MANILA, October 26 — Being a mother is an important part of someone’s life, but it does not define everything about who they are. A new portrait project by technology brand TECNO and artist Angélica Dass is bringing that message to life through the stories of 20 Filipinos whose experiences are connected to solo motherhood.
The Philippines gallery, part of the global documentary project 100 Portraits of Becoming, features portraits and personal stories exploring family relationships, careers, caregiving and the ambitions people continue to pursue.
The collection is now available through TECNO’s online story archive. The Philippines is the project’s second chapter, following its launch in Kenya in July 2026.
Portraits Tell Stories Beyond a Single Label
Under the theme “See Beyond Labels”, Dass photographed participants in Manila, capturing them in places connected to their everyday lives, including workplaces, family homes and familiar community settings.
The gallery features working solo mothers, adults raised by solo mothers, multigenerational families, overseas Filipino worker caregivers and community advocates supporting women and families.
Rather than presenting one experience as representative of everyone, the project explores how people balance responsibilities, maintain relationships and continue pursuing their own goals.
The announcement cites estimates of 14 million to 15 million solo parents in the Philippines, with women accounting for about 95 per cent. It also reports that 2.19 million Filipinos worked overseas in 2024, of whom 57.2 per cent were women.
These figures provide context for the stories, but the portraits focus on the individuals behind them and the different circumstances that shape their lives.
Three Participants Share Their Experiences
Among the people featured is Ely Haig, an advertising professional, working solo mother and competitive amateur padel player.
When she became a mother, Ely found herself balancing childcare with a career that was gaining momentum. Over time, she worked towards making room for her professional ambitions, her daughter, side projects and her interest in sport.
Her story reflects the idea that caring for a child does not mean giving up one’s own identity or aspirations.
Another participant, Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora, raised two children as a solo mother before turning her experience into community support. She later founded Mothers Advocating through Ministry and Action (MAMA), an initiative that supports solo mothers and their children.
Her approach emphasises the importance of asking for help, communicating openly and building a support network rather than trying to manage every challenge alone.
The gallery also features Eunice N. Angeles, a fourth-year nursing student who grew up with a solo mother who later worked in Qatar as an overseas Filipino worker.
Watching her mother make difficult choices and seek opportunities for their future helped shape Eunice’s own confidence and determination. Her story highlights how a parent’s sacrifices and example can influence the next generation.
Artist Angélica Dass Looks Beyond Labels
For Dass, the project offered an opportunity to understand the people behind a shared social experience.
Through conversations and portrait sessions, she encountered individuals with different relationships, personalities, ambitions and ways of managing everyday life.
The portraits were taken in settings connected to each participant, allowing the project to show more than a posed image. Work, family responsibilities, personal interests and community connections all form part of the wider picture.
The aim is to encourage audiences to see people as individuals, rather than defining them by a single role or circumstance.
Mobile Photography Supports the Global Project
All portraits in the Philippines chapter were captured by Dass using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G, supported by the company’s Universal Tone imaging technology.
TECNO says the technology is designed to represent a broad range of human skin tones more accurately in mobile photography. The company sees it as part of a wider effort to make portrait photography more expressive and inclusive.
Jack Guo, TECNO’s general manager, said the Philippines stories showed how motherhood, professional ambitions and personal identity can exist together in a person’s life.
The 100 Portraits of Becoming project will continue over two years across five countries, building a global archive of 100 portraits and the stories behind them.
With the Philippines edition now added to the collection, the project continues to explore how people’s lives extend beyond the labels others may place on them.
Source: PR Newswire | Rewritten By Minutesmy
Picture Credit : PR Newswire
