Aidha’s Annual Unspoken Life Photography Exhibition 2022
Unspoken Life seeks to delve beneath the labels and unfurl the many selves of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) often unseen by Singapore society. This competition and exhibition will applaud and showcase the strength, diversity and creativity of migrant domestic workers who are here seeking a brighter future for themselves and their families.
The featured photographs below are all taken by MDWs as part of Aidha’s Unspoken Life Photography Competition 2022. The three competition categories were: Category 1 – Seeing Ourselves, Category 2 – Stories Around Us, Category 3 – Beyond Aidha. Photographs are available for sale and all proceeds will go towards Aidha’s 2022 Gift of Education fundraising campaign. Do take note that you will receive the photograph(s) about 2 weeks after the confirmed order and collection will only take place at the Aidha Office (748A North Bridge Road, Singapore 198716).
Please contact [email protected] if you have any other enquiries.
Cost of photographs:
Without frame: With frame:
A4 $100 A4 $110
A3 $115 A3 $130
You may purchase the photographs below:
Photograph No.1: Overall Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Ana Rohana
“Social distance practice while watching movies in public. Now that the social distance era is over, this picture reminds us that we used to distance or suspect one another for our safety.”
Photograph No.2: Category 1 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Lanny Turalba
“This was taken during a visit to my previous boss at a nursing facility at Chinese New Year holiday and he passed away 3 days later. This was our last picture together and a very significant moment for me, as a domestic worker and former caregiver for him.”
Photograph No.3: Category 2 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Jean E. Ragual
Freedom of Happiness
“Every situation in our life for us to continue to be happy, we can always choose to see it. Like the pandemic we are experiencing today, we have the chance to see its beauty and its purpose. God gave us this gift to enjoy and appreciate.”
Photograph No. 4: Category 3 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Nurul Adim
“I am so proud of my Little Sisters who are passionate and willing to learn in Aidha on their day off. And as a Big Sister, it is a chance for me gain more knowledge, more friends.”
Photograph No. 5: Indah W. Yosevina
“The silent witness, the lines on the skin my silent witness of what I am going through day by day, the hand that wishes to hold onto dreams is not smooth just like the road outside. Witnesses not only what I am working on each day but also witness what was happening around me. In the middle of uncertain weather, uttering hopes and prayers as the drizzle waved on the bus window, carrying me home after a while breathing the fresh afternoon air. Life has never been easy, but hopes lie ahead.”
Photograph No. 6: Ana Rohana
“This time last year, I often spent my time to write and record my daily life to make myself happy and occupied during the pandemic.”
Photograph No. 7: Nurul Adim
“I am a woman who loves flowers. I want to remember my working journey in Singapore as beautiful as flowers.”
Photograph No. 8: Cristina Belingon
“In my shadows, I saw a girl trying hard to reach her dreams for her family. Behind a good photo you may see on my Facebook, there’s a story you may not hear. In every beautiful smile, there’s a sadness hiding behind. The strong person right there, as you see, may also be crying every night with her weaknesses. What we can see in front of the camera is far from reality.”
Photograph No. 9: Christine Alcazaren
“This photo features the young lady I took care of for 2 years. As her parents are always busy at work, I’m mostly beside her and caring for her needs. When we go to the bus stop, she will always stare at this family who sends their child to take the same bus. Once, she asked me if I had also sent my son to the bus stop when I was in the Philippines. At that moment, I felt a pain deep in my heart. I’m a single parent working far from my son. We might not be in the same situation, but I know what she might have felt is what my son feels also. I only hope my son appreciates my hard work for his future.”
Photograph No. 10: Alma Daquelana Maderse
“When the pandemic hits the world, stress, anxiety and depression is knocking. One of my family back home is victim with this so-called pandemic and the sadness of being far from someone who is so dear in your life is killing me. But I am so lucky to have a boss who is very supportive of my hobbies like photography and baking. It helps me everyday not to think too much about the virus. Capturing these photos at sunset, I know that with faith and prayers, it keeps me moving forward.”
Photograph No. 11: Alma Daquelana Maderse
“When the pandemic hits the world, stress, anxiety and depression is knocking. One of my family back home is victim with this so-called pandemic and the sadness of being far from someone who is so dear in your life is killing me. But I am so lucky to have a boss who is very supportive of my hobbies like photography and baking. It helps me everyday not to think too much about the virus. Capturing these photos at sunset, I know that with faith and prayers, it keeps me moving forward.”
Photograph No. 12: Ana Rohana
“Although looking at the road ahead and the future during the pandemic is dark, but along the way, the one that can bring the light is you, yourself. We never give up!”
Photograph No. 13: Rosita Madrid Sanchez
“This self-portrait of mine always reminds me I’m a warrior in my own battles. Yes, I feel tired… I can rest, but I will never ever give up!”
