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Meet Preview's Creative 25 Awardees for 2024: The Young Blood of the Filipino Art Scene
From musicians to filmmakers and everything in between, meet the young artists who are wielding their creativity to put the spotlight on Filipino talent.
by Em Enriquez and Katrina Maisie Cabral
Published Feb 23, 2024
Meet the Filipino artists wielding their creativity with boundless wonder.
In childhood, creativity is born. From building forts out of blankets to doodling on the margins of notebooks, childhood manifests creativity in its rawest form—unabashed, unfiltered, and utterly free.
The unrest of adulthood often lets even the best of us lose sight of that childlike wonder, consumed by the demands of everyday life. But what if we could return to that state of uninhibited creativity, where every idea is a possibility waiting to be explored?
This year, Preview celebrates the Creative 25, a curated list of Filipino artists who embody the spirit of boundless creativity. These individuals, each an inspiration in their respective fields, remind us to dust off the imagination that may have once been fettered.
Below, meet this year’s distinguished and talented roster of creatives.
Preview Creative 25 2024
Denise Julia
Denise Julia makes music for the baddies. Before she became the TikTok supernova she is today, with hits like NVMD and Lackin' all becoming earworms (and occasionally, dance crazes), she started out by writing lyrics in her notebook during class hours.
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Thanks to the ladies of Destiny's Child, she found her footing in OPM as a good girl who loves being B.A.D. "Back then, I was really dark. Before, there wasn't really [someone with my skintone] in Philippine media," the R&B singer explains. "So when I saw Destiny's Child [for the first time], I ended up liking their music [since] I could relate to them."
Dennis Sulit
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Madge Reyes
In Madge Reyes’ world, life is a dance unraveling with every movement. Much of that ethos runs into the craft of the dancer, choreographer, and movement director, who first found her footing as a teenager in Ballet Philippines. Now 32, the creative wields the art of movement through different avenues of visual arts, made all the more evident as the founder of Fifth Wall Fest, the Philippines’ first and only dance film festival in the country.
“I create, I produce, I program, I curate,” she tells Preview. “I'm proud of my ability [to] not be boxed in by a certain idea. Don’t be discouraged by labels.”
Dennis Sulit
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Mikaela Santos
Raised in Manila and now based in Atlanta, Georgia, Mikaela Santos’ storytelling through the art of ballet began at the age of 12, when her teacher Effie Nañas eyed her potential as a professional ballerina. After becoming an apprentice at the Philippine Ballet Theatre in 2016, Mikaela would soon represent her country at the World Ballet Competition, giving rise to a scholarship to the Atlanta Ballet Professional Summer Intensive.
Now at 24, the Filipina dancer has made waves abroad in several performances, among them Atlanta Ballet’s rendition of the Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky classic The Nutcracker, where she portrays its lead, Marie.
“Ballet is a dance form that interprets music while also exposing human passion and ambition,” she says. “It’s demonstrating both artistry and strength, which can be interpreted in many different ways.”
Courtesy of Mikaela Santos
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Andre Chan
When Andre Chan creates, the paintbrush becomes an extension of not just his body, but of his soul. Celebrating his career's 10th anniversary this year, the Cebu-born creative views his day-to-day experiences as canvases. In his words, "Every task displays an opportunity to transform challenges into powerful solutions, similar to painting with energy."
Like all pieces of art, Andre's work is up for interpretation. All the swirls, hues, and textures align depending on the perception of the viewer. "Each individual's unique essence contributes a thread to the world, stitching the pathways together, and my creations seek to celebrate every voice," he puts it.
Dennis Sulit
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Jikamarie
Before she stepped onto a stage filled with thousands of onlookers, Jikamarie’s story as a musician began with a pair of speakers and an old computer belonging to her older brother, who continues to be her producer today. Unbeknown to them, this little nook would give rise to her viral song “Lutang” and her subsequent stardom in the local music scene. With several releases under her belt, among her latest achievements include being the opening act for British rock band Coldplay.
“A lot of people of different demographics found out about me, and I got a lot of comments and messages saying they could identify with my music. I realized I have such a big responsibility,” she says. “It’s my new purpose with my music. I want to make people’s lives a little better.”
