Making it: 5 Filipino illustrators weigh in on pursuing a creative career
A career in the arts is often a contentious subject. The myth of the starving artist looms in the public’s imagination. Conversely, social media romanticizes monetizing hobbies and finding freedom in a seaside painting studio, far away from the nine-to-five grind. As the adage goes, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
The best way to know if a creative career is right for you is to hear from today’s working creatives. Here, 5 illustrators and jurors of the Manila Illustration Fair 2025 share what being a creative in the Philippines really looks like and what aspiring creatives need to consider before pursuing this path.
Dan Matutina
A typical day for Dan Matutina starts at 5:30 a.m. The Tacloban-native goes for a run and grabs a cup of coffee before settling into a mix of both creative and administrative projects. Matutina balances a thriving career as an illustrator and running design agency Plus63 as a founding partner, all while picking up an Art Director’s Club Young Gun award along the way.
“A lot of younger creatives who are into freelancing ask me if they can just focus on the creative side,” says Matutina. “But, it’s not like that because every month there are taxes. I encourage everyone to research starting a business and filing taxes.”
The daily operations of running a business might strip some of the romance away from creative work. Yet, for Matutina, creativity and innovation aren’t limited to what’s on the page or screen. Plus63 is a pioneer in molding creative work.
“We’ve been doing a four-day work week for over a decade, before remote work and before the Nordic countries did it,” he explains. “If we’re all creatively recharged, the work will become better.”
Raxenne Maniquiz
You’ve probably come across botanical illustrations of local flora on your feed or on a calendar in one of your favorite Manila haunts. The illustrator behind those lush images, Raxenne Maniquiz, stresses the importance of finding your own voice.
“You see this person’s style works and it’s successful, so you try to emulate it,” she says. “But, by doing that, you’re not developing your own voice. It’s probably not your story either.”
Maniquiz’s work today is fully realized, and brands like MAC Cosmetics and Jordan tapped her to illustrate for them. Before her freelancing career and an Art Director’s Club Young Gun award, Maniquiz burned the midnight oil juggling her day job and side projects.
“Before, I wasn’t thinking about having a style,” she says. “I was just doing all kinds of jobs and learning.” Through this process, Maniquiz landed on botanical illustrations. “Right now, what we should have as illustrators is a distinct style that clients hire you for.”
Along with attracting clients, a personal style gives creatives an advantage over AI. “Find what you can offer that’s unique, and AI will never have that story.”
Gian Wong
Growing up in Pampanga, Gian Wong knew he wanted a career in the creative field. He loved customizing his background on social media site Friendster. In high school, he set his eyes on digital design and pursued it in college. “I was doing what I wanted,” he says. “But, I didn’t know how to get noticed.”
In the 2010s, calligraphy was all the rage on Instagram, and Wong tried his hand with it. “I did some lettering work and then I merged that with digital illustration.” Soon enough, brands like Hallmark, Instagram, and Uniqlo took notice and commissioned him for campaigns.
Wong started his artistic journey making backgrounds for Friendster and now works as a creative lead in tech company Canva, where he shapes how millions design every day. He’s still as curious as ever and experiments with the latest technology.
“AI won’t replace you, but people who use AI could replace you because they adapted,” explains Wong. “People who adapt and grow won’t be left behind.”
Angela Taguiang-Reverente
“As a child, the only thing I ever wanted to be was a painter,” recalls Angela Taguiang-Reverente. But, instead of pursuing painting in college, the children’s book illustrator picked advertising because it was more practical. While at her first job as a graphic designer, she realized she enjoyed illustrating more and started looking for illustration opportunities.
“That’s when I discovered children’s book illustration and started trying to get into Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan,” she says. “After a couple of tries, I got in. I met people from different creative backgrounds, constantly showed up, and, after a few years, got my first book illustration job from a major local publisher.”
Finding community and participating in events, such as the Manila Illustration Fair, are key to breaking into the industry. Communities offer support through advice, mentorship, and opportunities.
“Not gonna lie, medals and awards are cool. But I wouldn’t have been able to get those had I not been part of a community that champions illustration as an art form.”
Jamie Bauza
After one children’s book illustration class in college, Jamie Bauza was hooked. “I fell in love with the format,” she says. “It was the perfect way for me to create my own stories even without words.”
Bauza now freelances full-time and juggles freedom with practicality. “I don’t have a set schedule, so I take advantage of this by learning different media and switching it up.”
While Bauza prefers to communicate with images, she pays extra attention to client communication. “Observe proper email etiquette,” she advises. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. At the same time, don’t ghost them—inform them right away of any problems or delays.”
Like with any business, slow months come and go. “Your ‘big break’ might not come right away,” reflects Bauza. “But, if you keep trying and learning, the right people will find you.”
The Manila Illustration Fair takes place on Sept. 12 to 14 at UP Diliman’s Parola Art Gallery Atrium.
