The Dubai-based photographer on strength, choice, and building a dream while preparing for motherhood again.

Born and raised in Davao City and long based in Dubai, where she founded Team Hyku D and Soultrap Studio, the photographer is a TOYM Awardee 2023, Service Excellence Awardee 2025, and Photographer of the Year 2019. Now, as she prepares to welcome her second child, a daughter, she is still showing up for her studio, her team, and her family, working right up to her due date.

Here, she opens up about the strength she has found in listening to her body, why women deserve the choice to decide what works for them, and how a new chapter has only made her dream bigger. 

You're working right up until your due date–what has that taught you about your own strength as a woman?

Working right up until my due date has made me realize that I’m capable of so much more than I sometimes give myself credit for. It hasn’t been easy at all–in fact, this has probably been one of the toughest times to balance everything.  I continued working because I genuinely love what I do, but I also learned that balance doesn’t mean doing everything and putting myself and my baby at risk. It means knowing when to push, when to rest, and when to simply enjoy my pregnancy. 

Pregnancy is often treated as a reason to slow down–did you feel pressure to do that, or did you consciously choose to keep going at your own pace?

Pregnancy has taught me to listen to my body more. To slow down when I need to and accept that I can’t always do everything the way I used to. But it has also shown me a different kind of strength. I can still show up for my family, my work, and my team while preparing to welcome a new life. I’ve learned that slowing down doesn’t mean giving up on the dreams I’m building, not just for myself and my family, but for the people who have grown with me. 

How would you describe the way you approached and treated your pregnancy overall–physically, mentally, and in how you balanced it with work?

I’ve really tried to enjoy my pregnancy and embrace everything that comes with it including all the extra perks and kindness people show you when you’re working while pregnant! Physically, I’ve learned to listen to my body and slow down when I need to, while mentally, I’ve tried to stay positive and enjoy this very special chapter of my life.

How has this pregnancy changed the way you see your own womanhood?

I don’t think this pregnancy has changed the way I see my own womanhood–if anything, it has affirmed and deepened it. It has made me appreciate even more how much strength, softness, resilience, and love can exist in a woman all at once. I can be a mother, a wife, a businesswoman, a creative, and still be completely myself. Pregnancy has simply made me more aware and proud of all the different sides of being a woman, and how beautifully they can exist together.

As you prepare to become a mother for the second time, how are you redefining what strength looks like for yourself?

Having the chance to watch our firstborn grow into the young man he is today, especially as he turns 18 this year, has given me a completely different perspective going into motherhood for the second time. I can look back at what I did well, carry those things with me, and also recognize what I can do better this time around. 

Now, I even have the privilege of listening to my son’s perspective on how he was raised and learning from him too. I love knowing that we’ll all have a part in welcoming and raising this new addition to our family, and I feel like this new chapter will bring us even closer and create a whole new bond between all of us.

Do you think it's important for workplaces to have real, supportive conditions in place for pregnant women–and do you think that's still missing, even as we're almost in 2027?

With the amount of knowledge and information available to us today, there really shouldn’t be an excuse not to understand how to support pregnant women. For me, the most important thing is giving women the choice. Some women may want or need to slow down, while others may feel capable and fulfilled continuing to work and stay active throughout their pregnancy. Support shouldn’t mean assuming a pregnant woman can’t do something; it should mean giving her the flexibility, understanding, and choice to decide what works best for her and creating an environment where she can decide what feels right for her and her pregnancy.

What do you want your child to understand one day about the woman you were in these final weeks before they arrived?

I want her to know how grateful I am for everything this second pregnancy has taught me, not just about motherhood, but about myself. I’m grateful that I’ve still been able to stay active, continue working, and keep building the dreams I’ve worked so hard for. If anything, knowing that we’re welcoming a new addition to our family has given me even more ambition and strength to keep going and reach new heights. I hope to carry everything I’ve learned during this pregnancy with me as we raise her, and one day, I hope she understands that she became an even bigger reason for me to keep dreaming, growing, and building.

What has it been like navigating pregnancy and running your studio here in Dubai–has the city's environment or culture shaped that experience in any way?

Dubai has been such a big part of our journey as a family and in building my career and business, so it feels quite special that we’re now welcoming another chapter of our family here too. I honestly feel very lucky to be going through this pregnancy here in Dubai. From having access to great hospitals and advanced medical facilities, to the convenience of having almost anything available around the clock, it has made both pregnancy and running my studio so much easier. Whether it’s satisfying a random craving, getting something I need medically or for the baby, or simply having access to services that help the business run smoothly–sometimes it can literally be at my doorstep in 15 minutes! We’re genuinely grateful to call this city our second home.

What's next for Team Hyku D and Soultrap Studio–and how do you see your role evolving from here?

As we continue to grow, we want to keep delivering the creativity, attention to detail, and ease of working with us that our clients have come to know and trust. My role is to make sure that consistency remains as we evolve, while continuing to raise the standard of what we create, how we work, and the experience we give our clients.

Welcoming our daughter is an additional chapter that has given me new inspiration, new ambitions, and even more reason to dream bigger as I build this new era for Team Hyku D and Soultrap Studio.