Dennis Sulit
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Dwein Baltazar
Dwein Baltazar is a mother, a storyteller, and, above all, a dreamer. Upon finding her footing as a stylist for TV, the Caviteña sought to begin a career making films full-time. With titles such as Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus and Third World Romance created under her guise, direk Dwein is a testament to the power of persistence and kindness.
When the credits roll, she always looks back on her three kids as the reason why she does what she does. "Gusto ko'ng makita nila ako hindi lang bilang nanay pero also as someone who never gave up on her dream. Para in the future, kahit gaano kahirap, hind rin nila susukuan ang mga pangarap nila," she sentimentally states. The 38-year-old has also extended her expertise to humanitarian efforts; most recently, she arranged a filmmaking workshop where 95% of the proceeds benefitted Palestinian refugees in the country.
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Dennis Sulit
Carl Joseph Papa
The story of Carl Joseph Papa’s filmmaking journey started with a camera, one which he bought after receiving a degree in computer science. A software engineer by profession, the 37-year-old director wove his passion for film through the medium of animation, upon discovering Richard Linklater’s Waking Life in his younger years. Now, Carl has gained recognition for his introspective films that examine life and all its complexities through an animated lens—including Paglisan, which won a FAMAS (Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards), and Iti Mapukpukaw, chosen as the Philippines’ official entry for the 2024 Oscars.
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Dennis Sulit
Ten Monteverde
The woes and wonders of girlhood sit in front of the lens of young filmmaker Ten Monteverde. While hailing from an esteemed family, the 23-year-old is forging a path of her own in the creative industry, having recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a film and television degree.
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After an internship with Filipino fashion designer Carl Jan Cruz, Ten ventured into a directorial path as the woman behind the 2023 holiday campaign video. Eventually, the filmmaker was tapped to helm the music video for Juan Karlos and Zild’s “Gabi.” Onwards to the future, Ten is set to uncover more tales with a camera and pen in hand. “I write and direct about what I know, and so far I’ve felt most inclined to tell stories that focus on girlhood and self-discovery,” she says. “There is so much life and color and soul to being Filipino, we burst with such bold passion and energy that’s hard to miss.”
Juneau Janzen
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Kindred
The term “boy band” is changing as we know it, and the Philippine music scene has Kindred to thank. With established artists like Fern., nouvul, Slomo Says, Pikunin, VINCED, dot.jaime, Cavill, and Punzi in its roster, the music collective is reshaping artistry and genres by blurring the lines between the mainstream and underground. Armed with the notion that everybody can be a pop star, their 15-track album Subset is its perfect depiction, with each member shining yet harmonizing into one explosive and show-stopping unit.
Dennis Sulit
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Thea Guanzon
With a life-long affinity for Star Wars, fantasy tales, and swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romances, Bacolod-born and Manila-based Thea Guanzon has wielded her prowess for the fantastical onto the page. The Hurricane Wars, the first of the trilogy, has brought Southeast Asian and Filipino representation to several bestseller lists–including the New York Times–in an often Western-dominated industry. “I'm just really proud to be Filipino, to be a Filipino writer living in the Philippines, and to have broken into the publishing industry,” she says. “This has really shown me how important it is to have representation, and that’s something I will always advocate for going forward.”
Dennis Sulit
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Chef Jorge Mendez of MODAN
Chef Jorge Mendez is no stranger to manning a restaurant, but the private dining space Modan serves to be a distinctive offering among the slate. An ode to his love for Japanese culture as fostered by his mother, Modan’s degustation menu is a progressive take on a much-raved and much-loved cuisine. With local and Japan-flown ingredients fused with Chef Jorge’s neo-traditional techniques, the dining spot boasts particular flavors that tell personal, nostalgic memories, narrated by the chef through each carefully curated dish.
Dennis Sulit
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Erika Austria of Laro Ceramics
Imagination begins with scratches on paper or sculptures formed through toy clay. In a world reigned by grown-up pressures, Erika Austria’s Laro Ceramics reignites the once-forgotten childlike approach to creativity. Laro Ceramics, which was launched during the pandemic, was born from Erika’s desire to “feel the earth” at a time of seclusion. Fast-forward a couple of years, the studio molds more than ceramics, as it, too, forms a safe space for sparks of imaginative playfulness with its students.
