Solace: How visual storytellers choose to stay beyond the headlines
Over a hundred frames, presented by 50 visual journalists across Asia, serve as windows offering a glimpse of humanity through their respective lenses
The narratives delve deeper into significant issues of our time, pressing on long after the headlines fade. ‘Solace,’ an exhibit mounted at the Kapitolyo Art Space in Pasig, celebrates over 20 years of storytelling by visual journalists who have completed the visual journalism programs of the Asian Center for Journalism (ACFJ) at the Ateneo de Manila University, supported by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Media Programme Asia.
The exhibit showcases how stories in Asia are effectively told by Asians on their own terms, according to ACFJ alumnus Veejay Villafranca, who curated the exhibition.
Villafranca emphasized that the stories in ‘Solace’ reflect storytellers who stayed long after the headlines moved on. Multimedia journalist Ron Lopez, coordinator of ACFJ’s Diploma in Visual Journalism, affirmed this practice, explaining that visual storytelling requires technical skill paired with empathy as journalists bear witness to issues affecting communities.
During the opening night panel discussion last October 9, visual journalist Raffy Lerma explained how he views his documentary work not merely as a project, but as a moral responsibility to expose the truth and advocate for human rights.
“May biases ako, yes, definitely. I’m biased for the truth. Biased ako sa human rights,” he said. Lerma has continuously documented the stories of families of drug war victims for over a decade.
This long-term presence earned the trust of families fighting for justice as former president Rodrigo Duterte faces charges at the International Criminal Court.
Recalling how family members expressed appreciation for his sustained documentation, Lerma shared a quote from one of them: “Sir, now I understand. You saw us at our worst, but you also saw us in our times when we celebrated, when Duterte was arrested.” It underscored how much families value having someone witness their journey.
For visual journalist Lisa Marie David, it is important to recognize moments when she needs to put the camera down, particularly when an action does not align with her values. Reminded of a question she once heard from a fellow photographer—”Do you want your mother to be portrayed this way?”—she adopted it as one of her core guiding principles when documenting stories.
Gigie Cruz, Photo Editor at ABS-CBN News Digital, discussed her work documenting the impacts of extreme heat and El Niño on the Dumagat community in the Angat watershed. Cruz emphasized the importance of having genuine intention when working on a story.
For Cruz, ‘Solace’ is embodied by the constant presence of visual journalists who witness the plight of these groups, bringing their stories to light to foster broader awareness and understanding—especially by showing how severe El Niño threatens local livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Mindanao-born visual journalist Toto Lozano stressed the importance of breaking stereotypes about how outsiders perceive and present the region—something that frequently occurs when Manila-based newsrooms cover Mindanao.
Through his story “Ina, Indawan” (Maguindanaon for “Mother and Child”), he aims to bridge that divide by using universally relatable themes to draw attention to complex regional narratives.
Sharing his core ethical principle, Lozano reminded fellow visual journalists: “Long before we became photojournalists or visual journalists, we were humans. So let’s be human first, and then become others—journalists, doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers, or politicians.”
‘Solace’ presents over a hundred photos from visual journalists, photographers, and videographers from the Philippines, Bangladesh, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Myanmar, Indonesia, and beyond. This includes work by former members of the ABS-CBN News Multimedia team Alexis Corpuz and George Calvelo.
The visual journalism exhibit will run at the Kapitolyo Art Space in Pasig until October 23, at Shangri-La Chiang Mai in Thailand from November 5 to 7, and then at Areté at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City from November 11–27, 2026.