMON Contest 2026, the third edition of TECNO's yearly worldwide photography competition. The partnership, which is based on a common spirit of inquiry and expression, takes the competition beyond technology to honor the individuals, locations, and narratives that go into each picture. TECNO and Lonely Planet hope to encourage people everywhere to see more, feel more, and communicate richer visual stories through professional co-judging, co-branded material, and photo-essay-style storytelling. One Lonely Planet photographer will participate on the final-round jury panel with TECNO's imaging team, and three Lonely Planet photographers will contribute original images taken with the CAMON 50 Series.

“Great photos are not just about equipment – they are about how deeply the photographer can immerse themselves in a destination. TECNO’s technology makes that immersion easier, helping users stay present, observe more closely and capture meaningful moments as they happen. We are excited to partner on Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 and look forward to seeing how photographers around the world bring their journeys to life.” ~Melissa Killian, Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Lonely Planet

This year's competition, with the subject "Seeing is Believing," will take place from May 15 to October 11, 2026, and it invites smartphone photographers from all over the world to use the TECNO CAMON 50 Series to capture genuine, stunning, and unique moments. TECNO's call to appreciate the authenticity of real life through photography, honoring a variety of skin tones, transient emotions, and real-world observations, is the topic for a year that is becoming more and more shaped by AI. Users are encouraged to begin with genuine observation and self-expression, even in the contest's AI category, which begins with a real photograph.

TECNO Philippines Welcomes Kelvinmarkulit as CAMON Photography Ambassador

Kelvinmarkulit, a well-known Filipino visual storyteller renowned for his unvarnished portrayals of daily Filipino life, has been named the official CAMON Photography Ambassador for the Philippine leg of the competition by TECNO Philippines in an effort to further stoke local enthusiasm for authentic mobile photography. Kelvin will have a variety of responsibilities, including co-creating a call-out video to encourage Filipino producers to enter the competition, acting as a regional judge to choose the best entries from around the nation, and participating in the exclusive winner's journey. His collaboration with TECNO is more than just a celebrity endorsement; it sends a strong message to Filipino photographers that genuine, heartfelt local tales can be seen on a worldwide scale. A new generation is inspired to believe that anyone can turn the ordinary into the unforgettable with observation, emotion, and the appropriate tool by Kelvin's own path from capturing candid street encounters to gaining international notoriety. Kelvin's personal journey, from photographing candid street scenes to receiving international acclaim, inspires a new generation to believe that with observation, emotion, and the correct tool, anyone can transform the ordinary into the unforgettable.

Five Creative Categories That Celebrate New Ways of Seeing

The five categories of Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 are designed to inspire different ways of seeing, encouraging participants to capture real moments, emotions and perspectives from everyday life and travel.

• Faces·Unfiltered – This category celebrates authentic portraits that reflect people as they really are, capturing diverse skin tones and individuality in a quiet close-up, a candid street portrait, or a moment shared between friends.
• Night·Unveiled – This category invites participants to capture the atmosphere, mystery and emotion that emerge after dark, from neon-lit streets and reflections after rain to still moonlit scenes and late-night city life. 
• Culture·Unscripted – This category focuses on capturing the rhythm of a place as it naturally unfolds, whether through festivals, crafts, food moments or unplanned interactions between people.
• Snapshot·Unspotted (Telephoto Special) – Participants are invited to capture distant details that reveal something surprising, intimate or easily overlooked, from textures on far-off peaks to a fleeting expression within a crowd.
• AI·Unimagined (AI Gallery Special) – First capture a real-world photo with a TECNO phone, then transform it into an artistic style using TECNO’s AI Gallery. Both the original photograph and the AI-styled image must be submitted together. This category is designed to explore how AI can extend creative expression while keeping real-world photography as the starting point. 

“‘Seeing is Believing’ is both a creative brief for our contestants and a reminder that the most powerful images begin with real life. Through Shot On CAMON Contest 2026, we hope to inspire users around the world to observe more closely, express themselves more freely and celebrate the beauty of authentic moments through photography.” ~Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO

Awards, Honors and How to Enter

Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 will award outstanding work throughout its major award tiers with cash awards and special travel rewards provided by Lonely Planet in order to acknowledge remarkable innovation. The chosen victors will go off on a carefully planned expedition to discover the wonders—to experience is to believe, and miracles can only be fully witnessed.

One exceptional photographer will receive the TECNO Photography Master prize ($8,000) as a prize for the competition. In addition, the Gold Prize ($3,000), Silver Prize ($2,000), and Bronze Prize ($1,000) will each have five winners. Additionally, ten entrants will be chosen as TECNO Friends and given a CAMON 50 Series smartphone. The five Gold Prize winners and the TECNO Photography Master will also receive an invitation to a customized trip to the Philippines as a special incentive.

