The HUAWEI XMAGE 2025 Awards Ceremony in Paris stood as a powerful testament to creativity and vision, undeterred by the boundaries of technology or circumstance. For many photographers across the globe, the opportunity to have their work elevated on an international stage is a dream. At its core, this annual competition is more than a recognition of technical prowess; it is a celebration of sheer artistry, emotional storytelling, and the relentless pursuit of excellence, no matter the means.
In 2025, the Filipino contingent demonstrated this spirit with remarkable clarity, with two of its lauded winners, Rhon Velarde and Mark Padecio, journeying to France to represent a nation known for its deep well of talent and resilient creativity.
HUAWEI XMAGE 2025: Celebrating Innovation in Mobile Photography
Now in its latest edition, the HUAWEI XMAGE Awards continues to break new ground in mobile photography, refuting the notion that powerful art is only possible with high-end, professional gear.
Each year, thousands of entries pour in from across continents, captured on nothing more than HUAWEI smartphones in the hands of creative individuals. Instead of placing technology at the forefront, the competition highlights moments, narratives, and perspectives that resonate with judges and audiences alike. The 2025 ceremony amplified this ethos, honoring images that not only met standards of technical excellence but also reached into the heart of human experience.
Paris: A Fitting Host for a Global Celebration of Art
Set against the dazzling backdrop of Paris, the epicenter of European art and culture, this year’s XMAGE Awards achieved new heights of inspiration and gravity. There is a unique magic to the French capital that has sparked the imagination of artists for centuries, making it the perfect setting to host an occasion that places artistry above all else. Within its galleries and cobbled streets, Paris reminds every visitor that art is not just seen, but felt. The city’s luminous history provided an enriching context for the recognition of new voices and new visions, offering the perfect stage for stories that transcend technical limitation.
The Celebrated Filipino Winners: Rhon Velarde and Mark Padecio
This year, five Filipinos claimed victories in various competition categories, a stunning affirmation of the Philippines’ growing impact in the global visual arts community. Of those, only Rhon Velarde and Mark Padecio were able to attend the ceremony in person, carrying the hopes and pride of their fellow creatives halfway around the world. Their presence in Paris was not just a personal achievement, but a collective one for every Filipino who has dreamed with a smartphone in hand, proving that resourcefulness, heart, and vision can overcome challenges of distance, access, and technology.
Rhon and Mark’s triumphs reflect the Filipino spirit: persevering despite limitations, finding beauty in simplicity, and always striving to tell stories with sincerity and grace. In a competition filled with impressive entries from cutting-edge devices, both winners distinguished themselves using nothing more than the everyday tools available to them.
Rhon Velarde’s Entry: A Portrait of Solitude and Hope
Rhon Velarde’s work, captured on a HUAWEI P40 Pro, stands out for its evocative narrative and compositional mastery. Titled “Glimmer of Hope,” the photograph is rooted in the emotional landscape of isolation and the pursuit of discovery. Using a single blue light, Velarde traced the subject’s profile in partial darkness, evoking the sensation of both confinement and revelation. The helmet’s glow reframes solitude as a space for reflection, transforming fear of the unknown into potential for growth and wonder.
The inspiration from isolation is tangible in the image, foregrounding the quiet tension many experienced during uncertain times. The judge’s commentary underscored that the dominant black space amplifies the subject’s expression, while the blue light represents both mystery and serenity. With minimal tools (a HUAWEI P40 Pro, a used aquarium, and a tube light, Velarde illustrated a universal tale of hope, demonstrating how a humble smartphone, wielded with intention, can produce work that is at once modern and timeless.
Mark Padecio’s Entry: Joy Found in the Everyday
If Velarde’s photograph explored the quiet inward journey, Mark Padecio’s prize-winning image titled “Muddy But Happy” bursts forth with the uncontainable happiness of childhood. Shot in a rural community in Cebu, his work documents children playing exuberantly in the mud as the rains return after a drought. The laughter and camaraderie of the scene—mud-caked, barefoot, and utterly free—are captured vividly with the HUAWEI Nova 10. There is no pretension in the image; it is raw, spirited, and genuine, recalling a simpler time when joy was abundant and accessible.
Padecio’s photograph evokes nostalgia and collective memory, reminding viewers that happiness is not reliant on abundance or perfect conditions. The technical constraints of smartphone photography only amplify the achievement, inviting others to look beyond their tools and see the world with fresh, appreciative eyes. The image’s infectious energy and authenticity encourage a conversation about what it means to flourish, even in less-than-ideal circumstances.
Art Beyond Measure: The Triumph of Vision over Tools
Perhaps the most resonant lesson from this year’s XMAGE Awards is that true creative achievement defies specification sheets and hardware battles. The accolades for Velarde and Padecio, and indeed all the winners, prove that the most compelling stories can emerge despite—or even because of—limitations. Their images challenge the idea that bigger budgets or more sophisticated equipment are prerequisites for impact. Instead, what counts is the ability to see beauty where others might not, to frame a narrative that connects, and to put heart into every pixel.
In Paris, at the very heart of the art world, Filipino artists stood shoulder to shoulder with global peers, celebrated not just for technical accomplishment but for elevating the ordinary into the extraordinary. For the past 3 years, Filipino awardees’ triumphs echo a universal message: while the world offers endless tools, it is vision, persistence, and soul that make lasting art. The 2025 HUAWEI XMAGE Awards have proven once again that, even when faced with limitations, excellence is a choice—and it is within reach for all.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
