In Art and Photography, These Filipino Women Reflect on the Act of Becoming

For this year’s International Women’s Month, Vogue Philippines invites leading and rising Filipina women to share their stories. In art and photography, these four Filipino women are sharing their stories on craft, identity, and community.

When it comes to visual storytelling, Filipino women have been making their mark. Take a look at Hannah Reyes Morales, whose photography has led her to become a 2024 Pulitzer Prize finalist, among earning other accolades. Or Pacita Abad, whose vibrant “trapunto” paintings told stories of social justice, indigenous masks, and underwater scenes.

And yet, no matter how different their artistic vision is, there always arise common threads: authenticity, community, and the desire to explore and defy expectations. From self-exploration to representation, these Filipino women are presenting new stories in visual storytelling.

Sela Gonzales

When Sela Gonzales was younger, she did photography and jewelry-making for fun and self-expression. Years later, she’s built a career out of these two passions.

With her jewelry brand, Elemental, she creates jewelry inspired by the natural world, with sustainability at the core.  In the realm of photography, Gonzales specializes in film and digital photography, spanning from commercial work to fashion editorials. She began her career by assisting established photographers such as Lyka Gonzalez and Artu Nepomuceno, which inspired her to pursue the craft.

“Those experiences turned out to be the seed that planted that possibility,” she says. “That if I continue to capture what matters for me, things will really just naturally unfold for me.”

Looking back on her younger self, she reflects on the values that she carried into her adulthood. “She was clueless, and she was just having fun, and I’m so proud of her,” she says. “She really valued friendship, community, and learning new things. And that’s something that we take with us.”

Jellyfish Kisses

As an artist, Jellyfish Kisses used to be a persona that extended Belardo’s inner self. Now that she identifies as a transwoman, she fully embraces the identity, all the while continuing to explore themes of mental health, queer identity, and the creation of safe, non-judgmental spaces in her artworks.

Kisses’ personal style is equally as maximalist and flamboyant as her visual art, a visual identity that was born from overcoming fears. “I had to put aside all the fears,” she says. “Growing up, it came from a time, I guess, when being transphobic, or homophobic, or being discriminated was considered normal.”

It’s this spirit that she hopes to see in other women, and in the queer community, to overcome challenges together. “I think being brave, I guess, is I feel one of the most important things,” she says. “And I guess being authentically you, whether people accept it or not, it’s hard to put you down, if you’re happy with yourself.”

Mav Bernardo

One half of the photography duo Cenon at Mav, Mav Bernardo, is a photographer and creative known for her work in fashion and editorial projects, and being a prominent trans figure in the industry. “It’s important for me that people see someone like me striving and doing well in the craft I chose. This is a big part of visibility,” she says. “I want to be an example to younger trans people and inspire them.”

Reflecting on her experience as a trans woman, Bernardo shares that community is essential to overcoming challenges. “No one understands you quite like your sisters do,” she says. “Sisterhood doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be real. And just as your sisters show up for you, always return the favor by showing up for your community, too.”

Shaira Luna

When she began as a photographer, Shaira Luna was just a young girl in the music scene. And long before that, she was known as a gifted child and “Promil kid” for being featured in Wyeth’s infant formula ad in 1995. Since then, Luna has become one of the most sought-after photographers in the country, known for her viral celebrity photoshoots, editorials, and commercial work. Online, she’s also built her presence as a stylist, known for her thrifted finds.

“I just continue shooting,” she says, reflecting on her career. “I just always try to be as creative as possible and learn from the younger people that I get to work with on a daily basis, and really just enjoy it and look at it the same way I did 20 years ago.”

Speaking from her personal experience, Luna shares her desire for women to explore more. “I think we should really encourage women to not be what other people expect them to be,” she says. “But perhaps we can encourage other women to explore more of what they can become.”

By DAPHNE SAGUN. Photographs by SHAIRA LUNA. Digital Associate Editor: CHELSEA SARABIA. Produced by JULIAN RODRIGUEZ. Videographer and Video Editor: Lynyrd Matias. Photographer’s Assistants: Emil Lansangan and Karlo Baylon. Videographer’s Assistant and 2nd Camera: Emmanuel Santos. Multimedia artist: Bea Lu. Content Writers: Daphne Sagun, Lawrence Alba, and Hyacinth Aranda. Special thanks to Single Origin.