Youth isn’t wasted on these young ones. Passionate and driven, these personalities are paving the path for their chosen careers–whether it be business and events, or music and art.

Meet Cebu’s Young Creatives of 2016.

Language Leaders

Rowell “Medyo Maldito” Ucat, Kurt Fick, and Therese Villarante

Photography by Toni Marie Despojo/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Therese Villarante, Rowell Ucat and Kurt Fick are Cebu-based creative professionals making a big splash in their hometown through their individual and collaborative works. 

Whether she performing in a production of Siddharta: The Musical, or writing music for the Visayan Pop (VisPop) songwriting competition, Therese is a ray of sunshine for the local creative art scene. Rowell Ucat is more popularly known as Medyo Maldito, and is one of the most prolific YouTube celebrities in Cebu today, thanks to his increasingly popular hugot videos. Kurt Fick‘s rise to superstardom with HAHAHAhasula— a song he directed, edited and performed—has opened people’s eyes to the beauty of Cebuano music and storytelling. – Verne Ahyong

Music’s Muses

Lourdes Maglinte, Vincent Eco, and Nina Alcoseba

Photography by Toni Marie Despojo/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Let’s face it. Music in our precious city needs a drastic makeover. Nobody knows this more than 22 Tango Records, an independent local record label determined to address this conundrum head on.

22 Tango Records is home to some of Cebu’s most talented homegrown musicians and songwriters, like Lourdes Maglinte who is great at coming up with witty, albeit painfully true, punch lines in everything she writes and sings; and Vincent Eco, who you can always count on for truthful lyrics that open up wounds and folk melodies that touch the soul. And then there’s Nina Alcoseba, a free spirit with a good head on her shoulders who is easily the ultimate multitasker of the street team—she writes, takes photos, coordinates with artists, and even hosts some of the events. – Micah Almazan

People in Action

Ernest Dino and Charlene Virlouvet

Photography by Dan Douglas Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Whether acting on stage or filming from behind the scenes, Charlene Virlouvet and Ernest Dino are reinvigorating theater and independent film in Cebu.

Charlene was 13 years old when she fell in love with theater, when her mother enrolled her in the Out of the Box Theater summer program run by Daisy Baad. That same year, Charlene joined a local production of The Vagina Monologues, and since then has chosen live theater as her weapon of choice to promote her advocacies. Ernest, meanwhile, started filmmaking in college while earning his political science degree at the University of the Philippines-Cebu. His film group is named Retaso Media, and it is also the title of his film that won third place at the 2014 Binisaya Film Festival. – Verne Ahyong

Creative Clique

Myka Arnado, Cecilia Martinez, Bea Sagun, Kae Batiquin, and Mirella Gallego

Photography by Mark Philip Dales/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Calling themselves a social movement, Create Cebu aims to promote a more livable Cebu through public art, and to showcase Cebuano creativity and encourage a culture of creation and open expression. They also hope to build a bridge between art and the community—to infuse art into Cebu’s public spaces in order to make it accessible to all. Truly a passion project, these young Cebuanas believe in creating brighter, more livable urban spaces where the rich Cebuano history, identity and culture are visibly alive in the city. – Bea Ybanez

Food Friends

Seby Pelaez and Mitz Vikki Jao

Photography by Toni Marie Despojo/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

The convenience of having your food cravings immediately delivered to your door is now possible with foodpanda, a downloadable app that connects you to your favorite restaurants with a few taps. Whether you’re craving spicy lechon for a hearty lunch or cold milk tea on a hot afternoon, foodpanda brings your favorite dishes right to your doorstep.

Launched in March 2012, foodpanda has headquarters in Germany and is now in 40 countries worldwide. By 2014, it had made its way to the Philippines and finally reached Cebu by November of that year. Sebastian Pelaez takes care of leading the team in all aspects of the business—from acquiring new restaurants, to marketing the product on online and offline channels, and overseeing that all service hits the guaranteed delivery time, while Mitz Vikki Jao is in charge of introducing the brand to the public—a feat deemed successful, considering the app’s popularity today. – Carlo Rivera

Bazaar BFFs

Charmaine de Leon and Ruby Pansoy

Photography by Toni Marie Despojo/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Young architecture graduate Charmaine de Leon was at a music event, walking by the stalls that were peddling a wide assortment of wares—from the most basic items to the quirkiest fashion finds, from unique culinary creations to dessert favorites—when she had her token “eureka!” moment.

Despite the huge crowd present, there wasn’t much foot traffic along these said stalls. Understandably so, because people don’t really go to a music festival to shop. There surely must be a better setting to showcase their products, Charmaine thought, so she rounded up friends Ruby Pansoy and Monica Posadas. Together they came up with what would later on be called the Pop District Bazaar, which has provided Cebuanos with a unique shopping experience, while opening up new opportunities for young entrepreneurs to reach their market and go after their dreams. – Bea Ybanez

Dance Troupe

Mac Viros, French Manla, Jasper Borres, Joshua Cypres, Arnel Biscarra, Coody Rodriguez, Gian Chua, and Yan Perez

Photography by Dan Douglas Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

It’s hard not to get caught up in the beat when you’re watching a group of dancers perform—synchronized, upbeat and just plain energetic, it’s enough to make you wish you could move like that yourself. Such is the feeling when watching Cruise Control perform. With various gigs that include regular performances at SM Seaside City, the group of boys has shown that they’re all about the movement, and they’ve got the fans to prove it. – Shari Quimbo

Hyper Active

Arianna Lozada, Adam Hechanova, Bryan Tan, Matthew Basabe, and Arianne Albia

Photography by Dan Douglas Ong/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

In developing individual personalities, Hyper Cebu is made up of a team with a unified desire to bring topnotch entertainment to Cebu—with events that are well planned out, affordable and readily accessible. Their shows feature new waves of music introduced by a wide lineup of DJs. The group also aspires to contribute to the local economy by drawing more tourists to the venue, and incessantly promoting Cebu culture and hospitality.  – Carlo Rivera

Design Dossier

Kidlat and Jean Candice Yu

Photography by Toni Marie Despojo/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016

Cebu City has a vibrant art scene, but there is more art to experience in Cebu than those found in museums and galleries. Street art can now be viewed all over the city, thanks to Kidlat and his fellow artists, while calligraphy as created by Jean Candice Yu now appears on everything from corporate logos to wedding invitations. – Verne Ahyong

photography Toni Marie Despojo, Dan Douglas Ong, and Mark Philip Dales makeup by Janice Barillo and Arnauld hair by Gino Fonghe shot on location at Unos Design