Photographer of Sin, popes dies at 71

Manuel “Noli” Yamsuan

Manuel “Noli” Yamsuan, a veteran photographer who chronicled the life and ministry of the late Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, died on Saturday. He was 71.

Yamsuan passed away at 3:45 p.m. at Cardinal Santos Medical Center where he had been confined for more than a month after suffering a severe stroke and diabetes complications, the Manila archdiocese announced.

In a career that spanned more than 40 years, Yamsuan documented and photographed—for various international and local publications—historical and political milestones in the country.

But he is most remembered and acclaimed for his coverage of Archbishop of Manila.

As Cardinal Sin’s official and personal photographer, Yamsuan also captured through his unerring lens major events of the Catholic Church. He photographed three papal visits to the Philippines by Pope John Paul II in 1981 and 1995 and Pope Francis in 2015, earning him renown as “the man who shoots popes.”

Over the past few years, he shared his expertise in the unique craft of liturgical photography through a series of seminars for professional and student photography enthusiasts.

Yamsuan was a licensed chemical engineer, having graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Santo Tomas, where he also completed his secondary education.

He joined the now-defunct Philippine Daily Express in 1972, giving in to a passion and launching a long and multiawarded career in photojournalism and photography.

He also worked for or contributed to local publications such as Veritas Newsmagazine, Manila Daily Bulletin, Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Sunday Inquirer Magazine and Metro Magazine.

He was photo editor or contributing photographer of numerous coffee table books.

Yamsuan is survived by his wife, Peachy, and children Jimbo and Jinky, Erwin and Kat, and Paola, and four granddaughters.

The wake began on Sunday at Chapel A, Christ the King Church, Greenmeadows, Quezon City. Funeral arrangements will be announced later.