Melo Villareal was born in Quezon Province, Philippines in 1979

After receiving a diploma in accountancy and law... more

Melo Villareal was born in Quezon Province, Philippines in 1979

After receiving a diploma in accountancy and law degree, Melo started his career in 1999 practicing accountancy. He worked with several private multinational companies as an accountant for three years before finally leaving the corporate world at the age of 23. Since then he worked as freelance photojournalist for various local and international travel publications.

Photography is his passion…. His journeys have led him to more than 1,500 islands in the Philippines — from the Batanes group of islands to Tawi-Tawi and the remote jungles of Babuyanes to indigenous rituals of Bukidnon. Specialized in travel photography, his personal work celebrates the living remnants of a vanishing past, with a focus on ritual and festivals, indigenous cultures, local heritage sites and of course… pristine beaches. He wants to use his art to inspire people, particularly young people who may come from challenging backgrounds or circumst