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Aidha’s Annual Unspoken Life Photography Exhibition 2023

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 seeking a brighter future for themselves and their families.

The featured photographs below are taken by MDWs as part of Aidha’s Unspoken Life Photography Competition 2023. Photographs are available for sale, and all proceeds will go towards Aidha, a locally registered charity dedicated to empowering and uplifting MDWs in Singapore.

Kindly note that you will receive the photograph(s) about two weeks after the confirmed order, and self-collection will only occur at the Aidha Office (748A North Bridge Road, Singapore 198716).

Please contact [email protected] if you have any other enquiries, and we will get back to you within two working days.

Cost of photographs:
Without frame: With frame:
A4 $100 A4 $110
A3 $115 A3 $130

Unspoken Life 2023

Photograph 1: Jean E. Ragual

Photograph 2: Agnes Tono

Photograph 3: Jean E. Ragual

Photograph 4: Janelyn Vergara

“In the broad daylight of the city’s luxury, is a haunting lament passing through walls, and you will only be able to listen if you’ll touch the rough edges and press your ears close. Hear the mumbles dampened in a different tune of those whose feet are not the same as yours, but singing the same song of yearning grasses home.”

Photograph 5: Rosaly Mae dela Cruz

Photograph 6: Indah Pravitasari

Photograph 7: Jean E. Ragual

Photograph 8: Eli Nur Fadilah

Photograph 9: Sholekah

Working as a domestic worker has changed my life a lot. I remember when I was young, I dreamed of being a kindergarten teacher. My parents could not afford to pay for my education, so I decided to look for a job as a nanny in Indonesia after I graduated from secondary school. After 3 years working as a nanny, I decided to go to Singapore to gain more experience. Once I arrived, I faced some difficulty with the language as I had not learned any English except for the words “Yes” or “No”. I am so glad that my first employers were very patient with me and taught me how to speak English. I also bought an English dictionary to help me improve and communicate more with the family I worked with. After a couple of years, I spoke better English, and better communication with people around me. I gained more experience with different families looking after kids. My main job is to look after them when their parents are not able to. Being a part of their lives has changed me a lot. Kids are very beautiful, pure, and innocent, but sometimes they can be difficult. They teach me how to be a kind, patient, and a loving person. I am really enjoying and am happy working as a helper. I didn’t realise that 13 years had passed, and I still love it.

Photograph 10: Tina Esmas

My trip to New Zealand. Everywhere you go in New Zealand, there are some exciting and beautiful places to visit. Wanaka Tree or also known as Wanaka Willow, is one of the places we visited. I am grateful and thankful to my employer and family for giving me a chance to visit New Zealand.

Photograph 11: Jaena Donor

I like to capture very deep emotions and feelings with every one of my pictures. The pictures I take captures life in Singapore in different locations and of different people. There are people who work tirelessly under the scorching sun for their families – both foreigners and locals.

Photograph 12: Agnes Tono

Photograph 13: Agnes Tono

Photograph 14: Alma Daquelana Maderse

This picture was taken last May during my holiday back home in the Philippines. I was so inspired and happy to meet up with my old friends, families and the new members in our ‘friendchef’ – we call ourselves ‘friendchef’ because we love cooking (and eating)! I was so amazed with my friend who had a 3-month-old baby as she managed to meet us in General Santos City all the way from Cebu City. Spending time with her at one of the most beautiful private resorts in Sarangani was an amazing experience – especially with the sea breeze and a beautiful sunset. I captured this photo of her with her baby, Vernice, because it the scene touched my heart. This picture tells me that a mother promises her daughter that she’s in good hands, is well protected, is her princess, is her precious, is her life and blood – a priceless gift as a mother. Indeed, I felt I had experienced the most unforgettable Mother’s Day in that blessed moment.

Photograph 15: Indah Pravitasari

Photograph 16: Janelyn Vergara

Photograph 17: Ernawati

Photograph 18: Cristina Belingon

Photograph 19: Jumiati

Photograph 20: Eli Nur Fadilah

This is my best friend, Yati, and her husband. Yati and her husband are both farmers. She was my classmate in Aidha Module 1 (if I’m not mistaken). While I can’t recall which year we were together, we still remain business partners to this day. Just this year I invested in her farm and have been earning my profit. Aidha gave us both lifelong knowledge and friendship.

Photograph 21: Charo Gabay Sidon

Our friendship endured over a decade, weathering life’s challenges. We empowered one another to grow, embracing new experiences at Aidha. This journey shaped us into responsible individuals. In our 10 years together, we treated each other as family through thick and thin, success and failure. This bond, named “Kakabsat” or ‘Sisters’, aided us in our spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being, strengthening us to face life’s battles while far from home. Together, we aimed to create brighter futures for our loved ones, forming a family in a foreign land, committed to being lifelong sisters.

Photograph 22: Lina Porras

Photograph 23: Cristina Belingon

Beyond Aidha. Mentoring really helped me with my Personal Financial Plan. Enrolling in this class makes me realise that there are things that I needed to learn when it comes to personal financial growth. In class, I would hear a lot of stories from my fellow classmates about their past experiences. I learned to take their their experiences as a lesson for myself; so that the mistakes and hardships they had gone through wouldn’t happen to me.

Photograph 24: Sholekah

Past Winners

Photograph 25: Overall Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Ana Rohana

Photograph 26: Category 1 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Lanny Turalba

Photograph 27: Category 2 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Jean E. Ragual

Photograph 28: Category 3 Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Nurul Adim

Photograph 29: People's Choice Winner of Unspoken Life 2022, Annje Galfo

Photograph 30: 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 31: 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 32: 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 33: 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 34: People's Choice Winner of Unspoken Life 2020, Loida Natividad