Belg Belgica Reveals What It Takes to Chase a Dream

What does it take to chase a dream and actually build it? Photographer Belg Belgica opens up about passion and purpose in this Art+ exclusive.

Words Jaymar Aquino
Photo courtesy of Belg Belgica
August 23, 2025

For many, the love of photography begins with grand landscapes or distant travels, but for Belg Belgica, it started at home. “I first fell in love with photography when I was 18, when I did a personal project of taking photos of my family against a white cloth in our backyard,” he remembers. 

“It was initially intended for me to practice and copy portraits shot by Avedon, but it became like a family activity, and I enjoyed it because I found a way to connect with my family.” In that quiet corner of his home, the seed of his creative path was sown.

But Belgica’s path to full-time photography wasn’t instantaneous. He began in the structured corridors of corporate life. Days were measured in quarterly reports, endless meetings, and the quiet hum of routine. Then COVID-19 happened. For many, it was a pause, a reckoning, a moment to question the life they had been living. 

“It was during the pandemic that I quit my corporate job. The idea of dying and not pursuing what you love to do became so real,” he shares. “I woke up one day feeling literally sick in my stomach, and I couldn’t bear to report to work. It was a gut feeling that I knew I had to act on.”

Developing a dream

Leaving the security of a stable job for a camera and a vision is as audacious as chasing perfect natural light on a stormy day. Belgica admits the fear was real—the uncertainty of money, the unpredictability of finding the next client, and the quiet, nagging question of whether he could truly make it. Passion was thrilling, yes, but it required more than excitement—it demanded grit.

“You have to be comfortable in those times when things feel bleak. I was doing a lot of side hustles such as selling home decors online, clothes, and creating content for other people just for me to get by,” he shares.

Now, standing amid his projects and his portraits, the promising photographer can see it vividly. “It was one of the best decisions I made in my life,” he affirms with no trace of hesitation. Every frame he captures now is a reminder that the leap was not just taken—it was meant to be.

The studio that inspires

This desire for connection, expression, and shared creativity led to the birth of his own studio: Espacio Creativo Escolta, a space that has become a haven for Filipino creatives, especially photographers like him. 

“We have built Espacio Creativo Escolta with a vision to create an approachable space where creatives can realize their potential. We want creatives to have access and remove the barrier of creating opportunities for themselves,” he shares.

But building a creative hub was not without its challenges. “Initially, the challenge was how to position ourselves in this space where there’s an influx of new photography studios in the market. We know that we cannot compete with the huge studios,” Belgica recalls. 

Yet the determined visionary explains that he was able to overcome these hurdles, driven by a purpose larger than himself—a desire to provide a second home for creatives where everyone can freely collaborate, experiment, and grow together.

The next shot

For anyone standing on the edge of pursuing their passion, Belgica’s advice is simple: “Be comfortable being uncomfortable.” He adds, “It will not be easy, but it will all be worth it.” 

The on-the-rise photographer wrapped up our conversation by sharing a personal project he is currently working on, one that will use the studio to connect with children in Escolta and encourage them to explore and shape their creativity through photography. 

The initiative is a vivid reflection of his artistry and character—a creative who wields the lens not merely to capture life but to expand it, inspire imagination, and help others see the world through their own vision.

Looking at the world through Belgica’s lens, it becomes impossible not to ask yourself: What moment of your life are you ready to capture next?