Girl Unobserved

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Mom

Thank you for being the best mother I could ever ask for. You’re the perfect combination of mom and “cool friend” (most of the time at least) and there isn’t a day that I’m not grateful for you. Over the years you’ve taught me many important things about proper behavior, kindness, the world- it would be impossible to list all of them down here, really. But on this mothers day I’d like to especially thank you for teaching me that in all things, we should love. This is something I live by, and when I have children of my own, will teach them as well.

Happy mothers day! I love you!

Laos, December 2011

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Little Girl and the Sea

Boracay, 2012

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Somewhere in the Crowd

Joined that mass of humanity that felt like the entire population of Metro Manila at the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Pampanga last Sunday. While all eyes were on the Hot Air Balloons pre launch, I noticed this dad and his son. 

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A Nanay in Payatas

I found myself in Payatas two weeks ago for work where I met this nanay (mother) who told us about how proud she was of her children and how she dreamt of better lives for all of them. We met her in her small home which she shared with her husband and 18 other people composed of their children, their children’s spouses, and their grandchildren. She was a very interesting woman. I thought she had a face that told stories of what her life has been like. 

Payatas, November 2011. 

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The Little Girl Who Knew She Was an Artist

I saw this little girl drawing flowers as I waited for my family outside one of the indoor exhibits in the Roman Forum. Her dad was kind enough to not pass judgement on me as a creeper and to let me take a photo of her. 

Rome, Italy. April 2011.

Portraits of Payatas

Some of the kids I met over the two years I taught at Payatas. I find it absolutely amazing that despite the fact that Payatas is quite literally a community within a dumpsite, I hardly ever came across a kid to photograph who was unsmiling. 

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Vince and Billie

I think you two will always be my favorite.