In Filipino folklore, the Manananggal embodies duality: by night, she splits in half at the waist, spreading batlike wings to hunt; by day, she is a beguiling beauty. Symbolizing colonial and misogynistic violence, this vampiric entity straddles desire and repulsion. As a queer Filipino, I navigate a similar multiplicity of identities amid prejudice. This is How You Cut Me Open explores this dichotomy, confronting my objectification and fetishization. Through self-portraiture, I reclaim agency, questioning the power dynamics of the gaze and dominant representation. By controlling the camera’s lens, I challenge external perceptions, constructing a space where my body and gaze intersect, free from scrutiny. These portraits serve as a reflection on the complexities of identity, shedding light on societal constructs that seek to both diminish and define us.
