Internationally acclaimed Filipino photographer, Cindy Aquino, takes a different angle on gender-sensitivity issues in her solo photo exhibit debut.

Pride Photo Award 2013 grand prize winner Cindy Aquino will launch her first solo photo exhibit entitled DOS Espiritu: Isang Quadro Trianggulo sa Sulok ng Mundo.

Cindy's work depicts the everyday lives of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders as they take on resentment for being different. The photo collection will be on display from November 5 to 10 2013 at KANTO Artist-run Space in The Collective, 7274 Malugay St., Brgy. San Antonio Village, Makati City. The week-long exhibit will also feature well-known and new-breed artists, music jam, film-showing, and the launch of RESTORE Outdoor club.

DOS Espiritu: Isang Quadro Trianggulo sa Sulok ng Mundo tackles gender sensitivity issues faced by LGBT in a culturally conservative Filipino society. The exhibit aims to break through social barriers and to create a culture free from discrimination of sexuality.

"Changing the way we look at this issue would bring us a step further in the journey to gain respect and whole acceptance of gender diversity in our society," Cindy said. "Filipino culture is, by nature, conservative. It is indeed inevitable for us to hold such predisposition, this is deeply rooted. If we look back, Spaniards imposed conservative religious beliefs when they conquered us. I, however, want to point out that the same beliefs had oppressed Filipinos for a century. Someone had to make a different viewpoint to free ourselves from oppression. Now, the same thing goes with this, if we can only look at LGBT issues from a different angle, every Filipinos will be free from fear and shame. Through my craft, I want to show that those who have different gender preference are normal and deserve every inch of respect."

Cindy Aquino's advocacy was best featured in her winning piece "Bond". Among 408 entries from 48 different countries, "Bond" was chosen for the Pride Photo Award campaign. Cindy's work was widely exhibited for a month at Oude Kerk in Amsterdam and featured in several media blogs, including CNN's photo blog and report.

"Bond" will be one of the 16 photos that are up for purchase at her Kanto Artist Run-space exhibit this November. Cindy will also introduce new pieces called "Tago/Taguan" which she dedicated "for all the closeted LGBT (people) who can't come out because of their own personal reasons and because of the prejudice of the people around them."

For more information, please visit the Dos Espiritu Facebook event page.