Rafael (he/him), is a first-generation Filipinx filmmaker and former editorial photographer. He is the Director of Photography for the upcoming Nat Geo doc-series Legends, the MTV Docs short film, I am Ready, Warden (Oscars® Shortlisted), and the feature length documentary Family Tree (World Premiere, Full Frame Film Festival 2024). He contributed camerawork on several critically-acclaimed films, including Ferguson Rises (Audience Award Winner, Tribeca 2021), and Anthem by Emmy Award winning director, Peter Nicks (Tribeca Film Festival 2023). He was a Co-Producer and Cinematographer on the feature length documentary, Lady Buds, which premiered at Hot Docs 2021. Rafael earned a degree in documentary filmmaking at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, where he lensed the Student Academy Award winning film, Dust Rising.