The National Commission for Culture and the Arts with the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines recognized 22-year-old visual artist Mariah Karla Zamora with the prestigious Ani ng Dangal.

Zamora, who is currently pursuing Multimedia Arts at the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde School of New Media Arts, earned the distinction after emerging as National Award Winner for the Philippines at the 2022 Sony World Photography Awards in London.

Her winning piece, Anom Asil, was a school requirement on Rembrandt Lighting, a technique that utilizes one light and one reflector or two separate lights to capture a dramatic yet natural image.

The portrait that pictures her older brother, Juan Carlo, in a painting-like photograph was inspired by the Renaissance masterpiece Mona Lisa by Italian maestro Leonardo Da Vinci.

Zamora, daughter of award-winning Filipino photographer Carlo Zamora, has been immersed into the visual arts scene since she was eight.

Currently, Zamora works as a graphic designer and social media manager for a local skincare company. She is hoping to graduate this year and is planning to explore street photography.

Ani ng Dangal or Harvest of Honors pays tribute to the Filipino artists whose talents have earned international accolades from established award-giving bodies and brought pride to the country.

The categories include Architecture, Cinema, Dance, Drama, Literature, Music, Visual Arts, and Broadcast Arts. Zamora, together with over 30 Filipino artists, were bestowed during the 15th Ani ng Dangal Awards conducted at the Ceremonial Hall, Malacañan Palace. Each received the remarkable stylized sarimanok trophy sculpted by National Artist for Visual Arts Abdulmari Imao.