Manila (CNN Philippines Life) — Since the start of the senatorial campaign, we’ve seen photos of candidates shaking hands with constituents; of them on a stage, talking to an audience; of them standing side by side with politicians; of them being swarmed by supporters; of them flashing hand signs as they cruise through a crowd.

These images from the campaign period always seem to show that the candidates are in the thick of things — important people doing important things.

On Saturday, just before the senatorial aspirants went onstage to talk and argue about issues that mean most to Filipino voters, acclaimed photographer Jake Verzosa set up a studio in a big, silent, white room. In this space, there are no supporters howling the candidates’ names, no audience to receive speeches, no politicians to retort to. In front of the photographer’s lens, they’re all alone.