Dennis Sulit
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Kodawari
The triumvirate of Toni Potenciano, Trixia Dela Cruz, and Jake Aycardo are credited for bringing modern Japanese fare to the solitary streets of Salcedo Village in Makati. Kodawari started out as a delivery-based business during the height of the pandemic, and has since transformed into an enterprise with its own cult following. The name roughly translates to the "pursuit of perfection," which one could argue is reflected through their gyudon, shroomdon, and other signature dishes.
"Our work is a mix of the things that we like, such as anime, video games, and Japanese pop culture, but also a celebration of different styles," Toni says. They don't claim 100% authenticity with their offerings, but they do promise to foster a "creative spirit and innovation" not just through their food, but with every effort they push out.
Dennis Sulit
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Elina Jung of ELINAILS
Born in Seoul and raised in Manila, Elina Jung was exposed to two vastly different landscapes growing up. Beginning at the age of 12, she always had a distinct set of claws on even if she was just attending her classes, much to the fascination of her peers. What started out as a hobby and an "obsession" has since become a business, one whose patrons include Nadine Lustre, Bella Racelis, and Rei Germar. Elina primarily makes use of natural elements in her designs, with all of her materials sourced from her home country. Utilizing her knowledge of beauty standards from varying worlds, she continually pushes the envelope with one's usual mani-pedi.
Dennis Sulit
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Paul Jatayna
They say that the spirit of the Filipino is intrinsically a maximalist. Paul Jatayna embodies this through his work as a production designer, which maximizes elements and design cues that resonate with any Pinoy household. After his apprenticeship under Mimi Sanson Viola, Paul's career launched via events styling for nightlife gatherings XX XX and That Elephant Party. His work has also landed on our digital pages, as seen in our cover story spreads for Kathryn Bernardo, Kaila Estrada, and Melai Cantiveros.
If he were to create a world crafted out of his own life, it would be "very excessive" with the use of silk and velvet, and rich shades of maroon and emerald would dominate every corner. "Everything would not be conventionally beautiful, but [rather, would] be crazy in a way," he says.
Dennis Sulit
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Geloy Concepcion
The name Geloy Concepcion can easily echo across the photography scene, be it in Philippine spaces or international waters. Formerly a videographer and photographer for local networks and publications, the San Francisco-based artist made waves for his online project-turned-book, Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did. Akin to a conduit of his audience’s heart-wrenching vulnerability, Geloy’s own artistry as a documentarian shines in his raw photographs, scratched out by anonymous messages that reveal fragile, human conditions.
Dennis Sulit
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90s Kabaklaan
The anonymous force behind Instagram account '90s Kabaklaan transports its followers into the golden age of glossies. Mixed with kitschy captions and nostalgic references, the online account serves as a portal to a simpler time when one's own "kabaklaan" was cultivated. Even as '90s Kabaklaan moves into the Y2K era, the community it has formed, one that's 106,000 followers strong, remains as tight-knit as ever.
Dennis Sulit
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*This image was produced using a stand-in model
Drian Bautista
You might not recognize Drian Bautista when she's in her "natural" state of glam. Over the years, the Zambales-based makeup artist has become a shapeshifter, taking on different personas that reside in universes different than our own. Her mind-blowing work has deservingly garnered local and international attention, with Gen Z starlets Andrea Brillantes and Kyline Alcantara having tapped her for a transformation of their own.
Drian's process, as otherworldly as the final outputs may seem, begins with a pen and paper. She sketches out her vision, whether it be an alien goddess or a reptilian creature, and then manifests the design through her own body.
Dennis Sulit
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And a Half
Narrative, empathy, and collaboration are the running forces of And a Half, an 11-person independent design studio based in Manila. Their very name speaks to their mindset as a collective, signifying “two halves coming together” that brought about a prominent clientele from airline Cebu Pacific to Filipino heritage brands like Proudly Promdi and Archipelago. Within their inner workings, creativity in collaboration thrives with several autonomous creative directors under their name, alongside a worker-owned system that places its artists in the forefront.
