2024 was a busy, busy, busy year. I got married to @mattliiim , went on with some photo projects I had delayed until after the wedding, opened a coffee shop (@aslowlifecoffee.ph ) in Rosario, La Union and had to LDR for some months until the staff were confident enough to hold down the fort on their own (this took until early 2025 though)
My mama saw how consumed I was with all the new responsibilities in that season of my life so she forwarded a promo text from Cathay, advertising a buy one take one promo on tickets. So setting aside my anxiety and worry, Matt and I flew to HK in October without any itinerary whatsoever. This would be our first ever vacation as a coupleā 8 months after tying the knot! With all the busyness, we forgot to even plan an actual honeymoon š
We both havenāt been to HK in ages (over a decade for me) so it was such a nice change of pace to have no expectations and just take in the new environment. In usual Iya fashion, I am posting this incredibly late lol but with another HK trip coming up (this time with Mattās side of the family!) I might as well share some snaps before my backlogs pile up even more. āš¼
So this is Day 1 of #MattandIyavsHK2024 hehe
#mattandiyavstheworld
Backstage at the Snarky Puppy show in Manila last week.
@karposlive thanks so much again for having me! Never thought Iād ever see @snarkypuppy play locally. A dream come true to experience their music in person! š„ŗāØ
Today the Philippine National Brewers Champion (2024) @lui.selorio will be competing at the World Brewers Championship in Jakarta against the best of the best coffee brewers around the world. A fighting chance many years in the making with all of Lui (and his teamās) efforts leading up to this moment at the world stage.
I hope that everyone can support him as he does his service at 5:44pm (MNL time). It will be livestreamed online (link in my stories!) God bless you, Lui!! You make the country proud!!!
Ok fine, throwing in a few favorites from @wanderlandfest 2023 as well. Since I donāt post much online š
This was one of my favorite festival years as itās practically indescribable to witness Phoenixās Thomas Mars finally able to crowd surf through the Manila crowd + CRJ headlining an Asian festival all in one weekend. Apart from a paaaacked line up that year as well (we have shifts so I donāt get to take photos of everyone). Still so incredibly fun to be there though and feel the rush of it all. Needless to say, Iām excited for tomorrowās 10th edition of the festival!
Some snaps from last yearās @wanderlandfest ! But tomorrow will mark the 10th year of this beloved homegrown festival. 10 years of photographing wildly different musicians and crowds. Thank you @karposmm for having me for the entire ride!
I was going to post stuff from 2013ā pero wag nalang. Most were such a blurā¦literally š So Iām very grateful that this festival + the encouragement of the team helped me grow so much through the decade!! Praying tomorrow will be the best one yet šš½ See you guys at W2025! šš¶āØ
Hehe havenāt posted in a long while! But what better way to break that streak than to celebrate my favorite personās day š
2024 has been the most difficult and challenging year Iāve had to go through so far but would not have been able to face it all if it werenāt for my husbandās stable gentleness and kindness amidst lifeās turbulent storms. Thank God for you, @mattliiim ! Happy birthday! I love you āØ #yuckperosigeeveryday
My dear Iya @eggcheeks . I still remember the first time you attended my class. It was 2010, my very first workshop. You were 16 and eager to explore the world. I didnāt push you to do music full time but told you that music could help you find the path to what your heart desires.
Well here you are with @mattliiim . You met the love of your life through music. (Just like meee haha). Now you are one of the best music photographers in the industry and I will keep calling you my baby even though a big part of your journey you made all your own and now seeing you celebrate this milestone with a rock and roll wedding with none other than @sandwichtheband makes me so happy!
Iāll keep watching and cheering for you and this new wonderful path of yours. Hopefully *crosses fingers* Iām nearby whenever you guys need my help.
I know everythingās going to get even better from here on out. Marriage is one heck of an exciting rollercoaster to infinity. š ā¾ļø #YuckPeroSige lang ng sige! #MattAndIyaVsTheWorld with me and all of your friends as part of your army š«”
Love,
Your NiƱang š„°
69 years of this beautiful soul on earth. Each birthday is a reminder of how youāre such a gift to this world. I love you, mama! āŗļøāØ
ā
(I was fixing some gear for a shoot one afternoon when I went down to get a glass of water. Saw my mom cooking merienda so decided to do test shots with her)
Iāve been meeting with architects and designers lately and we ended up talking about @sine.pop and #Monocle. It made me realize I havenāt shared photos I took for their summer issue last year (Iām bad at posting work on socials so I apologize haha)
It was lovely meeting Carlson of Sine Pop, such a kind soul of a life-giving space. Shooting this assignment felt like a quick retreatā beautiful design really does stir something in people and it was an honor to have experienced that. Would love to go back!
Itās a year later but thanks again @amaraeno !
Took photographs of Dr. Freeman for a recently updated story on @nytimes .
As a Catholic living in the Philippines, itās not everyday that you get to meet an OB-GYN who performed abortions. So thank you for trusting me to take these portraits @stephenreiss