Photograph No. 14: Jean E. Ragual
Behind Our Smiles
“Behind the happy pictures they post on social media are the nightly mourning and bereavement. If you only know all the sacrifices workers make to deliver them, we need to be strong and continue our lives here because this is for their future and your dream. A simple word from your family and all your stress and problem is gone. You smile, and you feel relieved from all your negative thoughts every day… You have a beautiful life waiting for you; it’s your family. Don’t waste your life simply because of the stress and problems you are experiencing.”
Photograph No. 15: Jean E. Ragual
You Will Hear Us
“Instead of keeping silent, we should use our voices to call out the injustice in the treatment, especially towards migrant workers. We must shout. We must scream for the sake of our migrant workers. Until our voices become hoarse until their pleas are heard until justice is served.”
Photograph No. 16: Sheila Ordoyo
The Checkered Path. Every time I pass this area, I will choose which side to walk on – Red or Gray? But no matter which side, the important thing is that I get home safely. Just like in life, no matter which side and no matter what you go through, the important thing is that you keep moving towards your dreams.
Photograph No. 17: Cristina Belingon
Being an MDW is not easy. One of the hardest part for us is when homesickness attacks us anytime. That sadness of longingness to our loved ones. Having a good bonding with friends or relatives during our off day helps us to lessen our homesickness. But what else MDW can endure when it comes to our family? They will always choose to be far just to give their families a better life.
Photograph No. 18: Jaena Donor
“My pictures were taken in different locations around Singapore during COVID. Pictures mean a lot to me because it was during those periods that I managed to explore Singapore. Every exploration has a lesson for me, I learn that sometimes I may be in a difficult situation, but there is still beauty around me. I can still look around and appreciate nature.”
Photograph No. 19: Nur Aini
“Picture of my mother and my aunt drying corn in my village, back in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.”
Photograph No. 20: Angeline Catapang
“In this photo, my friend and I was walking in Chinatown area and we were amazed at these paintings. It’s a photo of me sitting down and pretending that I’m buying some veggies. It looks real.”
Photograph No. 21: Jumiati
“The workers are taking a break after a long day of working. They don’t need a comfortable pillow or bed, but they just need rest…”
Photograph No. 22: Annje
“We might be strangers at first but through Aidha we become friends and eventually became sisters, we’ve been together since Module 1 and now we are in Module 3. We have this motto: One for all and all for one; together we will work hand on hand to achieve our goal here on Aidha and that is to gain financial literacy and to finish our course no matter how hard it is.”
Photograph No. 23: Jocelyn Mompal
“How people survived in life without doing nothing. We need to start from scratch learn and take action. Like this flower how it will survived of course it needs water and sunlight. But in the beginning you need to plant, cultivate, water so that it will grow and strong. And it will stand firm and blooming then only it can turn into a flower. Like me, I joined Aidha not knowing anything, shy and not confident and no savings. But I did not give up. I learn and learn how to be strong person and confident. This is how Aidha nurtured and motivated me until I grew and become strong that I can be a confident speaker, something I thought I can’t do in my entire life.”
Photograph No. 24: Nurul Adim
“I am so proud of my Little Sisters who are passionate and willing to learn in Aidha on their day off. And as a Big Sister, it is a chance for me gain more knowledge, more friends.”
Photograph No. 25: Ana Rohana
“I’ve met wonderful ladies whom I can share and learn about business also life experience thanks to Aidha. Practice to record spending , saving tracker and monthly goals is the best thing that I learnt from Aidha!”
Photograph No. 26: Overall Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Jean E. Ragual
REST – ‘Relaxation’ is the most common complaint of workers. Overtime with no pay, a lot of work that is not in the task list… But allowing them to rest for a short time is not enough. Don’t give them a single day to rest in a whole month. They are a human being, they feel what you feel every day.
Photograph No. 27: Category 1 Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Sholekah
Keeping Singapore from hunger. Food delivery drivers are valuable key workers. Their service joins that of Singapore key-workers in healthcare, grocery shopping, food preparation, waste disposal and transport to help Singapore overcome COVID-19. Rain or shine our food delivery workers deliver our food, thank you.
Photograph No. 28: Category 2 Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Davy Animas
This group of Indonesian migrant workers were so happy and proud after casting their votes that they took photos of their fingers with purple ink. They made their statements through the photograph that voting is not the only way to participate in how their government being ruled but it’s the quickest and easiest way to send their message across so to be heard despite them being in a different country.
Photograph No. 29: Category 3 Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Eli Nur Fadilah
Coming to Aidha is not only for courses but also one of the best decision I’ve ever made. Every time I saw mothers with their children I always snap a photo. To motivate and empower me, I think of providing my children with a better future. Educating myself is educating my generation. Honestly, I feel jealous as a domestic worker mother to see other mothers with their children. But I know I am here for my children. So, I take it as empowerment.
Photograph No. 30: People’s Choice Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Loida Natividad
I can’t even grasp a perfect word to describe how much a domestic worker loves their employer’s kids. Truly they take care of the kids as their own. But despite their hard work and sleepless nights, they are being underpaid and unappreciated.
