yasharonquillo

[yasharonquillo]

Hello everyone! 

Maraming salamat po (Thank you so much) for following along and for your support in this Senior Capstone journey! Here are some of my thoughts as I reflect on this semester. 

We did it! 🎓 Wishing everyone a blessed and fruitful future everyone. I know you will be amazing!

Stay creative. 

-Yasha

[yasharonquillo]

Final Update before Finals!

Even in these last few weeks of school, we are still going strong with the Ganda ng Pilipinas project. Granted, I have not been posting as often as I had hoped, but I have been working on other content that I will be posting in the future. 

What’s Been Happening

More Posts! Since the last update, I have added a few more posts to complete the Lake Sebu series. While I have more photos to post from the Philippines, I will be posting them more after the portraits I have been taking so I can still continue posting even after senior project is done! 

Lake Sebu Reel ft Lang Dulay Weaving Center

T’boli Women 

Lang Dulay’s Daughter

Photoshoots. The second phase of my project is well underway. So far I have done four photoshoots featuring Filipinos on Maui who were willing to showcase themselves and their Filipino beauty, characteristics, and stories. 

Here’s a sneak peek of a photoshoot I just finished editing! 

SURPRISE! One more deliverable! I also finished editing my phase 3 deliverable, which was to write, record, and edit a visual love letter to the Philippines. The video reflects on my experience (generalized in a Filipino-American perspective) of rediscovering the beauty of my Filipino identity through gratitude to the country.

For this video, I choose to write a freeform poem and make it sound like an emotional letter. This video was a bit of a challenge to do as I had to make sure the things I said are not too over dramatic and are still my genuine thoughts.  

Watch the FULL video below!

What’s Still Happening in this Next Week and Beyond?

More editing and posting. Since I will be finishing the edits for my photoshoots, I will be posting them gradually on my page, even after graduation. But on my project semester timeline, I think I am about done! 

This has been quite the journey! More reflecting coming soon!

[yasharonquillo]

Week 12: Some more editing + Photoshoot Scheduling

A Quick Overview:

More Instagram Content

The Next Phase begins! 

What’s been happening?

Posting. I have been trying to stay consistent with posting on Instagram. Granted there are a few days missed, but I am still satisfied with the kind and quality of content that is being posted :) Here are a few more posts that I have done since the last update:

Sari-Sari Stores (Photo)

Try a Childhood Favorite With Me (Batchoy) (Reel)

Lake Sebu Pt 1 (Photo Carousel)

Lake Sebu Pt 2 - Seven Falls (Photo/Video Carousel)

Travel Lake Sebu with Me Pt 2 (Reel) I am happy to say that each post is getting a good amount of attention, which are mainly from Filipino Americans. I think this is good and is still in line with my goal of hopefully inspiring them to be proud of their Filipino culture and be able to find beauty in them.

Problem Encountered: Captions are kind of frustrating to do on Instagram reels. For my first reels, I had to create captions using the sticker Instagram has, which transcribes my audio. The problem with this (and it’s expected) is the inaccurate transcriptions, especially with the Filipino words that I say. I do have the option to edit each word one by one, which is fine. However, everytime I accidentally click away from the editing portion, the caption restarts as if I haven’t edited anything. It’s very time consuming!

Aha Moment: I just figured it would be easier for me to just make my own captions using Text on my editing software. I did this for my last reel and it even looks better visually than the sticker Instagram has!

Editing. Of course I have to edit before I even post anything. For photos, I have been editing on Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. For videos, I edit on Final Cut Pro (Premiere is way too slow. 🥲)

Here are a few snapshots of how I create continuous carousels using multiple artboards on Photoshop and making sure everything lines up seamlessly:

Also...editing timeline check! 

Google Form Submissions for Photoshoots. Last week, I also sent out a Google Form to those who answered my poll saying that they are interested in my Project. 

So far, I have 5 responses, which is a good start! 

