A woman can be a mother, breadwinner, professional, athlete, daughter, community leader, and dreamer. Yet society often sees only one label. A new portrait project by TECNO and internationally acclaimed artist Angélica Dass is challenging that narrow perspective by putting 20 Filipino stories in the spotlight.
The Philippines chapter of 100 Portraits of Becoming, unveiled on October 26, 2026, features 20 individuals in Manila whose lives intersect with solo motherhood in different ways. Through portraits and personal narratives, the collection explores the many identities, relationships, responsibilities, and ambitions that shape Filipino family life.
Titled “See Beyond Labels,” the Philippine gallery is now part of TECNO's global story archive, inviting audiences to look beyond the circumstances that define a person's public identity and understand the individual behind them.
20 Filipino Stories That Go Beyond One Identity
Not everyone featured in the collection is a solo mother. The 20 participants represent different perspectives connected to solo motherhood, including women raising children independently, adults who grew up with solo mothers, members of multigenerational families, OFW caregivers, and advocates who work closely with women and families.
Their experiences offer a broader look at how Filipino families navigate work, caregiving, financial responsibilities, relationships, and personal aspirations.
The project also reflects the realities of a country where women play significant roles in both family life and the workforce.
The Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that 2.19 million Filipinos worked overseas in 2024. Women accounted for 1.25 million, or 57.2% of the total OFW population. These figures provide a glimpse into the many family arrangements shaped by overseas employment and the contributions of Filipino women working abroad.
Behind the numbers are personal stories of mothers, daughters, caregivers, and families finding ways to move forward.
Three Women, Three Different Stories of Becoming
Among the participants whose stories are highlighted are Ely Haig, Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora, and Eunice N. Angeles. Their experiences illustrate how identity goes beyond a single family role.
Ely Haig: Motherhood and the freedom to pursue personal ambitions
Ely Haig is a solo working mother, breadwinner, advertising professional, and competitive amateur padel player.
When she became a mother just as her career was gaining momentum, she temporarily stepped back from professional opportunities to focus on caring for her family. Over time, she found ways to balance motherhood with her career, personal projects, and passion for padel.
For Ely, being a devoted mother should not mean giving up the other parts of herself.
“Being a good mother shouldn’t mean leaving yourself behind,” she said. She hopes people will recognize her not only as a solo mother but also as a creative, career woman, and athlete who continues to grow.
Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora: Building a community of support
After raising two children as a solo mother, Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora turned her personal experience into an opportunity to help others.
She founded MAMA, or Mothers Advocating through Ministry and Action, an initiative that supports solo mothers and their children.
Her approach centres on asking for help, communicating openly, and building a dependable support network.
“Sometimes the strongest thing a mother can do is say, ‘I need help,’” she shared.
Her story highlights the importance of community support and the understanding that parenting does not have to be an isolated journey.
Eunice N. Angeles: Carrying forward a mother's determination
For fourth-year nursing student Eunice N. Angeles, the experience of growing up with a solo mother who eventually worked as an OFW in Qatar shaped her outlook on life.
She witnessed her mother's determination to find opportunities and make difficult decisions to build a better future for their family.
That example became part of how Eunice sees herself and approaches her own ambitions.
“I want people to see what I grew up with: confidence, determination and the courage to find my own way,” she said.
Her perspective adds another dimension to the collection, showing how the experiences of solo mothers can influence the confidence and aspirations of their children well into adulthood.
Angélica Dass Looks Beyond the Labels
For Angélica Dass, the Philippine chapter provided an opportunity to understand the individual stories behind a shared social experience.
Rather than presenting the participants solely through the lens of solo motherhood, the photographer explored their different personalities, ambitions, relationships, and everyday experiences.
“What stayed with me was the realization that ‘solo motherhood’ is only one part of a person's identity,” Dass said. She emphasized that every person has ambitions, relationships, choices, and dreams that cannot be captured by a single label.
The portraits were photographed in locations across Manila that reflected the participants' everyday lives, including workplaces, family homes, and familiar community spaces.
This approach gives the collection a more personal dimension. Instead of relying on conventional representations of motherhood, the project allows each participant's surroundings and individual story to help shape how they are presented.
How TECNO CAMON Slim 5G and Universal Tone Support the Project
Beyond its social storytelling, the project also highlights TECNO's approach to mobile imaging.
All 20 Philippine portraits were captured by Dass using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G, supported by the brand's Universal Tone imaging technology.
TECNO developed Universal Tone to improve the representation of different human skin tones in mobile photography. The technology is intended to capture a broader spectrum of complexions with greater accuracy.
For a portrait project centred on individuality and representation, this imaging capability supports the creative direction of presenting people more authentically.
The initiative also connects with the CAMON Slim 5G's “Make It Lighter” philosophy, which TECNO positions around making expressive photography more accessible and intuitive.
Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO, said the Philippine chapter demonstrated how motherhood, professional ambitions, and personal identity can coexist in the same life.
The collaboration brings together photography and technology in a project that encourages people to reconsider how they see and represent others.
From Kenya to the Philippines: A Global Portrait Project
The Philippines is the second chapter of 100 Portraits of Becoming, following the project's launch in Kenya in July 2026.
The two-year initiative aims to bring together 100 portraits across five countries: Kenya, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Brazil.
While the Kenyan chapter explored how people move beyond inherited narratives about their place and future, the Philippine collection focuses on family, identity, and the different roles people carry.
As the project expands, its growing archive will feature more individuals and stories that reflect the complexity of human experiences.
More than a collection of photographs, the project offers a reminder that people are never defined by just one chapter of their lives. A mother can have ambitions beyond motherhood. A daughter can carry her mother's determination while pursuing her own dreams. And a woman can hold many identities without having to choose just one.
Sometimes, seeing someone more clearly begins with looking beyond the label.
