From Cres' blog post...

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On 23 June 2007, Blank Space & Foto Baryo will feature the collaborative work of students and teachers in a photography exhibit entitled, “Natural Lang” at the Blank Space Gallery in Paranaque. This is the climax of an intensive five-month workshop conducted by Emily Schiffer, a Fulbright scholar and New York native. Inspired by a one-day Polaroid workshop organized by Fernando Afable in February 2006, Emily came to the Philippines to facilitate six different photography workshops in six weeks. It was the young students of one class that stood out: smart, eager, and articulate, they produced stunning images for a beginner class. The way they saw their subjects and photographed them was exactly what she and Fernando hoped for – they saw beauty in unimaginable places.

The students come from different communities in the Paranaque area, one of which is the Tropical Palace community. Once a luxury resort, the Tropical Palace was razed by fire in the late 70s. Until its rehabilitation five years ago, the area was a den for crime and drugs. The church was instrumental in the transformation of the area to a safe and peaceful community. It serves as a strong spiritual guide and community center to the families living there. Health classes and parenting workshops facilitate growth and development, while an education fund ensures the futures of young residents. Passion and a strong sense of community now characterize Tropical Palace, and this change is most evident in the children. Emily was awarded a Fulbright scholarship that enabled her to return to the Philippines and mentor the group of youth leaders. Tropical Palace was selected as the project site. Five months of intensive photography classes guided the students through basic and advanced photography, and through them, a deeper appreciation of life at Tropical Palace.



“Natural Lang” celebrates the honesty of introspections and interactions at Tropical Palace. The project captures the natural ability of children to embrace love, fear, pain, and joy, unimpeded by mental and emotional boundaries that adults set. It also parallels the experiences of the students as they learned photography and immersed themselves within the community, that the audience may share their clarity of vision. “For us, the images are not about poverty; that would be superficial,” shares Emily. “They’re about these children as individuals. We hope that people will appreciate the complexity of their situation, and the elements that come into play in their lives.” The dynamics between all participants provided the project its wings. The quality of interaction allowed a natural and intimate engagement in community life. Young children constantly surrounded and played with the artists and students as they photographed. Residents proudly display black-and-white prints on the walls of their homes. They have also become comfortable enough to acknowledge their emotions in the presence of the group. The teacher-student relationship evolved to co-photographer/colleague, as the group shared experiences and perspectives with one another. The entire spectrum of vision is captured by the project, with each participant contributing his or her unique set of values and level of understanding. Students who consider Tropical Palace home provided insiders’ perspectives, while the others were encouraged to invest five months of time and effort to gain trust and acceptance from the community.

Further, Emily’s view is defined by her connection with her students, and shaped by her growing awareness of the culture as a foreigner. The students’ perspectives are influenced by their character, as by individual backgrounds. The variety of perspectives featured in the exhibit – individual in their nuances yet singular in vision – is the strength of the project. It is the long-term vision of the Foto Baryo Paranaque Project, however, that further distinguishes it from the other endeavors of the school. In preparation for her departure, Emily has mentored her students to assume her role as teacher to future students in the community. The group hopes that the images produced by this set of students and the students after them will enable the school to track the effects of the program on the community. Without a doubt, the celebration of renewed perspective has empowered the students to create art and forge better futures for themselves and others.

“Natural Lang” will run from 16 June to 11 August 2007 at the Blank Space Gallery, 0431 Quirino Ave. Paranaque.


"Natural Lang" is curated by Claro Ramirez
Invite designed by Rina Malonzo