I will be scheduling the photoshoots for these upcoming weeks. Unfortunately, considering the editing time, I will have to post a lot of these photos AFTER graduation. This is quite fine for me as I do plan on keeping this Instagram running even after I graduate. 

What’s Next

Edit my Philippine Love Letter. As part of my deliverable, I will be making a video love letter to the Philippines where I appreciate its beauty and culture, and just everything I love about it! In a way, it’s a form of ‘romanticizing’ life there, but hopefully this will inspire other Filipinos to have a sense of pride in their Filipino background. 

Schedule and shoot! I will be scheduling the photoshoots with my fellow Filipinos. So exciting!

More to come soon! 

[yasharonquillo]

Weeks 9-11: Edit + Instagram Reels

The Quick Overview: The Instagram page is up and running!

What’s been happening?

I have just been editing and sorting through all my content. While I do have a calendar made on what to post, I honestly have not been keeping up with it as much as I wanted to. But I really try to post as much content as I can (at least three times a week) as I have a lot of posts, reels, and pictures to create. 

A pattern I see in myself is that I edit literally on the day that I want something to be posted. It adds a bit of stress on myself but I know that isn’t really healthy for me personally. While the added pressure motivates me to really push myself and follow through with the deadlines I create for myself, I know there should be a more streamlined way of editing and posting. My goal is to at least edit the day before and post the following day (but that might start tomorrow as I am scheduled to post today and still have not edited 😅). 

Here are the reels and post that I have done in the past two weeks. In each post, I really try to incorporate the beauty of the Philippines (a nod to the title of my project), while putting some fun facts in the caption-- so at least there’s the academic side of it. 

 Travel With Me (Reel)

Mt. Matutum (Video Post)

A Simple Morning in the Baryo (Reel)

Food! (Photo Carousel)

Drive Around my Town with Me (Reel)

Street Food: Green Mangoes (Photo) 

Something I’m still trying to work on / Aha Moments:

So I’m still trying to get used to Instagram reels. I want to use audios that are trending on Instagram, but I don’t necessarily want to edit just straight on the Instagram app -- I am currrently editing on Final Cut Pro as Premiere hasn’t been kind to me in the past weeks. 

Aha Moment #1 (sort of): So far, I tried screen recording popular audios for background music and adding them back in on Instagram, so that it appears not as my original audio, but rather the audio of the original music owner. 

Since I edited with my own sound as well, I just put the music owner on 0 volume, but at least they are still credited. This has worked for two of my reels, and not the most recent one-- which I think is why it significantly has less views. 

Otherwise, that reel just did not stick well to most people. 😅

Aha Moment #2: Reels get a lot more views than regular Instagram Videos. That was really good to know. For reels, the reach is more broad and I got to have viewers who were not even following me. I sure hope they are inspired by Filipino culture and landscapes! 

Self Revelation: It takes me about 3 hours to edit a reel. Yes a simple 1 minute video takes me at least three hours. I guess that’s just my perfectionism acting up. But hey at least I am still enjoying myself (but also stressful). I need to speed it up a little bit. Also, I work best in coffee shops. It’s a productive but expensive place to work in.

Aha Moment #3: As I was posting my content, it all seemed so random at times. There were times where I questioned how my content is tying to the overall theme of "beauty,” as my initial topic was about cultural identity and the standards of beauty. After conversing with Sharla, I am realizing that even experiences can be beautiful, not just pure visuals. So even though I am posting about food or driving or just random things I see on the street, I am also learning that there is beauty in everything, and in every moment. We just have to open our eyes and be more mindful bout it. Therefore they are worth capturing. 

What’s Next: Ganda ng Pilipians Phase 2

I have begun planning the next phase of my Senior Project which I will mainly working on in April. 

To explain, there is somewhat of a double meaning in the name Ganda Ng Pilipinas

The first is a description: Ganda or Kaganda ng Pilipinas = The Philippines is Beautiful. 

