On Collective Longing

is the result of a four-month journey I took across Germany, seeking out fellow Filipinos, specifically mothers, nurses, overseas workers, grandmothers, and daughters, to listen to their stories and document a glimpse of their lives. At its heart, this project comes from a deeply personal place: my longing to better understand my own mother. Through this work, I explore themes of migration, identity, and intergenerational trauma. I hope these portraits and stories resonate with every mother and child as profoundly as they have with me.

This project excited me for two important reasons: it gave me the opportunity to create representation for Filipinos living in Germany through a photo book, and it allowed me to reconnect with my own culture. Since moving abroad, I had distanced myself from Filipino communities, choosing instead to navigate life alone. But as I began this project, I realized it was time to start speaking my own language again, both literally and creatively.

On Collective Longing is still ongoing, as I continue to seek out and document more stories of Filipinos across Germany, particularly in parts of North Rhine-Westphalia and beyond. There are still so many voices to hear, and I’m committed to honoring and sharing them through this evolving body of work.

The photo book’s second edition is still available in limited copies only.