Photography NATH YBAÑEZ
Grooming CHADY PANTALEON
Locale CRIMSON MACTAN RESORT AND SPA
This story is taken from our archives. Originally published in Zee Digital Vol. 1
“I’m probably the friendliest graphic designer you’ll know,” PJ Ong says as we were wrapping up after the shoot at the villa of Crimson Mactan Resort and Spa. I had asked him what it was that he felt made him stand out from other artists, and he’d replied his character.
Definitely easygoing, PJ is the man behind Indoro, his creative signature that had received widespread recognition
for being the Filipino artist featured in a Uniqlo collection. “It was a great pleasure collaborating with Uniqlo for their Feel the SEA campaign,” he said smiling. “I’m still overwhelmed with the positivity that a team of highly esteemed curators chose me to represent the Philippines.”
PJ Ong grew up exposed to art, having always been interested in the subject for as far as he can remember.
His father was a businessman, but spent his free time dabbling in painting and photography. “They are the reason
I was led to this industry,” he shares about his family. “Aside from their highly supportive nature, there was always
a thirst for creativity and adventure in the household. we love to travel and to explore new things in general. My parents have always been advocates of keeping an open mind and nurturing curiosity.” And those factors have all contributed to who he is a person and as an artist.
Like many artists, it takes time, effort and probably a pinch of drama to finally find your place in the scene. During the journey, he came to the conclusion that he had always been drawn to the so-called underground art industry. Laughing, he randomly mentions that he dropped out from college, where he was studying Information Technology. “It wasn’t for me, so I took a ten-month certification in the International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto,” PJ shares, continuing that he had went on to finish the course at the top of the class. Not bad for a college dropout. “I will always be proud of that.”
The rest is history, and Inodoro was born.
It’s not unusual for someone to ask why PJ had chosen Inodoro as his brand name, considering it is the local word for a toilet. ì”I wanted a name that had Filipino-Spanish roots, with hints of controversy and humor. Embracing the punk ethos, my moniker naturally has a streak of rebellion and non-conformism. In short, a Fuck You attitude. Plus, it’s hard to forget.”
Inodoro is entirely abstract and experimental design. PJ stressed that each project is a unique endeavor, but
he always tries to stay true to his design DNA. His work emphasize his principles, which are rooted in being forward-thinking, thorough-driven and dynamic.
This is probably one of the reasons why Uniqlo chose his work for the collection. ìI was prompted by a business contact to send over a portfolio link, and after a few days, a representative from the Uniqlo HQ in Japan got in touch with me,” he recalls. “I was overwhelmed to find out that they had strong preference for my work, which they expressed during the initial communication.”
According to him, the main directive was to create designs in three colors. They were given creative freedom in
terms of execution. “I was inspired by the Japanese’s constant pursuit of the avant-garde, the experimental and the
unknown, while keeping the overall look minimal, clean and polished. At the same time, projecting a positive message
since that was one of Uniqlo’s core values as a brand.”
The most significant thing that interests me about PJ’s view in the art industry is that he values his integrity and
brand, much more than being popular or mainstream. he thinks it would be silly of him to change his style just to gain an audience. “To me, the name wouldn’t even matter. As long as you’re able to produce brilliant work for some people, then that’s enough already,î he says. That goes to show how authentic he treats his art, and that his passion for graphic design is no joke. ìClients come to me because they already know my style. I won’t force someone to like my style—if they do, then that’s good!”
Ahuja, 39, represented West Pacific Asia and competed against 88 contestants from around the world. She won the crown and award for Mrs. Universe Joy 2018 and Mrs. Universe Generosity 2018, a recognition of her social work endeavors in the Philippines.
“I was overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude for this title,” shares Ahuja. “For me, it completely depicts what I am, my heart and my work, it’s a consolidation of my advocacy and beliefs—when we care for others, our own strength to live increases. The passion to help is equivalent to the passion to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.” She adds that with her win, she wants to spread awareness amongst the young women and kids of our society to believe in the inherent potential of
becoming happy in whatever circumstances they’re born in, or currently experiencing.
For nine years, Ahuja has been involved with local institutions that support her advocacies related to children and young women. She works with the Mahavir Foundation to provide artificial limbs to the handicapped, the Tahanan Ng Pagmamahal to provide homes for abandoned children, Marilac Hills to aid sexually abused girls and women, the Nazareth Home to support single mothers, and the Ms. Possibilities Foundation to support women and children with special needs.
Born in Lucknow, India, Ahuja moved to the Philippines in 2009 with her family and began a career as a contemporary artist alongside her charity work. She put up her first solo exhibit, The Spiritual Magma: A World-at-Large Series at the Qube Gallery in Cebu on October 2015. Currently, she runs Sprout: A Comprehensive Art Curriculum, an art and creativity enhancement workshops on weekends, and plans another solo exhibit by early 2020.
An occasional model, Ahuja has also been recognized as one of Manila’s Best Dressed Women in 2017, and does modeling assignments for a cause.
Mrs. Universe was founded in 2007, with its inaugural pageant held in El Salvador. The competition is open to married women ages 18-55. It takes pride in recognizing honorable women in society, and providing them with a forum to share their advocacies, as well as solutions on how to help their local communities.
