Awesome People
WHO MADE THIS ISSUE POSSIBLE
Jaypee Fadrilan spends most of his
days slaving away in front of his
laptop as a UI/UX designer. On his
days off, he can be found tinkering
with Gunpla and his camera
collection. How has Manila surprised
you? Manila has changed so much
through the years, so it’s interesting
to see and interact with those who are
passionate about maintaining its rich
history and traditions.
Jedd Sy’s journey in photography
started when his passage through life
was literally put in peril. When he
was diagnosed with cancer, he craved
for an outlet for all his depression and
confusion—a creative outlet with he
eventually found in photography, albeit
purely by happenstance.
Jairuz Florentin is an aspiring
photographer from the University of
Santo Tomas. He expresses himself
through photos and films, aiming to
show the beauty that other people
fail to see.
Armed with Philosophy, an earnest
desire for dialogue and an adorable
dog, Jay Asiddao provides an
alternative point of view to almost
any subject under the sun. His
openness to topics allows for a
unique point of view for a variety of
topics. How has Manila surprised
you? Manila never ceases to renew
itself with vigor and optimism
unseen in other iconic cities. Her
constant reinvention is cause
enough to be curious what she has
in store for us.
After a decade of living in the
capital, Vincent Ong is in the
process of moving back to his
hometown, Cebu. As a writer,
his work has appeared on Preview,
Esquire Philippines, Town & Country
Philippines and CNN Philippines
Life. How has Manila surprised
you? That I’d ever think of the
crazy traffic as a normal part of life!
Ynna Milambiling was a cover
artist for Tessa: Ten Times Ten, a
book that celebrates Tessa Prieto’s
10 years as a column writer. She is
a member of the art collective The
New Black, and currently works
at FOX Networks Group Asia as a
multimedia artist. How has Manila
surprised you? I used to think
Manila was so boring it hid behind
its oversold tourist sites, but its
vibrant events and hidden local gems
proved otherwise.
Janelle Año can be found with
her nose stuck in a book. How has
Manila surprised you? It’s impossible
to get bored in Manila. Follow her
on Instagram @manila.reads. There’s
always something new to discover.
Thriving art, film, music and literary
scenes? Check. Nightlife? Easy. Good
food? Eating is our national pastime!
Victor Burgos is a business
consultant who finds his breathing
room from solving corporate issues
by taking photos, sketching and
traveling. He works and lives in
Makati with his husband. How has
Manila surprised you? Despite all
its chaos and mess, mahal ko pa rin
ang Maynila.