Xyza Cruz Bacani in San Francisco for exhibit of her works

WATCH: Photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani in San Francisco for her exhibit. INQUIRER/Vic Valbuena Bareng

SAN FRANCISCO — Award-winning Filipino documentary photographer Xyza Cruz Bacani visited San Francisco to promote her photo-story on overseas domestic workers in Hong Kong, where she is currently based.

In spite of starting in photography just recently in 2015, she has accomplished a lot, winning major competitions and getting published in highly respected international news publications.

Bacani’s speaking engagements and university lectures have inspired many young people from various ethnic backgrounds. She is a 2015 Magnum Foundation Photography and Social Justice Fellow, who has won countless major awards such as Forbes 30 Under 30 (Asia) and the BBC’s 100. And has exhibited worldwide, from the Philippines and Singapore to New York and London.
Bacani, came from humble beginnings, working as a domestic worker in Hong Kong for ten years. She gives credit to her mother who raised her while working seven days a week also as a domestic worker.

INQUIRER.net was able to catch her for a short interview when she was a guest lecturer at San Francisco State University in Professor Kim Komenich’s photography class. Bacani said being Filipina, as well as being a person of color and a female, gave her an advantage. She was able to gain more access to stories that male photographers couldn’t have.

Her work was displayed at the Photofairs SF held last February 23-25 at the Fiesta Pavilion in Fort Mason, represented by Christine Park Gallery of London and New York (www.christinepark.net). Bacani plans to return to the United States to promote her new photo book in fall 2018.