TECNO and internationally acclaimed artist Angélica Dass today unveiled the Philippines portrait gallery of 100 Portraits of Becoming. Featuring portraits of 20 compelling people and personal stories, the new collection is live on TECNO’s global story archive. 100 Portraits of Becoming is a two-year global documentary portrait project, spanning five countries and powered by TECNO Universal Tone imaging technology. The Philippines marks its second chapter, following its successful launch in Kenya.

Philippines Portrait Gallery of “Seeing Beyond Labels”

For the Philippine chapter, themed “See Beyond Labels,” Angélica Dass photographed 20 individuals in Manila whose lives intersect with solo motherhood in diverse ways. The gallery honors a powerful truth: behind every societal label is a human life shaped by many roles, deep relationships and personal ambitions, reminding us that no one should be defined by a single societal label or a single title like “solo mom”.

This creative direction is rooted in the realities of Filipino family life. According to publicly available data, the country has an estimated 14 to 15 million solo parents, with women accounting for about 95% of them. An estimated 2.19 million Filipinos worked overseas in 2024, with women making up 57.2% of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW). Behind these figures are individual lives that are far more layered. This is the space the Philippines chapter sets out to explore.

Captured on the CAMON Slim 5G with TECNO Universal Tone, the Philippines chapter of 100 Portraits of Becoming naturally connects with CAMON Slim 5G’s “Make It Lighter” philosophy, using technology to make expressive photography feel more accessible, intuitive and open to more people.

The Stories Behind the Portraits of 20 People

Through their portraits, that broader context becomes personal, revealing very different experiences of work, family, care and becoming.

Angélica Dass taking portrait photos in Manila

Some stories come from working solo mothers themselves. Others are told through the perspectives of adults raised by solo mothers, multi-generation families, Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) caregivers, and media or community advocates who work closely with women and families. These diverse narratives highlight a pervasive challenge: the social tendency to let a single label define an individual's entire life and capability.

To challenge these stereotypes, their discussions addressed core questions surrounding work, family, and identity - How does motherhood intersect with professional ambition? How do grown children raised in solo-parent families reflect on their upbringing? And what structural support, choices and personal wisdom help families navigate everyday life?

Ultimately, these stories reveal a richer, more nuanced picture of modern family life of solo mothers and women in general: women building fulfilling careers while raising children, multi-generational networks sharing caregiving responsibilities, adults drawing strength from the mothers who raised them, and individuals continuously pursuing their own ambitions.

Portraits of 20 people connected to solo motherhood

Portraits of 20 people connected to solo motherhood from the Philippines chapter now are joining the global 100 Portraits of Becoming on TECNO’s official website, where their images and stories can be explored together.

Her Many Ways of Becoming

Among the 20 participants is Ely Haig, a solo working mother, breadwinner, advertising professional and competitive amateur padel player.

Ely became a mother just as her career was taking off. For a time, she stepped back from opportunities and focused on taking care of everyone around her. Later, she found a different kind of diskarte: knowing what matters to her, then finding ways to make room for her career, her daughter, side projects and padel.

“Being a good mother shouldn’t mean leaving yourself behind,” said Ely. “I want people to see more than a solo mom. A mother, yes, but also a creative, a career woman, an athlete, still becoming.”

The Portrait of Ely Haig

Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora raised two children as a solo mother before turning her own experience into community support. She later founded MAMA, Mothers Advocating through Ministry and Action, an initiative supporting solo mothers and their children. Her diskarte is simple: ask for help, communicate openly and build a village. “Sometimes the strongest thing a mother can do is say, ‘I need help,’” she said.

The Portrait of Twinkle Dimayuga Zamora

Eunice N. Angeles, a fourth-year nursing student, was raised by a solo mother who later became an OFW in Qatar. Growing up, she watched her mother keep finding opportunities and making difficult choices to create a better future for them both. That confidence became something Eunice feels she inherited. “I want people to see what I grew up with: confidence, determination and the courage to find my own way.”

The Portrait of Eunice N. Angeles

These stories reflect different expressions of their own diskarte: the wisdom, resourcefulness and choices women draw on to navigate life in their own way. More stories from the 20 portraits can be explored in the Philippines gallery of 100 Portraits of Becoming, part of TECNO’s global story archive.

An Opportunity to See Behind the Portraits

For Angélica Dass, the Philippines chapter is an opportunity to move from a shared social context to the individual lives within it. Across the 20 portraits, she encountered different ambitions, relationships, personalities and ways of navigating everyday life.

