WARRIOR STORIES — Beauty of the Warrior Spirit

Bacolod City, Negros Island, Visayas, Philippines

Beauty is Strength.

They say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

But we know that beauty first begins within.

Knowing that our ancestors are with and within us,
Beauty is in the Warrior Spirit.

*~ Jamie Yancovitz, Founder of* *Survival Arts Academy*

Our generation is rediscovering our roots, and delving deep into the past to discover who we really are. At Survival Arts Academy, we have built a community of artists, warriors, healers, mothers & students reclaiming our power against violence.

Together, we challenge the stereotypes of women across the globe, redefine beauty as strength, and explore the themes of bridging our past, standing strong in our present, and building a powerful future.

These looks were inspired by the melting pot of Filipino identity in the Philippines & across the diaspora. As an Ilongga / Filipina-American born in NYC & raised in both the Bronx & Bacolod City, I represent the melting pot. The embodiment of survival of so many lineages, like many before me, brought into the future to forge the way for generations to come.

We shot these images on Negros Island in the Visayas region of the Philippines, from the streets of downtown Bacolod City, to the famous sugarcane fields. Honoring all the survivors of violence, the matriarchs of the families, and the ones who feed and nourish us, this visual story is dedicated to all the Warrior Women and all the mothers who create life.

PINAY STREET SWAG

Dedicated to all those that survive street harassment everyday, the jeepney drivers, and all the indigenous peoples still here.

This look was inspired by the melting pot of Filipino identity in the Philippines and across the diaspora. As an Ilongga / Filipina-American born in NYC and raised in both the Bronx and Bacolod City, I represent the melting pot. The embodiment of survival of so many lineages, like many before me. The tisay of the past brought into the future to forge the way for generations to come. Here to pay homage and appreciation to our culture, especially the iconic JEEPNEY.

As a woman who has survived being on public transportation my entire life in various countries, and all the unwanted attention and violence that comes with it, I started Survival Arts Academy in Bacolod City in 2016. This was a direct response to women getting attacked on the jeepney on their way to work and school, especially with knife attacks. Since I had been training Arnis/Kali on my own and with various teachers since I was a teenager, I decided to open up Self-Defense classes to women and children, and bring our fighting arts back to its roots, especially as it had become popularized in action films. Kali is the art of the blade, and women were getting attacked by men with knives, so it was fitting to teach knife protection. Sadly, I have yet to meet a woman who doesn’t have a story about harassment or attack. Survival Arts was born out of a need to protect ourselves and each other against everyday violence that is all too common across the globe.

Taking up space in the jeepney means showing the world that we should be able to ride any public means of transportation without feeling unsafe or uncomfortable, no matter what we are wearing. We all have the right to move freely in the world without being verbally or physically attacked.

Each piece that I am wearing has a story of survival. Looking to the indigenous peoples still very much alive today, I am inspired by all the cultures that have survived the test of time, and honor the many patterns, textures, and beadwork of the T’boli, the Igorort, the Pulahanes and many others through the pieces I find. Each one represents the multicultural and eclectic experiences of my life and identity, shared by fabrics and accessories found in Davao, to beads from Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, to my huaraches (sandals) made by indigenous weavers of Mexico in downtown Los Angeles where we used to live, and where the work of Survival Arts gained international acclaim.

#NoToJeepneyPhaseout

We captured these images in downtown Bacolod, as we amplified the call to protect our cultural heritage. At the height of the #NoToJeepneyPhaseout protests against getting rid of jeepneys in the Philippines, we stand by the call of the drivers that the country is dependent upon for local transportation and sustenance. Jeepneys have become a cultural icon of our lands, brilliantly showcasing the Filipino spirit of ingenious creativity. Filipinos took what American soldiers left behind after WWII, and turned it into transportation for millions of everyday people. The Filipino value of diskarte is shared to the world, as one nation’s trash becomes our nation’s treasure, showing quick wit and our ability to make something good out of any situation.

True fashion is taking what we have and making the most of it, bringing together a sense of style and telling a story. Here, we share the beauty of Filipino multicultural creativity, and the unbreakable spirit of the warrior.

ABOUT: WARRIOR STORIES

Warrior Stories is a series of visual storytelling inspired by warrior matriarchs from the past to the modern day. In this project, two artists come together to define beauty as strength. Jamie Yancovitz is a Writer, Educator, Speaker, and Founder of Survival Arts Academy. Darcey de los Reyes (DELOSPHOTO) is a Photographer, Videographer and Creative Director behind the scenes. Both are Martial Arts Combat Instructors at Survival Arts Academy, teaching women & children how to protect against violence through the Filipino fighting arts of Kali.

Director / Photographer: Darcey de los Reyes

Model / Writer / Story: Jamie Yancovitz

Stylist / Makeup: Darla Mamuyac

Production Assistant: Charley Sta. Maria