Philosophical Lens: Existentialism – but through a Filipino Lens

In a town the world forgets, 

I lifted a can to the mist. 

Not for answers. 

Just to say I was here.

This photograph, with a can of Red Horse Beer set against a misty, rural backdrop, evokes the spirit of Filipino Existentialism—a lived philosophy shaped not by formal doctrine, but by kapwa (shared identity), resilience, and grounded joy in the face of life’s uncertainties.

Existentialism speaks to the individual's confrontation with meaning in a vast, indifferent world. But in Filipino culture, this is often softened or deepened by bayanihan (communal spirit), pakikisama (harmonious social interaction), and an earthy humor—“make do,” “drink slow,” “weather it all.”

This image reflects the existential act of being present, of accepting joy and chaos alike. The beer, Red Horse, no less, is iconic: potent, raw, communal. It's a totem of moments shared, often in modest but meaningful places.

Why This Image Speaks Existentialism:

• Foreground object: The beer can becomes a defiant gesture—a “cheers” to uncertainty.

• Weather: The fog over the distant mountains adds metaphysical weight—what lies ahead is unclear, and that's okay.

• Decay and beauty: Rusty railings, weathered rooftops, and misty greens coexist. The world is imperfect—and we are still here.

Photowalk Mission: “Toast to the Unknowable”

1. Bring a simple object with personal or cultural meaning (a bottle, a meal, a pair of worn shoes).

2. Visit a place where time feels paused—rural towns, old rooftops, or quiet corners during a storm.

3. Shoot with a wide aperture to keep your object sharp and the world a blur—like memory itself.

4. Look for fog, rust, cracks, and unexpected color. They are life’s brushstrokes of survival.