Photo by Maurice Vellas
A self-portrait
I am a first generation Filipinx-American songwriter, filmmaker, photographer and musical artist from Houston, Texas; the daughter of immigrants who hail from La Union, Philippines. Taking form between these two ethers of the U.S. and The Philippines, stories about rooting / uprooting, redefining identity in context to environment, and the nuances of being queer are what I’m most drawn to both in my personal work and in collaborations, constantly seeking ways to merge disciplines.
My cinematography work has screened at festivals across the U.S. and abroad, most recently including 2023 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner and SXSW Special Jury Award Winner for Vision, “When You Left Me On That Boulevard”. Other notable work includes Asian American coming-of-age short, “Michelle” (2020) and “Jeremiah” (2019), a Cannes Film Festival Official Selection nominated for a Queer Palm.
When I’m not on a film set, I write, record and release music under the moniker, sayang. My debut single, “Catcall & Response” was released in October 2021 alongside its music video counterpart, co-directed by June Third Films. Both works gained critical success from The Austin Chronicle and public radio stations KUTX 98.9 and The Current 89.3.
Currently, I am developing an EP titled, “3AM Philosophy” with collaborator and producer Joel Hinojosa.
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Education - B.S. Radio-Television-Film, The University of Texas at Austin