Two women comfort each other during a sharing session at Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge, a shelter for abused domestic workers in Hong Kong. Xyza Cruz Bacani works as a maid six days a week and spends her day off documenting their stories in a series of black and white images.
Two women comfort each other during a sharing session at Bethune House Migrant Women's Refuge, a shelter for abused domestic workers in Hong Kong. Xyza Cruz Bacani works as a maid six days a week and spends her day off documenting their stories in a series of black and white images.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Thousands of migrant workers work silently and invisibly in Hong Kong homes. Kuryati, a migrant worker from Indonesia, was accused of stealing. She rests after a stressful court hearing. <br />
Thousands of migrant workers work silently and invisibly in Hong Kong homes. Kuryati, a migrant worker from Indonesia, was accused of stealing. She rests after a stressful court hearing.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Shirley suffered third degree burns after a pot of hot soup was spilled on her back and arms. She moved into the shelter after her employer refused to grant her sick leave and terminated her contract. She has been jobless for six months and is pursuing a lawsuit with help from Legal Aid.<br />
Shirley suffered third degree burns after a pot of hot soup was spilled on her back and arms. She moved into the shelter after her employer refused to grant her sick leave and terminated her contract. She has been jobless for six months and is pursuing a lawsuit with help from Legal Aid.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Shirley examines her scars. "When I see the girls, I talk to them, I absorb all their emotions and I can't really believe that some people can do that to other human beings," says Bacani. <br />
Shirley examines her scars. "When I see the girls, I talk to them, I absorb all their emotions and I can't really believe that some people can do that to other human beings," says Bacani.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Six bunk beds are crammed into a tiny apartment at Bethune House. The shelter provides a temporary home and meals for domestic workers who are victims of abuse.
Six bunk beds are crammed into a tiny apartment at Bethune House. The shelter provides a temporary home and meals for domestic workers who are victims of abuse.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Protesters slept on the tarmac during the early days of a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong that lasted 11 weeks. Bacani says her outsider perspective helped her to capture the protest. "I'm there to document, to take photos, not to take sides," she said.
Protesters slept on the tarmac during the early days of a pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong that lasted 11 weeks. Bacani says her outsider perspective helped her to capture the protest. "I'm there to document, to take photos, not to take sides," she said.
CNN
A protester snaps a photograph of Hong Kong policemen in riot gear with his smartphone. Bacani often moved to the front lines to document the Occupy protests. "It was the first time I saw this kind of passion," she said. "It gave this surreal vibe to the city."
A protester snaps a photograph of Hong Kong policemen in riot gear with his smartphone. Bacani often moved to the front lines to document the Occupy protests. "It was the first time I saw this kind of passion," she said. "It gave this surreal vibe to the city."
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
A policeman attempts to get protesters off the streets in Mong Kong, a gritty, working-class neighborhood.
A policeman attempts to get protesters off the streets in Mong Kong, a gritty, working-class neighborhood.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Bacani catches her reflection on a bus in Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong's busiest shopping districts. She has lived in the city for nine years and still doesn't feel like she belongs. "When you're a helper, you don't have a right to be a photographer," she says.
Bacani catches her reflection on a bus in Causeway Bay, one of Hong Kong's busiest shopping districts. She has lived in the city for nine years and still doesn't feel like she belongs. "When you're a helper, you don't have a right to be a photographer," she says.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Women wait outside Wild Cat Night Club on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai, Hong Kong's red-light district. Bacani spends six days a week cooking, cleaning and babysitting for an affluent Chinese family. On her day off, she wanders around the city capturing black and white scenes.
Women wait outside Wild Cat Night Club on Lockhart Road in Wan Chai, Hong Kong's red-light district. Bacani spends six days a week cooking, cleaning and babysitting for an affluent Chinese family. On her day off, she wanders around the city capturing black and white scenes.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Bacani says her camera protects her from stereotyping and racism in a city that looks down on migrant workers.
Bacani says her camera protects her from stereotyping and racism in a city that looks down on migrant workers.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
"When I'm wearing my camera I'm not a helper anymore, I'm an ordinary girl." Bacani says. "It's a way of protection because when you're a helper here there is a kind of stereotyping that they do."
"When I'm wearing my camera I'm not a helper anymore, I'm an ordinary girl." Bacani says. "It's a way of protection because when you're a helper here there is a kind of stereotyping that they do."
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Bacani left the Philippines when she was 19 to work as a maid. She dropped out of nursing school so that her younger brother and sister could pursue their education.
Bacani left the Philippines when she was 19 to work as a maid. She dropped out of nursing school so that her younger brother and sister could pursue their education.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Bacani hopes to become a photojournalist one day. For now, her job as a migrant domestic worker provides a stable source of income for her to support her brother and sister in the Philippines.<br />
Bacani hopes to become a photojournalist one day. For now, her job as a migrant domestic worker provides a stable source of income for her to support her brother and sister in the Philippines.
Courtesy of Xyza Cruz Bacani
Life through a domestic worker's lens

Story highlights

Filipino domestic worker captures Hong Kong's street scenes with black and white photographs

Xyza Cruz Bacani's work was recognized by a well-known documentary photographer

Bacani recently hosted her second solo photography exhibition

Hong Kong CNN  — 

Xyza Cruz Bacani has lived in Hong Kong for nine years and still doesn’t feel like she belongs. But that changes every time she reaches for her camera.

Bacani, 27, is a migrant domestic worker or “helper” who moonlights as a photographer. She spends six days a week cooking, cleaning and babysitting for an affluent Chinese family. On her day off, Bacani wanders around the city capturing black and white scenes.

“When I’m wearing my camera I’m not a helper anymore, I’m an ordinary girl.” Bacani says.

“It’s a way of protection because when you’re a helper here, there is a kind of stereotyping that they do,” referring to Hong Kongers.

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pkg hong kong maid photographer_00003502.jpg
Courtesy Xyza Cruz Bacani
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Lately, Bacani has been documenting a group of women at Bethune House Migrant Women’s Refuge, a shelter for abused migrant workers.

“When I see the girls, I talk to them, I absorb all their emotions and I can’t really believe that some people can do that to other human beings,” Bacani says.

“We’re the same. We’re migrant workers. But I have a boss that treats me with respect and like a human being but these people — they were treated badly.”

Bacani dropped out of college in the Philippines to work as a maid when she was only 19 so her younger brother and sister could stay at school. She began shooting street scenes four years ago, after asking her boss for a loan to buy a Nikon DSLR camera.

Bacani’s outsider status helps her to capture the city differently. She often peers at her subjects through a glass window or mirror and plays with lighting to create dramatic, melancholic contrasts.

She posts new images on Facebook or her blog almost daily. That’s how she caught the attention of Filipino documentary photographer Rick Rocamora who introduced her to a community of mentors. Soon after, doors began to open – first, a profile in The New York Times’ Lens blog, then a Fuji Film sponsorship and an exhibition at the Philippines Consulate General in Hong Kong.

In December, Bacani walked into the Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Hong Kong where her prints were hanging in 20 x 29 inch frames against a yellow, brick wall.

It’s easy to see why Bacani gets mistaken for a tourist or just another 20-something visitor on the streets of Hong Kong. She sports a blue hoodie, braces and side-swept bangs.

It’s Bacani’s second solo exhibit in a year but the first time she had seen her images enlarged. As she approached the back wall, Bacani couldn’t quite hide the thrill of seeing her photos displayed.

She pulled out her smartphone and snapped a picture of the gallery to send to her mom and dad.

READ MORE: Taking a different look at photography