Where I’m from

I was born in the Philippines, the grandson of Chinese refugees. I grew up in a small, insulated Chinese community—less than 1% of a country of over 100 million. At 17, I immigrated to Canada. Years later, I moved to Singapore, fulfilling a long-held dream. There, I was both foreign and familiar—Chinese by blood, expat by circumstance.

I don’t photograph identity. I photograph what being in-between allows me to notice. The way someone gestures when the language isn’t shared. The rhythm of a street you don’t belong to, but walk daily. The glance offered without obligation.

I’m not looking for belonging. I’m watching for moments when presence cuts through difference.