Filipino photographers Rhon Velarde and Mark Padecio drew attention at the 2025 Huawei XMAGE Awards in Paris, where their works were featured among the XMAGE 100 awardees. Their images, which focus on everyday life in the Philippines, were presented at the Grand Palais as part of the annual exhibition held with Paris Photo.
Padecio’s photo captured children playing along a muddy riverside after the first rainfall following a drought. He shot the moment using the Huawei nova 10. The image, which showed the scene’s natural colors and movement, offered a look into how communities find joy even in difficult conditions.
“Winning the XMAGE Award was an incredible honor,” Padecio said. “The photo is more than an image; it is a visual story that captures who we are as a nation: resilient, hopeful, and deeply rooted in our sense of community.”
Velarde’s featured work portrayed a moment defined by strong light, color, and emotion. Shot with the Huawei P40 Pro, the photo highlighted the device’s dynamic range and color handling. Velarde said the award holds deep meaning for him as a Filipino creator.
“Winning the XMAGE Award is deeply meaningful to me, it’s more than recognition; it’s a statement that Filipino creativity can stand proudly on the world stage. As a photographer from the Philippines, it feels like carrying the stories, colors, and emotions of our culture to a global audience,” Velarde said, “Photography allows me to share our stories and emotions with the world, showing that connection and empathy transcend borders.”
The awards ceremony opened on Nov. 12 and was held alongside “The World, You and Me,” Huawei’s annual imaging exhibition. The event gathered creators, media, and industry leaders, and is known for presenting mobile photography within a broader creative context.
“Through XMAGE, we harness the power of technology and imagery to better understand the world, and, more importantly, to see one another with greater empathy,” said Kevin Ho, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group.
This year’s exhibition included works organized into three sections: “I Capture, Therefore I Am,” “The Constructed, The Perceived,” and “In Their Own Words.” The displays explore how photographers interpret their surroundings and how mobile technology supports new forms of visual storytelling.
Huawei reported more than 743,000 entries from 78 countries and regions for this year’s competition. The XMAGE 100 works were selected as standout pieces that reflect strong craftsmanship and narrative perspective. Velarde and Padecio were among those recognized for their approach to storytelling rooted in Filipino culture and lived experience.
The exhibition also featured international works noted for their simplicity, emotional depth, and technique, underscoring how mobile photography continues to shape visual expression around the world.
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