Special "Filipino Special Award" – Exclusive for Philippine Participants

To honor and reward regional creative talent, TECNO Philippines is launching the Filipino Special Award in addition to the international awards. Filipino users can upload videos (via TikTok and Instagram/Facebook Reels) or photographs (standard entry). Video submissions will automatically be evaluated for the Filipino Special Award, but they are regarded as informal entries and are not eligible for international honors. A Lonely Planet Bespoke Trip and a CAMON 50 Series smartphone will be awarded to the six other winners who will be selected as CAMON Photography Endorsers in the Philippines. There will be one prize from video submissions and five wins from image submissions (from any of the five contest categories). TECNO Philippines' dedication to honoring local visual storytellers—whether they capture a moment in time or bring it to life via motion—is demonstrated by this unique prize.

How to Enter

To enter, participants should post photos with a visible TECNO device watermark on Instagram using the hashtags #ShotOnCAMON2026 #TECNOCAMON50Series and #TECNOPhilippines, then submit high-resolution versions via email at shotoncamon@tecnomobile.com or through the ShotOnCAMON Gallery on TECNO’s Philippines official website. All entries must be original content and duplicate submissions will be disqualified. Winning works will be showcased in global media exhibitions, the TECNO annual photo book, and across TECNO’s official platforms.

For full contest rules and details, visit Shot On CAMON Contest 2026 or follow on Instagram.

About TECNO

TECNO is an innovative, AI-driven technology brand with a presence in over 70 markets across five continents. Committed to transforming the digital experience in global emerging markets, TECNO relentlessly pursues the perfect integration of contemporary aesthetic design with the latest technologies and artificial intelligence. Today, TECNO offers a comprehensive ecosystem of AI-powered products, including smartphones, smart wearables, laptops, tablets, smart gaming devices, the HiOS operating system, and smart home products. Guided by its brand essence of “Stop At Nothing,” TECNO continues to pioneer the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and AI-driven experiences for forward-looking individuals, inspiring them to never stop pursuing their best selves and brightest futures. For more information, please visit TECNO’s official site: www.tecno-mobile.com.

TECNO CAMON 50 Series Powers a Massive Earth Day Run Manila with Over 15,000 Participants and Sarah Geronimo

As the CAMON 50 Series took center stage at one of the most prominent public events of the season, drawing over 15,000 participants and creating a significant moment for the brand in the Philippines, TECNO brought significant launch-week energy to the Manila leg of Earth Day Run 2026 organized by RUNRIO at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. The Manila leg, the biggest of the three-city series, represented a potent intersection of RUNRIO's national green movement and TECNO's flagship smartphone launch.

TECNO turned the gathering of thousands of runners, families, communities, and fitness enthusiasts in Manila into a live demonstration of the CAMON 50 Series, showcasing how the device is designed for mobility, expression, and fast-paced real-life situations.

Super-Zoom FlashSnap, one of the product's most notable features, was brought to life in an event setting where runners in motion, finish-line reactions, group celebrations, and high-energy community scenes created the ideal backdrop to showcase the motion-capture capabilities of the CAMON 50 Series.

Sarah Geronimo Leads the program and Experiences CAMON 50 Series

Sarah Geronimo, a TECNO CAMON 50 Series ambassador, joined the events and participated in the product experience, making the Manila event even more memorable. Her presence added star power and increased public awareness to an already highly visible launch-week promotion.

Her presence enhanced the CAMON 50 Series' positioning as a smartphone designed for lifestyle, movement, and significant everyday moments in addition to strengthening TECNO's relationship with Filipino consumers.

Wearables Make Their Mark

In addition to the CAMON 50 Series, wearable devices like Watch NEO and FreeHear 2 demonstrated TECNO's expanding smart lifestyle ecosystem, supporting the company's efforts to provide a more engaged, expressive, and active user experience.

TECNO’s Commitment to the Planet and the Filipino Community

TECNO's involvement in Earth Day Run Manila was more than just a sponsorship; it conveyed a larger message about the importance of technology in contemporary life, enabling people to better capture, live more actively, and establish deeper connections with the important moments and causes.

“Earth Day Run Manila gave us the opportunity to bring the CAMON 50 Series into a space filled with energy, purpose, and real human moments. It was the ideal setting to show how our latest smartphone and wearable products fit naturally into the lives of Filipinos who move, create, and live fully.” ~Jason Wong, Country Manager of TECNO Philippines

TECNO will maintain the momentum of its Earth Day Run participation in Cebu on April 26 at the SM Seaside in response to the positive reception in Manila. This will expand the CAMON 50 Series story through further community-driven, high-visibility experiences in the market.

TECNO CAMON 50 Series Launch Day Draws Massive Crowds Nationwide as KOLs Take Over as One-Day Store Managers

In the Philippines, TECNO's new CAMON 50 Series saw a robust first-day offline reaction, with customers waiting up at partner stores and creating noticeable retail momentum across strategic launch-day sites.

