June 21, 2019
This show was a benefit to raise money for children in poverty in the Philippines and raise awareness for what they don’t show you in travel ads or commercials.
This body of work is my way of understanding my identity and privilege as a Filipino-American.
All proceeds from opening night (June 21st) were donated to Save the Children and RAICES, organizations that are devoted to protecting the rights of children in the Philippines and the United States respectively.
In addition to prints sold, I designed and sewed together tote bags from scratch in the Peels (a clothing company I used to work for) studio. These as well as Peels shirts were sold to raise funds.
The “Askal” is a term used for the street dogs native to the Philippines. To me they represent the hard working, survival mentality of Filipinos around the globe. The struggle, the work, the ferocity, this is all we know.
All photos are 11 x 17 prints and available for purchase in my webstore.
“The Pearl of the Orient” was screened in the basement of the show. The first part appropriates a Filipino soap opera with the conversation I had with my cab driver on the way to JFK. The second part appropriates an old travel documentary with a beachside conversation I had with my dad.