Manila now hosts a portrait gallery showcasing the lives of 20 Filipinos whose identities go far beyond the label of solo motherhood. The collection forms part of TECNO and photographer Angélica Dass’s 100 Portraits of Becoming project, which made its debut on October 26, 2026, as the second installment after its launch in Kenya. This two-year global initiative will document 100 individuals across five nations, using photography to explore the stories behind social labels.
The Philippine exhibition, titled See Beyond Labels, includes solo mothers, their adult children, multigenerational households, overseas workers, and community advocates. While government figures estimate the country’s solo-parent population at 14 million to 15 million, with women accounting for 95%, the project shifts attention from broad statistics to individual stories. It explores how motherhood intersects with professional lives, personal passions, and relationships, rather than reducing people to a single role.
Ely Haig, one of the participants, juggles a career in advertising, amateur padel competitions, and family commitments. She temporarily stepped back from work to prioritize her children but later found ways to harmonize all aspects of her life. “Being a good mother shouldn’t mean leaving yourself behind,” Haig said. Her portrait demonstrates the project’s intent: to portray solo mothers as complex individuals.
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Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora, another subject, raised two children alone before founding MAMA (Mothers Advocating through Ministry and Action), a support network for solo parents. Her methods emphasize building connections, open communication, and seeking assistance, lessons drawn from her own struggles. Eunice N. Angeles, a fourth-year nursing student, credits her mother’s perseverance for fueling her own ambitions. Her mother, a solo parent who later worked abroad, made tough sacrifices that instilled in Eunice a resolve to chase her own dreams.
The photographs were taken using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G, which utilizes Universal Tone technology to improve color accuracy for diverse skin tones. Dass captured subjects in their workplaces, homes, and community spaces, ensuring each image authentically reflected their distinct features. Jack Guo, TECNO’s general manager, observed that the project reveals how women manage motherhood, careers, and personal goals at the same time.
This phase follows the project’s initial chapter in Kenya, where the focus lay on home life and future aspirations. The Philippine gallery, however, centers on family structures and the diverse roles individuals adopt. Over the coming two years, TECNO and Dass will extend the initiative to more countries, continuing to document stories that resist rigid classifications.