SAMA-SAMA

Sama-Sama (Together) is a series of figurative paintings and works on paper examining Filipino cultural beliefs, shared routines and meanings embedded in everyday life.

Through scenes of labour, family gatherings, hospitality, language and inherited superstitions, the series considers how customs shape relationships and behaviour. These works reflect on how traditions create connection and continuity, while also carrying expectations around respect, authority and belonging.

The Spirit of the Kalabaw
August, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
61 x 76.2 x 1.5 cm

The Spirit of the Kalabaw explores the relationship between labour, resilience, and cultural memory. The kalabaw, or water buffalo, is a longstanding Filipino symbol of hard work, endurance and perseverance. Two women are shown working inside a factory, while the suspended form of a kalabaw appears only at the edge of the composition. Neither fully present nor absent, it becomes a witness to the rhythms of labour and the enduring strength carried through everyday work.

Kain na
August, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
50.8 x 61 x 1.7 cm

Translation: “Let’s eat.” Kain Na explores food as a gesture of care, welcome and belonging. A figure invites the viewer to join the table and share a meal. The work reflects on how something as simple as offering food can create a sense of warmth, generosity and connection.

Kontento
August, 2021
Acrylic on Canvas
50.8 x 61 x 1.7 cm

Translation: “Contented.” Kontento explores the sense of fulfilment found in family, presence, and shared routine. An elderly figure watches his family eat, holding a moment of ease and contentment rather than spectacle. The work reflects on the emotional weight of ordinary domestic scenes, where care, memory, and belonging are carried through simple acts of togetherness.

Malas
February 2021
Gouache and Ink on Smooth 300 GSM Watercolour Paper
29.7x42cm

‘Malas’ means ‘bad luck’ in Tagalog. In this piece you see a young woman concentrating on her work in a factory. Her eyes show that she is still alert and aware of her surroundings. She stands by a red ladder, conscious and careful of the ‘malas’ this could bring her if she caught herself crossing under the ladder. A lot of Filipinos, especially older communities, are very superstitious. These cautionary tales would typically be retold to their young ones and persist as habits of memory.

Opo
February 2021
Gouache and Ink on Smooth 300 GSM Watercolour Paper
29.7x42cm

In Tagalog, “Opo” is a term of respect, spoken in place of “yes” when addressing an elder or someone in authority. It embodies the cultural significance of hierarchy and tradition in everyday interactions.  This work captures a moment of attentive listening, a woman taking notes while the word opo quietly shapes the soundscape. Within this politeness lies a question: is opo simply a gesture of reverence, or does it reflect a broader passivity within cultural norms? This piece opens space for reflection on how language can both honour and limit, and on the ways respect and authority are expressed in social exchange.

Muni-Muni
February 2021
Gouache and Ink on Smooth 300 GSM Watercolour Paper
29.7x42cm

‘Muni-Muni’, meaning contemplation in Tagalog, captures a moment of introspection. The work reflects on thoughts and emotions that remain unspoken, offering a more personal perspective within the shared experiences explored in Sama-Sama.

Pondering Thoughts
May, 2020
Ink on Cartridge Paper
14.6 x 21 cm

Reflect
August, 2020
Ink on Cartridge Paper
14.6 x 21 cm

Muni-Muni
May, 2021
Ink on Cartridge Paper
14.6 x 21 cm

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