Two fundamental anchors guide my life and my work: identity and truth. Identity is the force that drives humanity’s progress forward or pulls it backward; it sits at the center of both our struggles and our potential to heal. Truth is essential, and artists carry a sacred obligation to reflect society back to itself, even when that reflection is uncomfortable. Through my work, I offer viewers an experience that deepens their understanding of the world and strengthens their capacity for empathy toward themselves and others, grounded in the belief that the true work of art lives in both the labor of making and the act of sharing, where intention, process, and human connection come into focus.

I incorporate indigenous materials from my homeland to reach toward my ancestors and restore bonds that were disrupted, while examining how patriarchy, misogyny, consumerism, and colonialism have deeply scarred the human spirit and the land in ways we still do not fully comprehend. The natural, highly textured materials I use are critical in bringing me closer to my ancestors and the earth, opening a path for me to investigate how identity, belonging, and rejection influence not only families and communities, but the earth itself. Rich textures are combined with meticulous handcrafting techniques, creating works that are subtle yet irresistible, enticing viewers to slow down and reflect on how certain power structures erode authenticity, sever our connections to that ancient knowledge of the earth, and affect their own lives.

Capiz shell, translucent, imperfect, and often chipped or broken, holds deep significance in my work. It appears fragile, yet it is surprisingly resilient, much like people and the planet. To penetrate its iridescent surface and understand the images beneath, viewers must pause and look closely. I draw imagery from sources such as atlases and children’s fairytale books to draw attention to the way Western-biased narratives ignore or minimize millennia of shamanic earthly knowledge, distorting our understanding of ourselves and our connection to one another. The subtle skewing created by the capiz encourages lingering and questioning. By incorporating capiz and other Philippine indigenous materials, viewers return to what grounds them, to remember how they are rooted to their ancestors and the earth. Authenticity and honesty make this possible. When we understand ourselves, healing can begin, and that healing can move outward into the world.

My creative explorations speak to the experience of being from multiple places and fully claimed by none. I am developing a new visual and cultural language shaped by both Filipino and Western traditions, embracing truth, imperfection, and human intervention, and connecting with viewers in a way that transcends words and borders. This work becomes an invitation, regardless of the viewer’s background, to imagine how understanding identity, in all its complexity, can help repair what is broken in ourselves, our communities, and the world we share.