Thus, I am currently showing what I saw while I was there. The place that our family, our roots, are from is beautiful. The simple moments, the people, the food, the landscapes...all of what makes the Philippines the Philippines is beautiful.

The second is sort of an introduction: Ganda ng Pilipinas = The Beauties from the Philippines.

This will be the people, even outside of the Philippines, but are immigrants  or are Filipino by blood. We are all beautiful, in our own Filipino way. 

The next phase of the Instagram project is a photo campaign that will advocate for acceptance and self love of our Filipino physical characteristics. There is sometimes some shame associated with our appearance, thus the advent of skin whitening product and the attempt to reshape our face. This will strive to promote that beauty is beyond standards-- that we ultimately should not judge based one what we see. Beauty is feeling confident and joyful about the skin we are in. For Filipinos, that just happened to be “kayumanggi” or brown. 

But hey, it’s beautiful!

So I am offering to do FREE photoshoots to those who are interested in helping me out. I am thankful to have already established some sort of reputation for photography, so the fact that people are interested and are trusting me in a free shoot is such an honor.

Will do more updates on this soon! 

[yasharonquillo]

Laptop is back up and running 😁 First reel is finally in the works!

[yasharonquillo]

Week 8.5: Slow Laptop Issue 💻🥺

So I overestimated the power of my poor laptop. It shouldn’t be this slow (Macbook Pro 2018), but it just is right now, sadly. I have been trying to sort out my files and edit since yesterday but I can barely see my media content on both Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X. My intended reel for today might be posted later than expected.

I am currently making proxies for faster editing.

Anybody else have other solutions?

[yasharonquillo]

Week 8: Back to Maui

And just like that, I am back in Maui!

This past month was a really fulfilling and educational experience for me. I not only got to rediscover the beauties of my hometown, but I also got to explore areas beyond my province. So blessed!

Unfortunately, with all the gallivanting my family and I have been doing, I haven’t been posting as much on my Instagram as I hoped. I decided to give myself grace on this end as I just wanted to spend as much time with my Philippine family and friends before I leave again for xx years. That said, I just updated my posting schedule so that all of the content I got from the Philippines will be posted in March-April. I am editing A LOT, so I am still sorting through all the footage. Hoping to post something tomorrow! 

So this weekend and in the upcoming weeks, I will be editing and posting. I will also begin to contact Fil-Ams on Maui to begin the next phase of my project.

More to come soon!

[yasharonquillo]

Week 6: Ang Ganda ng Pilipinas! 🇵🇭💛

“How beautiful is the Philippines!” 

These past two weeks, I have been exploring my hometown and other surrounding communities in the province, documenting both big and little moments that occur. In the first weeks that I have arrived, I have been just passively shooting what I am experiencing. However, lately, I’ve been intending to bring my camera almost everywhere now.

Here are some major highlights and progress recently:

Slight change of deliverables. I have decided to make Instagram Reels instead of doing YouTube vlogs. Reels are gaining more favor in Instagram recently (as it appears to try to compete with the popularity of Tiktok). And since most of my intended audience are on Instagram, I thought Instagram Reels would be a great place to do the videos. Also, it has been a challenge taking my actual DSLR camera around as my family and I explore our province, so at least with Reels, phone footage would still work. I still have lots of camera footage to add though!

Created a posting schedule and posting plan. 

A little hiccup: Because we have unexpected events happening on our end (especially with wedding preparations), some of my plans and posts have to be pushed back. The wedding is almost there, so I should be able to post more consistently after that!

A lot of B-ROLL! I have been constantly pointing my camera at almost everything that is beautiful about the Philippines -- even the gritty, street level view, because I feel like there’s beauty in that authenticity. Here’s a little portion of some photos and videos I shot yesterday (there are much much more).

