Taking Off

What got you into this line of work?
I was a communications major in college so I knew I wanted to be in advertising since then. There’s a lot of aspects and dimensions to communications, so exploring a little more led me to it, and now I’m a producer at an advertising firm.

What’s been your favourite project you’ve worked on so far?
I love travelling, and I did this project with MTV many years ago in conjunction with the Philippines Department of Tourism. Imagine shooting all over Philippines for free and getting to see amazing sights—that’s been my favourite for sure. I can’t lie though, I love projects where I get to work with big celebrities (laughs).

Share with us a favourite childhood memory of yours.
There’re a lot, but the funnier ones stick out. When I was really young, my dad bought me a basketball jersey, and I cried because I hated it. It was a really memorable moment—I’ve had a lot of fun moments with my family, but the fun times get boring over the years.

You’ve lived in quite a few countries till date—tell us more.
I was born, raised, and educated in the Philippines, and I’ve lived in Vietnam and the United States before Singapore. I’ve lived here for almost two years now and I love it here, because I feel like this is the place where my career will take off for me.

What’s one dish everyone must try when they visit the Philippines?
You might be expecting me to say adobo, which is a staple Filipino dish, but I’d recommend laing, which is a dish made out of dried taro leaves, simmered in coconut milk. It’s quite spicy and there’s a lot of flavour, and it’s the first thing I try to have whenever I go back.