PUSOgraphy

WHAT IS IT?

The name PUSOgraphy is a coined word. PUSO, in Filipino means “heart”. Graphy, of course, is from the word photography which will be the medium. PUSOgraphy is a project that aims to basically spread love to under-privileged Filipino people through photography. It aims to provide them with fun photoshoot experience and prints that they could hang on their wall and give them this beautiful gift to treasure for a lifetime.

The word/name of the project came to me while I was driving (35W). Ha! So I played with it. At first I thought PUSO-grapiya would be nice. Because the word “photography” in Filipino is “potograpiya“. But I thought combining my roots (Philippines) and my new home (USA) would be nice. Done! And then, the use of dash (-) bugged me a bit. It almost felt like there was something in between the word “PUSO” and “graphy”, so the dash was deleted. Then why all caps for the word “PUSO”? I believe that the heart or the passion in the project is what drives the project that is why the word “PUSO” is bigger and bolder.

I will think of the logo design that fits the project. Coming soon!

HOW DID THE IDEA COME ABOUT?

I love Photography. And I love photographing women (I am including men now). And I get conversations with these strong and wonderful women telling me how much they love seeing themselves in their photographs. That I captured them and the different side of them. Some say the photoshoot sessions are life-changing. What they do not realize is that, they are the ones showing these to me. They are the ones touching my life and changing my life. They are the ones teaching me a lot. I meet a lot of kind women who are givers, I feel that energy and experience it that I would like to give back as well. I meet a lot of loving women, and the love seeps through and I want to love more. I meet women who are so confident, they are so comfortable with their own skin and that makes me realize that loving and accepting yourself is more important than what others think or say. Mind you, these women have touched my life in a very subtle way…by showing me… by being an example.

My business goal this year (2015) is to be able to save up enough money to take my 3 kids and my Hubby to the Philippines. To go back so my kids will meet Grandma and their other relatives. To photograph my Mom and my sisters (we do not have a portrait together yet). To photograph family. And then something happened. It started with a thought. “What if I go around the villages in the Philippines and photograph people who hadn’t been photographed before because they couldn’t afford it?” What if I photograph them or their families and give them the photographs as a gift?” That would sooo awesome, right?

The thought of making under-privileged people in the remote villages of the Philippines feel fabulous and look beautiful tickles my heart. Thus, the birth of PUSOgraphy. Shooting for love. That’s what it is. People do not have to pay me. I will style them. Put makeup on them. And give them the same experience that I give women here in the USA. They will have fun for sure. It will be a great experience for them and they get to have the prints to hang in their homes. How wonderful is that?!

BACK IN THE PHILIPPINES

Growing up in the Philippines, as a child, we were poor. My Dad died when I was eight years old. (The reason for his death is another story). My Mom raised us (me and my 3 siblings) with her meager wage doing other people’s laundry by hand (labandera), yes by hand. No washing machines then. She would be paid about P50 (Philippine Peso) which about $1 (USD). Wow! That is what we were living off of?! That’s how poor we were. I could tell you all the little details about living in poverty but I would have to borrow your time. (Maybe I should write a memoir LOL!)

Poverty shows you the difference between what you lack and what others have. But you see, poverty also teaches you to dream, to persevere, to be grateful for what you have, to be resourceful and to create. These qualities has been my greatest strength.

What I am trying to say is, this is a story of just one person. Me. I would love to hear more similar stories of the people I photograph and be able to share them with you. Who knows, you might be able to get something out of it. It might inspire you. Stories are powerful… and every person has one.