A new Instagram account. I realized I accidentally created an Instagram account using a different email so it was a bit hard for me to login. I deleted the first one and made this: @gandang_pilipinas. I’ve also started to post on the page! Go ahead and give it a follow :)

Next post sneak peek:

A new logo. I also replaced my Instagram logo as the first one was not quite recognizable The new logo resembles a some roots inside a circle. The circle is broken/has a starting point, meaning we are “circling / going back to our roots”

In the next two weeks, I’m going to start editing in Instagram Reels. I have a lot filmed since we are always out, but I really just need to make time to sit down and edit. I will try my best to stick to the schedule that I planned out for myself so I can post more consistently! 

Also, all good things must come to an end. Pretty soon, my family will be traveling back home to Maui. But no worries, I have much content to edit that would help me reflect and reminisce the beautiful time I am spending here at home. 

See you in the next one!

[yasharonquillo]

Week 3: Travel Prep  ✈️

Hi everyone! It’s only been three weeks of the semester and we are already full steam ahead! Here are a few updates from my last post:

We are in TRAVEL PREPARATION MODE. I am writing this post about 7 hours before our flight to Oahu and we are off to the Philippines! These past two weeks, my family and I have been getting all of our travel requirements ready, from our plane tickets, to our quarantine hotel reservations, and finally our pre-travel COVID test just this morning (we are negative, woohoo). We also got a news update that we do not have to quarantine in Manila for five days and can be with out family much earlier! This is also good news for me as I can start my Senior Project vlogging sooner too.

Purchased camera equipment. I also spent these last few weeks buying or renting any equipment I might need to do my Senior Project. Everything is tested and ready to be packed!

Refined my Senior Project with Sharla. This week, I also had a conversation with Sharla to further refine the main purpose of my Senior Project Deliverable. Now, the project will showcase the Beauty of Filipino Culture. 

Created the Instagram page. With the help of my dad, I finally landed a name for my project and Instagram Page-- Ganda ng Pilipinas. It has a double meaning of “The Philippines is beautiful,” meaning its literal physical beauty of the place, and “The beauty of the Philippines” which can encompass everything that is beautiful about it. You can follow my Instagram @gandang.pilipinas

Filmed the first video for the vlog. Even though we have not left yet, I wanted to film a pre-travel video where I am explaining my expectations for the vlog/mini-documentary.  

Ideas for graphics. Below are some ideas I made for my Senior Project’s logo and general color scheme. The logo below is a line drawing of a sampaguita, the Philippine’s National Flower. I chose this as it represents humility, purity, simplicity, and even strength-- traits that I hope my Senior Project will showcase and represent. The colors are also muted tones of the Philippine flag. 

In the next two weeks I will be filming my trip in the Philippines. As I also mentioned in my first vlog video, I am coming into my trip with not that many expectations. While I do have a list of things that I want to document and experience, I am still unsure what I am even missing. For now, I will just allow the culture and experience to guide my journey there! 

Some technicals: While I am filming, I will make sure to import footage right after filming them (to be safe!). I am planning to interview some cultural experts in my city, with the help of my Dad. I also plan on traveling to a nearby indigenous area (Lake Sebu) and see what I will learn there. I know I will be learning a lot and I am very excited. 

Let’s go!

[yasharonquillo]

Week 1: Intro Video & Project Overview

Here’s just a little bit about me and a very brief overview of my Senior Project which focuses on Filipino Americans and Cultural Identity.

My research last semester sought to answer the questions: What factors contribute to the cultural identity crisis for local-born Filipino Americans, and how can we overcome them? My paper discussed the effects of colonialism to Filipinos, especially a concept called colonial mentality. This internalized oppression result in a strong collective preference for anything foreign or a deep sense of shame to anything Filipino. 

This semester, my project seeks to create inspiration and appreciation for the Filipino culture instead of shame. To do so, I will be highlighting different aspects of Filipino culture and qualities through photos and videos in an Instagram page and mini-documentary/vlog.