“Amid all the hateful things we know and hear, people in
Manila always find ways to smile, be happy and help other
people as much as they can in their own way.”
As a creative, can you suggest points of improvement
for Manila in the aspect of supporting a vibrant,
creative community?
I believe it all starts with having a mindset that
believes in the possibilities of what Manila could be.
Believing in the place, believing in the people are keys to
building this city. It may take some time, but surely it is
the foundation of this community. We need to love our
country more, nurturing what we have and taking action
rather than just complaining and comparing. From here,
the rest will surely follow. to illustrate, get to feel the atmosphere of the place at
that moment. I take a lot of reference photos, trying
to explore angles and perspectives that best represent
the place. I make quick sketches, sometimes already
drawing it directly to digital. Colors take some time to
finalize as I keep experimenting until it is right. It takes
a few hours to finish a piece, more if it had detail. But
I don’t dwell much on these as I like the sketchy feel
of imperfect and rough strokes. I finish as soon as the
mood has been wonderfully captured in the artwork
and it feels complete.
We've all heard the stuff we hate about the city but
what is one thing Manila has that no other city
possesses? Are you reminded of little moments or
personal anecdotes that illustrate this?
Amid all the hateful things we know and hear, people
in Manila always find ways to smile, be happy and help
other people as much as they can in their own way. One
of the many moments I remember is that whenever I ride
a taxi or a ride-sharing vehicle and encounter terrible
traffic, most of the drivers I encounter tell jokes and chat
to keep light of these daily downers. In effect, I forget
the traffic and soon arrive at my destination with a smile
and a light feeling. It’s these small things that still make it
home for me. We currently live in a reality riddled with fake news,
misinformation and false promises. What do you think
should our role be as creatives to halt the progress of
such negative forces?
As creatives, we have the power to communicate.
Whether it be through visuals, words, or music, we must
always be present and take action with all that’s happening
around us to protect the truth and freedom we’ve always
fought hard for. Go out, take a stand, talk and take action
from beyond the screens. Just keeping silent removes us
from our purpose and meaning in society.
Aside from illustration, what other hobbies or interests
do you pursue?
I enjoy film photography from time to time, taking
long walks as often as I can and snapping moments that
move me. I also spend a lot of time reading books and
watching films. All of these have an influence with my
illustration. But most of all, I enjoy a lot of coffee! I make
it a point to always go around cafes around the city and
whenever I travel. I take time brewing my own cup every
day, and for friends, too. This pretty much explains my
Instagram name, @cafedandy. Let’s have coffee!
Can you give us a brief outline of your workflow for the
illustrations you make? How do you obtain references
and decide what scenes to draw?
Every illustration starts with me spending a lot of
time thinking and letting ideas simmer in my head.
Then, I plan my artwork based on the mood I want
to capture, creating some initial sketches. For the '100
views of Manila' project, I visit the specific place I want
Follow Daniel Tingcungco on Instagram at @cafedandy.
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