Just like his famous namesake, Napoleon Cabling Venturina is a man with strong determination and leadership. Since childhood his sense of leadership has always found a way to express itself. Born in Cabanatuan City Nueva Ecija to working class parents, Nap always sought out opportunities to lead any organization he joins. As a young boy, he would persuade his playmates to march and play “war games” of which he was the overall commander and let his playmates call him Sir! His interest in the military was influenced by his father, a decorated Korean veteran and a retired Colonel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. He loves to play with sling shots, toy guns, scale models and at a young age he started collecting match boxes. He became interested with cameras when his father, who is also a hobby photographer, gave him an old Yashica Electro 35 GSN SLR film camera during his high school days. The high cost of film and processing made him stopped his passion to photography.

He later joined the Military in 1984. After his Scout Ranger and Intelligence Training he was handpicked and assigned in Malacanang under the elite Presidential Guards Battalion of the Presidential Security Command. As a young Lieutenant, Nap headed the Motorized Security Escort Officer of the President and his Family until the People Power Revolution in 1986. Right after the ouster of former President Marcos, Nap was assigned in combat and was wounded in action in one of his major encounters against the communist guerillas or the New People Army. He was awarded the Bronze Cross Medal for risking his life and act of heroism. Despite of his colorful Military career, Nap decided to leave the service in 1990 and he felt a burning need to explore other avenues of his career and future. He took up MBA at De La Salle Business School and Basic Management Program at Asian Institute of Management. In 1993 1st Lt Venturina left the Military service and joined Caltex Philippines (now Chevron) as National Accounts Manager. Gaining much knowledge and confidence from this experience, he followed his instinct and entrepreneurial spirit, making the jump from Government service to the private sector. He founded Fuel Options Inc. in 2004 and Red Arrow Petroleum in 2008 and focused on trading petroleum products and lubricants.

Nap during his regularization last August 2011. In the picture are Gino Garbanzos, 2011 Membership Chairman, sponsor Kiko Balagtas and his wife.

Nap officially joined the Camera Club of the Philippines last July 2010 as a probationary member. He was sponsored by the Master Photographer himself Francisco “Kiko” Balagtas. It took him 13 months to complete the requirements of the club and finally took his oath as a Regular Member last August 1, 2010. Nap is now a Nikon fanatic. His first Nikon DSLR camera was Nikon D80 which was stolen in Athens, Greece in 2009. Nap travels a lot for a vacation and to take pictures. He started saving every single penny again to buy and replace his lost camera. For now, he is using Nikon D700 and D3s with limited selection of lenses. Photography is now his ultimate passion and his desire to learn and hone his skills in photography is his priority. Nap is a man with many talents and he gives his best shot in everything he does. He speaks seven dialects, flies light planes and a black belt first Dan in Aikido, former competitive Power Lifter and one of the first practitioner practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in the Philippines. He loves to collect knives and Military stuffs. Hand guns and rifle shooting is another passion before his before he was hooked with cameras. Nap is a simple man with a simple life and for him he is still “the great Napoleon” of his own time!