Renowned photographer Angélica Dass captures portraits using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G in Manila, Philippines.

“What stayed with me was the realization that ‘solo motherhood’ is only one part of a person's identity. Through the stories shared with me and the moments we created during the portrait sessions, I was reminded that behind every label there is a person with their own ambitions, relationships, choices, and dreams. No single label can tell us everything about who someone is.”

To ground these stories in authenticity, the portraits were photographed on location across Manila in environments directly tied to each participant’s daily life—whether a workplace, a family home, or a familiar community space.

The creative approach echoes the campaign’s core philosophy: leaving space to portray work, ambition, relationships, humour and daily routines — the rich parts of everyday life that extend far beyond a single role or a single label.

From Kenya to the Philippines, and Beyond

All portraits in the Philippines were photographed by Angélica Dass using the TECNO CAMON Slim 5G, supported by TECNO Universal Tone technology.

TECNO Universal Tone was developed to more accurately represent a broad spectrum of human skin tones in mobile photography. Within 100 Portraits of Becoming, that capability supports a wider idea at the heart of the project: seeing people as they are, with greater accuracy and attention to individuality.

“What moved us about the Philippines chapter was seeing how naturally motherhood, work, ambition and personal identity can coexist in the same life,” said Jack Guo, General Manager of TECNO. “We hope technology can play a small part in helping people be seen more fully, and their stories better understood.”

The Philippines marks the second stop of 100 Portraits of Becoming, following the project’s launch in Kenya in July 2026. Over two years, the initiative will bring together 100 portraits across multiple countries, building a story archive of people, stories and possibilities.

In Kenya, the project explored how people move beyond inherited narratives about place and the future. In the Philippines, the lens turns to family, identity and the roles people carry, looking beyond the first label to the person, the people around her, and who she is still becoming.

And with the Philippines now joining the archive, more portraits, more stories and more ways of becoming are still to be unveiled in more countries.

Femme, a Filipino hygiene brand known for its affordable and high-quality care essentials, is bringing Praktikal U, a campus-inspired experience for young Filipinas, to the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City on November 7, 2026. Centered on practical everyday choices and experiences that shape womanhood, the event will feature learning sessions, interactive booths, and a special appearance by celebrity and Femme brand ambassador Shuvee Etrata.

Styled after campus life, Praktikal U invites the public to take part in activities that reflect the experiences of Filipinas as they navigate different stages of growing up. Attendees can explore interactive booths, learn more about Femme products, and engage in segments that highlight practical everyday choices.

A key component of the program is PodClass, a series of discussions on self-confidence, personal growth, women's health, and other experiences that shape womanhood. The “Podfessors” for the sessions are influencers Kevin Montillano, Sela Guia, Aira Lopez, Dani Buenvenida, Eryka Lucas, and Jy Marie, who will share their insights and perspectives, providing an accessible space for participants to exchange ideas and engage with subjects relevant to their everyday lives.

Shuvee will share personal experiences and advice in an onstage segment. She will also spend time with the day’s batch of classmates through fun activities and a meet-and-greet. The program will also feature classroom-inspired games, including Pop Quiz and Girl Math.

The event builds on Femme’s “Your Bes Femme” positioning, which presents the brand as a companion to women in their daily routines and personal care. Femme defines being practical as understanding personal needs, weighing available choices, and choosing what works best for each lifestyle.

“We recognize that growing up comes with different experiences, questions, and decisions, and we believe young Filipinas deserve spaces where they can learn, share, and feel understood. Through Praktikal U, we want to bring practical tips closer to them, while making the experience enjoyable through activities and opportunities to connect with others,” said Jazel Marielli A. Ramos Yeo, Marketing Communications Manager of SCPA.

“Comfort and confidence are part of how women approach their daily routines. We hope Praktikal U  brings these perspectives into conversations about personal care and the choices women make for themselves,” she added.

Students, young professionals, and other interested Filipinas are invited to take part in Praktikal U and its discussions and activities. Through its combination of learning sessions and interactive segments, the event aims to bring young women together around topics and experiences relevant to their everyday lives.

Femme Praktikal U runs on November 7, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, at the Market! Market! Activity Center in Taguig City. Participants can enjoy full access to the event by purchasing the exclusive product bundle, which includes a Praktikal U passport and ID. Selected areas, such as the pouch and patch booth, will be accessible without a bundle purchase.

For more information, interested participants may visit Femme's official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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