Specters of Survival reflects on the layered histories of Manila, merging archival mapping, colonial architecture, and traditional garments to explore the persistence of memory, faith, and cultural identity. The work features a 1915 map of Manila overlaid with cyanotype prints of significant churches photographed in 2019—structures that have withstood the passage of time, including Malate Church, San Sebastian Church, San Agustin Church, Manila Cathedral, Sta. Ana Church, Paco Church, San Vicente de Paul Parish, and Loreto Parish.

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These churches, many of which were built during the Spanish colonial period, serve as architectural witnesses to both faith and historical trauma, particularly the destruction of Manila during World War II. The Battle of Manila in 1945 left much of the city in ruins, yet these churches remained, scarred but standing, symbolizing resilience and spiritual continuity amid the erasure of historical spaces. By overlaying a pre-war map with images of the churches as they exist today, the work examines both what has endured and what has been lost to war, colonization, and urban transformation.

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On the reverse side, cyanotypes of deadstock and vintage Filipiniana and Barong wear—clothing historically tied to national identity and colonial formality—emerge as haunting specters. When illuminated under UV light, the garments glow in the dark, appearing like ghostly imprints of the past, echoing the fading presence of cultural memory. The glowing effect evokes both reverence and unease, symbolizing how colonial influences linger in both physical spaces and cultural expectations, long after their origins.

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The fragmented panel structure reflects the fractured nature of historical preservation—memories scattered, incomplete, and reassembled over time. Through its layered cyanotype process and historical references, Echoes of Faith and Fabric asks: How do we hold onto what remains? What stories linger in the spaces we inhabit? And how much of our identity is shaped by what has been lost?

This work invites viewers to reflect on faith, identity, and cultural survival, emphasizing the tension between resilience and erasure across generations.