In 2023, when Typhoon Egay knocked out cell towers across Luzon, it was Amanda’s ad hoc network — powered by car batteries and sheer stubbornness — that relayed rescue requests from Marikina to Manila City Hall. The professionals arrived late. The amateurs, led by a woman with a duct-taped antenna and a smile like a smuggler, had already saved a dozen families.
She is the lead curator at World Press Photo and has served on juries for prestigious photo awards in the region [8].
Q: How has social media impacted the Manila amateurs? A: Social media has provided a global stage for the Manila amateurs to showcase their work and connect with audiences, promoting their individual talents and fostering a sense of community.
Amanda’s subjects rarely smile. They look tired, contemplative, or surprised. Capture the moment between poses—when the model adjusts their hair or looks off-camera to check for rain.
