When I was a little boy, I always looked forward to the letters my father sent from Saudi
Arabia. He would usually send a large envelope with individual letters for me, my mom,
and my two siblings. Sometimes, he included photos that showed how his life was going
as an overseas Filipino worker. We'd write back, often including a few of our own recent
photos, and we'd usually send him a list of things we wanted him to bring home when he
returned for vacation. More than anything, though, we were excited just to have him back
with us.
Those letters were a source of joy for us, but as a child, I didn't fully understand the
longing my father was expressing in his words. It's only now, as a parent myself, that I
truly get how hard that distance must have been for him.
I've been an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai for more than ten years, and as a dad, I've
met many other parents in the same situation. While technology has made it easier to
stay connected through quick messages or video calls, some emotions are better
conveyed through a handwritten letter or a photograph— something tangible that carries
more of the heart behind it.
For this project, I asked five Filipino mothers working in Dubai, whom I personally know
and have been friends with for years, to write heartfelt handwritten letters to their
children, pouring their love, longing, and hopes onto paper. Using a Polaroid camera with
black-and-white film, I hoped to capture the emotion behind their words in their
portraits.
Once the project is finished, I'll be mailing these letters and portraits to their children—a
small way to help bridge the distance, be it physical or emotional, and remind them of the
love their mothers hold for them.
