Origin —
Natividad, Pampanga, Philippines
Base(s) —
Lisbon, Portugal
San Francisco, California
“I view life as an ongoing exploration. My research examines the human condition and humanity’s role as part of a larger existence. Much of this has focused on culture, human behavior, the global commons, and technology.
My ongoing thesis explores how empowering people to reconnect with themselves, each other, and be in symbiosis with all living beings might lead to the emergence of new perspectives and self-efficacy needed to create a viable and foreseeable future. ”
Angela is of indigenous Kapampangan and Aeta heritage, and was raised in the province of Pampanga northwest of Manila before returning to the United States at the age of 12.
On the eve of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, Pampanga would be one of eight provinces placed under martial law for rebellion against the Spanish Empire. Nearly one century later, the women in her family would take part in peaceful efforts, protesting and campaign support for Corazon “Cory” Aquino under the People Power Revolution, to overthrow the dictatorial regime of President Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Extraordinary moments mark her childhood and adolescence which would eventually define a red thread in her approach.
“While many would wear [extraordinary] as a badge of pride, but to me it serves as a constant reminder, underscoring the interlocked challenges humanity faces. People shouldn’t have to do the extraordinary to survive, be afforded fundamental human rights, or live a harmonious life.
Today, we live in a world on the cusp of change. We need to redesign the world to create the future together. A future that includes everyone.”
Angela’s early professional career served as a sociological exploration, namely around social stratification, society, human behavior, relationships, and social interaction. This journey would eventually turn towards multicultural and cross-cultural change management, working with organizations such as UCLA, CDC, FDA, and more.
Angela would begin to get a sense of how rapid technological innovation was restructuring society and human behavior, nearing singularity. In 2017, amidst the soar of big tech, she relocated to San Francisco to join the ranks of Leap Motion in an effort to understand the inner workings of Silicon Valley and examine the root of the source that was redefining culture and human behavior.
Meanwhile, feeling a reverberating call, Angela would begin the journey to reconnect the spiritual umbilical cord to her heritage and culture that was severed in an attempt to assimilate within the United States.
By 2020, Angela would begin research and development for Common Futures. Amidst the global pandemic, she would meet Future Horizon founder, Mateusz Cyrankiewicz, eventually joining him as co-founder. Together, they would create Future Quest.
She is currently curating Amanu, a community and indigenous-led storytelling project that seeks to preserve culture and promote its rediscovery, with exhibitions planned for 2023; incubating Common Futures, a design think tank for alternative futures; and continuing to evolve Future Horizon and Future Quest.