RP Newsletter 20: Create your own energy
Looking back in 2024, Looking towards 2025, and other upcoming things
Riding the Wave
We are living in a great era of Philippine photography right now. There’s so much energy and activity happening.
I haven’t lived through the 200-year history of photography and the almost century of photography in the Philippines, but this feels like the most dynamic period for the medium ever. Photography-related events are abundant—so many that I often have to choose between them. From photo clubs and street photography groups to galleries embracing the art form, there’s no shortage of talent or compelling work. The annual fair season, in particular, has become the largest photography showcase since 2020.
Filipino photographers are also making waves internationally. Wawi Navarozza received widespread acclaim for her New York exhibits, while Veejay Villafranca served as a World Press Photo jury member, participated in the Gwangju Biennale, and capped the year with the Jeju Biennale. Jes Aznar joined the Jeju Biennale as well, earning a strong response at an auction of his print depicting Imelda Marcos listening to Here Lies Love for the first time. Closer to home, Hannah Reyes and Geloy Concepcion delivered powerful homecoming exhibits through Tarzeer.
These accomplishments complement my favorites of the year. Highlights of 2025 include Artu Nepomuceno’s Cathedrals of Light and Renzo Navarro’s Who Needs a Blade. On a personal note, my collective, Flint Photo, had an equally busy year. We released a zine, concluded our Firestarter program, and organized multiple slideshows. The writing scene is going well too, with LK Rigor’s presentations, Insights 2 by Toni Cuesta, and countless other contributions.
The Three Responses of Filipino Photography
The works this year reaffirm the three key responses of Filipino photography I’ve been digging about lately: the colonial, memorial, and communal. These responses reflect our collective reckoning with history, trauma, and identity.
The colonial aspect explores our reaction to and development under colonization. The memorial focuses on "post-memory," grappling with inherited traumas from events like martial law, conflicts, and climate disasters. The communal embodies our lambing (tenderness) and bayanihan (community spirit), evolving into pakikibaka (revolutionary action). I will be talking about this in an upcoming presentation for the Jeju Biennale. I will post the info below.
Raising the Ceiling
If the activities are any indication, Philippine Photoland seems untouched by the global recession. But where will this energy take us? While we’ve successfully raised the floor, it’s high time to raise the ceiling.
Talent is abundant, but the field needs professionalization. Can camera brands pay their speakers and Photowalk leaders? Can publications streamline processes to ensure timely compensation? Can institutions support residencies and workshops without relying on constant fundraisers or print sales? Most importantly, can the industry treat its image makers with dignity?
This isn’t just about financial sustainability. It’s about valuing and respecting the work that photographers bring to the table. Energy, if left unused, dissipates or worse blows up in our faces. Institutions, organizations, and corporations must seize this opportunity to channel the community’s vibrancy into impactful programming.
One way forward is to encourage photographers to tell stories that draw them in rather than adhering to convenience. Embrace the stakes and live through the struggle of making. Storytelling, not just technical exploration or grand exhibitions, should anchor future endeavors. We also have to standardize best practices despite being tedious in pre-production paperwork and post-production follow-ups. And of course, we have to carry ourselves with confidence in a manner that fits the situation.
Carve and Create Your Wins
On the flip side, perhaps the answer lies in embracing grassroots efforts. Community-organized print sales and fundraisers might foster a deeper connection with the public than corporate sponsorships ever could. These initiatives allow creators to lead by example, showing how meaningful work can thrive in challenging conditions.
Ultimately, contemporary life demands participation in capital, but this doesn’t mean surrendering our ideals or tenderness in creation. Navigating this balance will define the year ahead.
Whether through building platforms, launching new projects, or learning more about the craft, now is the time to act. Create your wins. Harness the energy of this moment and let it carry you forward. Despite how you move this year, move with kindness, tenderness, and consciousness.
Have a great year ahead!
Upcoming News/Events:
Jeju Biennale 2025 “Drifting”—This edition centers on drift. As mentioned, I will be doing an online presentation for the Biennale on January 18, focusing on the responses of Filipino photographers as we drift along with history. I will post links soon!
Flint Slideshows Vol. 6 — We will be having a slideshow on January 18 over at Convenience Coffee Shop in Makati. Coinciding with the ongoing exhibition with Fotomoto, we will be showing personal work. This is going to be our first show in the Makati area so hopefully you can all attend. Details and poster to follow soon!
Angkor Photo Festival 20th edition — I’ll be present (and possibly volunteer) for the Angkor Photo Festival and Workshops this Feb. 7-16. It will be a homecoming for me as it’s my first time back in Siem Reap since attending the workshop in 2014! Long story So if you’re looking for a festival to attend, make your way to Siem Reap and join in the programs. Here’s a link to a handy travel guide for festival attendees! See you there!
Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur Photobook/Exhibition Hunting - Since there are no direct flights from Manila to Siem Reap, I decided to backpack. Bangkok —> Siem Reap —> Kuala Lumpur. I’m looking for suggestions of where to look at photobooks, photography exhibitions, or anything photography-related. So far for Bangkok I have Vacilando and Fotoclub BKK. For Kuala Lumpur, I will check out Zontiga and there will be an exhibition on Japanese Photography by Japan Foundation KL that I might be able to catch. I think there’s also an exhibition by Ian Teh at the time so I hope to catch that.
So yes, Please send me KL and BKK Photoland places to go and things to do!
And Finally….
One more slideshow by the end of Feb or early March. I will talk about it once finalized but I’m pretty excited about that one so stay tuned.
But yes, all this travel means I’ll be missing the ArtFair season here in Manila. It's the first time in years that I’m going to miss it, so I won’t have an exhibition report. However, I’ll try to make dispatches while on the road.