Dennis Sulit
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Hana Kirchhoff of Filipinta
While based in New York, Hana Acabado-Kirchhoff’s Filipinta oozes with unique Filipino-isms that shape its quirky, culture-driven beauty products–think “Banana Ketchup” lip gloss and Choc Nut-inspired lip balms. The creative director and multimedia designer launched the brand as a passion project in 2019, which began as a faux company called “Pinta Cosmetics.” From then on, what was merely conceptual became reality, with Filipinta reveling in the kitsch that makes Philippine pop culture tick.
“I’ve always been passionate about our colorful history and I’m very excited that I get to share that with the world through my chosen medium,” Hana expresses. “My art aims to celebrate Philippine culture and it’s really for everyone to consume, but it’s especially for Filipinos, in and outside the motherland.”
Courtesy of Hana Kirchhoff
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Eugene Malabad of Kill Joy Studios
Commuting under the scorching sun in Metro Manila fueled Eugene Malabad's style ethos. With his fashion label Kill Joy Studios—the inspiration behind its name is a story of its own—he creates "commuter couture" that's an elevated take on the typical Manileño attire. Eugene regards the brand as his own journal, where he documents his experiences through skillfully handmade garments. Such examples include bleach-dyed tote bags, reconstructed denim vests, and see-through fringe frocks.
Dennis Sulit
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Lee Morale and Lei Severino
Deep into their studies as Fine Arts students of the University of the Philippines, Lee Morale and Lei Severino join forces to create masterpieces borne out of their combined efforts. After Lee clicks on the camera, Lei dabs her brush to alter the world their subjects are portrayed in. It's a unique process that exhibits not only their collaborative nature but also their immense yearning to hone their crafts.
"Nirerepresenta ng work namin [ang mga] artista ng bayan na pilit ninanakawan ng espasyo sa ating industriya," Lee declares. In the digital age, this duo is championing art in its purest form, proudly made by hand and loaded with intent.
Dennis Sulit
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Romeo Padilla of Synopsiiis
One could distinguish a Synopsiiis piece, which could possibly be one of their trademark halter tops, for its doodle-like design and natural hemlines. Though, before these pieces were swathed around the likes of Kathryn Bernardo, the label was just a repository for Romeo Padilla's thoughts and inspirations.
A "finsta" fully evolved into a fashion and lifestyle brand, Synopsiiis continually gains a more meaningful definition for its founder. And for its patrons, the same holds true. "You can just play around with the shape [without] thinking too much of how it would fall on your body," he says about their pieces' versatility and wearability.
Dennis Sulit
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Borgy Angeles
Equipped with a Canon camera and a wanting to create, Borgy Angeles began his career by shooting his close friends by the river near his home. This determination eventually developed his taste, which translated to warm tones and a palpable pensive quality akin to his work.
"I firmly believe that what you put out in the world will eventually follow with what you want to achieve. So when I was starting, I put out work that I wanted to do in the future, " the lensman says of his work ethic. Eventually, these desires have actualized, with his signature style now present in publication spreads and galleries around the country.
Borgy Angeles
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Alexie Nethercott of Studio D'Arte Alexie
It was a winding road before Alexie Nethercott began making shoes. Initially a pre-med student, the designer eventually turned her childhood passion for arts and crafts into her own namesake brand. A Studio D'Arte Alexie pair would easily catch your gaze with their vibrant colorways and eye-shaped embellishments. At its barest, the label seeks to "uplift the confidence" of its wearers, especially women like Alexie with aspirations to reach for.
Dennis Sulit
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Produced by The Preview Team
Photographer: Dennis Sulit
Creative Direction: Bacs Arcebal
Editor-in-Chief: Marj Ramos-Clemente
Production: Em Enriquez and Katrina Maisie Cabral
Beauty: Team Muriel Vega Perez
Story: Em Enriquez and Katrina Maisie Cabral
Social Media: Jamie Lou Briones
Video: Jana Jodloman
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