The Forgotten Ten: Photography Exhibition By Jacob Maentz

For two weeks they're not the forgotten. They're the stars. And it was a privilege to be there on the opening night to see them twinkle.

"The exhibit entitled ‘The Forgotten Ten’ will showcase a year and a half of Jacob Maentz’s documentary work from various indigenous communities around the Philippines. In partnership with Asia Society Philippines, the exhibition will give an inside and depictive look into the diverse and culturally rich lives of our nations often forgotten people, featuring images of their everyday life, culture and traditions.

One of my faves. Photo can also be seen on Jacob's project's website www.katutuboproject.org.

‘The Forgotten Ten’ refers to the estimated 10 to 20 percent of the Philippine population considered indigenous and the exhibit will highlight groups such as the Badjao, Agta, Mangyan, Tagbanua, Manobos, Kalinga, Applai, Pala’wan and more. The aim of the exhibit is to educate and help foster a heightened appreciation for our indigenous brothers and sisters while emphasizing their major struggles to self-determination.

The photographs to be displayed are part of a long-term project called the Katutubong Filipino Project started by Jacob Maentz in 2012. The aim of the project is to help bring about awareness of the Philippine archipelago’s indigenous peoples’ by visually documenting their slowly disappearing and changing cultural heritages. Asia Society is the leading educational organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context."

Starstruck and tongue-tied! Jacob is an American freelance travel, culture and documentary photographer currently based in the Philippines.

Underwater shot to my right is also one of my faves. With Darwin of TrackingTreasure.net.

"Images themselves don't change the world, but images have caused reactions in people..." Jacob said in his brief speech at the opening. And those reactions could change the world. His vibrant collection of modern day imagery of the Philippine Indigenous Tribes possesses the power to tap sentiments.

Now if only these sentiments translate to something bigger... That's up to us.