The CAMON 50 Series swiftly transformed its first offline selling day into a high-energy retail event for the brand, with early shop visitation, active product tries, and purchase activity. As early as 10 am, long lines gathered outside authorized TECNO physical locations in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and throughout the country. The flagship camera capabilities, IP69K durability, and the substantial gift bundle were noted by many as the main factors influencing their decision to buy.

KOL One-Day Store Manager Program

TECNO's "KOL One-Day Store Manager" program, which invited some of the nation's most prominent tech and lifestyle content providers to take over specific retail locations, added to the excitement on launch day. Numerous lifestyle/tech creators, like MESES VLOGs 2.0 and Bogart The Explorer, as well as well-known PBB celebrities like Rave Victoria, Sparkle Artist Wynona Collings, and Clifford Gawchua, each brought their distinct energy to various TECNO stores across the country.

In addition to interacting with customers, the KOL store managers provided interactive demonstrations of the main capabilities of the CAMON 50 Ultra 5G, including as the 100x zoom telephoto lens and the Super-Zoom FlashSnap for zero-shutter lag action photographs.

Special First-day offer Add to the Hype

Additionally, a lot of customers took advantage of the chance to test out the CAMON 50 Series in person. They were especially drawn to the lineup's photography capabilities, fashionable appearance, and extra freebies offered on launch day.

“The first-day over 3000 orders response shows the strong excitement surrounding the CAMON 50 Series in the Philippines. We are encouraged by the strong store traffic, the customer energy on the ground, and the growing interest in TECNO’s latest imaging and AI smartphone experience.” ~Jason Wong, Country Manager of TECNO Philippines

TECNO anticipates that the CAMON 50 Series will maintain significant momentum as more customers interact with the lineup both offline and online, given the robust first-day store heat and ongoing launch-week activities.

TECNO CAMON 50 Series Powers RUNRIO Earth Day Run 2026 in Davao, Turning Every Stride into a Better-Captured Moment

As the first leg of RUNRIO Earth Day Run 2026 kicks off in Davao on April 12 in SM Lanang, TECNO formally joins the spirit of this multi-city celebration that unites movement, community action, and a shared commitment to a greener future.

Run for the Planet, Captured Like Never Before

More than merely a race-day appearance, TECNO's participation exemplifies why the CAMON 50 Series exists: to let people record real life as it unfolds. From fast-moving runners and finish-line responses to large community scenes and long-distance action, the CAMON 50 Series applies its Super Zoom FlashSnap feature to one of the most dynamic real-world scenarios for mobile imaging: sports in motion.

TECNO is presenting the CAMON 50 Series as the phone that helps users maintain the energy, emotion, and movement of the day in sharper focus, whether it is a runner pushing toward the finish line, friends celebrating after a personal best, or families turning Earth Day into a memorable weekend event.

New Wearables Join the Green Mission

Through recently released wearables like the Watch NEO and FreeHear 2, the collaboration also showcases TECNO's expanding smart lifestyle ecosystem. These gadgets, when combined with the CAMON 50 Series, enable a more expressive and connected daily routine, whether users are running, training, listening while on the go, or producing content based on their daily experiences.

For a long time, Runnio Earth Day Run has represented more than just fitness. It serves as a public reminder that group efforts are important and that commonplace behaviors like showing up, traveling together, safeguarding common areas, and supporting better environmental decisions may have a noticeable effect. By participating in the race, TECNO is tying its product narrative to a more general lifestyle message: technology should enable people to accomplish more and interact more deeply with their surroundings.

What’s Next: Manila Leg with Sarah Geronimo & CAMON 50 Street Party

After Davao, the next leg of the Earth Day Run will meet the launch momentum of the CAMON 50 Series in an even greater scale on April 19 at SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds in Manila. Sarah G, a brand ambassador for TECNO, will invigorate the event and help highlight the spirit of movement, style, and better-captured moments, which will increase awareness of the Manila stop.

“We’re turning the Manila leg into a celebration of health, planet, and creativity. Sarah G represents the energy and passion of every Filipino who stops at nothing — exactly what CAMON 50 stands for.” ~Ms. Phia, TECNO Marketing Manager

Run and Win

TECNO's Earth Day Run partnership demonstrates that the company is doing more than just introducing a phone as it continues to build momentum for the CAMON 50 Series in the Philippines. Instead, it is entering the locations where young Filipinos live, move, create, and connect.

Runners can still sign up for the final leg after the successful Davao leg (April 12 in SM Lanang). CEBU (April 26 at SM Seaside Cebu) and Manila leg (April 19 at SM Mall of Asia) via https://earthdayrun.org/. The CAMON 50 series and AIOT products will be given out to participants in all legs. Earth, TECNO The CAMON 50 Series has a special opportunity to demonstrate its worth as a new launch of the smartphone, but as a tool for expression, activity, and the daily narratives people wish to Recall and distribute.