My mixed media fiber artwork explores identity and the ways in which societal structures influence personal empowerment and potential. As a Filipina-American, I weave together my American upbringing with indigenous Philippine materials to examine how patriarchal, consumerist, and colonial systems carve deeply into both the human spirit and the land itself.

Through meticulous, traditional hand-sewing and labor-intensive processes, I create space for viewers to meditate on the destructive nature of these power structures—how they erode authenticity and sever our connection to our roots and the Earth. My practice is a means of reaching back to my indigenous ancestors, revitalizing that lost bond, and reshaping it for future generations.

Capiz shells and quilting hold deep significance in my work. Capiz, or windowpane oysters, appear delicate and translucent, yet they possess an unexpected resilience—much like people, whose true nature is only revealed upon closer inspection. Quilting, deeply rooted in American craft traditions, has little presence in Filipino or Filipino-American culture. By incorporating capiz shells into my quilts, I am creating a new visual and cultural language—one that speaks to the experience of being neither fully from one land nor the other—and forges a path that bridges histories and redefines tradition.