ON JOINING HER FIRST PAGEANT:
“This was my first time to participate at a pageant at this global level. When this came my way, I had a thought-provoking reflection and knew I was going for it and giving my best. Moreover, I wanted to experience the entire process, be a part of one of the most reputed pageants, meet a circle of influential ladies across the globe, build associations, and also make my friends, family and the entire community proud.”
ON THE ROAD TO THE CROWN:
“It was like riding on unchartered oceans with each day testing you with a new challenge. I knew our every move was under evaluation through the highly demanding days. Aligning myself with the expectations of the pageant and preparing to be one of the top 88 women from all across the globe was exciting, thought-provoking, and nerve breaking at the same time, but the support of friends, family, and my community was unbelievable. “
ON GIVING BACK:
“I believe none of us are complete without the spirit of giving and pursuing a difference in the societies we live in. We as human beings must not function in isolation, but care about our society at large. If each one of us start thinking this way, the world would be a better place.
I follow a concept of oneness of life and environment that is instituted by a Buddhist philosophy of Soka Gakkai International. It’s based on the humanistic philosophy of compassion, and love and courage, thus leading to global peace. Practicing this further opened up my path towards social work. Contributing and making a difference in the society has made the whole journey of life more meaningful and rewarding. “
ON FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN BEING A WIFE, MOTHER, AND CAREER WOMAN:
“Managing this symphony of different roles is self-energizing. I’m blessed to have a very supportive family, a very caring partner, and kind and loving kids who trust me. It definitely gets challenging, but my passion to create value in every moment of life is what gives me the courage and compassion to keep all of it afloat together.”
Canvas
A canvas doesn’t necessarily mean the one you paint on. It can even be a blank notebook where all those suppressed artistic ideas go into.
Kyla Estoya, a writer by day and an artist by night says, “I always have a sketchbook with me ’cause you’ll never know when inspiration will show up.”
Pencil or Pen
Some people prefer graphite pencil for textures and shadows, but you don’t have to be that elaborate. You can always stick to the basics. Some people still prefer a regular pencil, like Jodie Ferrer who is an illustrator.
She says, “Drawing sometimes requires something to write with. Using a pen is a great practice for being decisive with the strokes. But a regular pencil is still my fave.”
Eraser
Because as Jodie says, “we all make mistakes”, and it’s fine to make them.
Smartphone
Who doesn’t use Pinterest for inspiration nowadays? Some artists try to find their selves or look for ideas save references in their phone. It’s okay to be inspired but never steal artworks—that is a big no-no.
Earphones/Music
“[It] blocks out the noise when I’m trying to concentrate,” says Jodie. It really does help with the flow of those creative juices when you’re listening to something that soothes your brain.
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How frequently do you see murals in Cebu? Nearly everyday, we go around the busy streets with heavy traffic and it’s almost impossible not to notice those small, artistic creations on walls that add more color to the city. Hannah Soi, a mural artist & visual designer, took up the challenge to level up those small piece of artworks on the street into a much bigger scale and a much bolder message to address.
- What inspired you to make murals?
My first mural was for a client in 2014. My friend asked me if I can do a mural for her friend’s room. I was nervous and I wasn’t going to take it because I haven’t done it before but she insisted. I wasn’t really inspired to start making murals, I was pushed. What inspired me to continue though is the thought that it is something big and new for me and I was curious about the craft.
- How different is painting a mural and painting in a canvas?
I don’t really have a formal education on painting. Based on experience and based on what I believe, when I paint a mural I like it to be cohesive with the design of its surroundings unless if the client wants it to pop out. It doesn’t have to have deep meaning if the aim is to beautify the area especially if you are working hand in hand with interior design. Painting a canvas is different. You need to have proper composition and meaning behind that artwork. It still depends though if you are painting for a client or painting for yourself. When I paint for a client, it has rules. But when I paint for myself, I just paint.
- What was the concept of the mural?
The concept of the mural is for awareness that we need to take care of our environment and protect our wildlife. We aim to let the Cebuanos know that Cebu is very special because it is the home of a few of the endangered birds in the world. We as locals should know that these birds are protected by law. We should have compassion not just to these birds but to all wildlife.
- How did you first react when you were asked to make the biggest mural in Cebu? And how did it mean for you.
I was super excited because it has always been my dream to make a 2-storey or more mural for Cebu. I was always looking at huge street art pictures from Manila and other countries and wondered why Cebu doesn’t have super large murals like them. When I knew that it was about endangered birds and flowers then it meant everything to me. I’m an advocate for the wellness of the environment plus birds and flowers are my favorite subjects to paint.
- What were the challenges?
I learned that a dream come true also has its responsibilities and hardships. It was outdoor and it was big. I usually paint a mural quick because I have my own process. But the limited amount of scaffolding made it not possible to follow my process so it added to the number of days to make and it also made the scaling of the design to a large proportion very difficult. The weather also slowed us down. The direct heat of the sun on the wall is unbearable so we have to start painting at 12 noon, when the sun shifts and there is enough shade. We couldn’t paint when there is too much rain. It was also scary climbing to the highest part of the scaffolds. Luckily, I have my assistants Buscas, Kyla and Raul. We joked our way through the inconveniences and we just laugh about everything every day. I wouldn’t have mentally survived the mural without them!
If you want to check out the mural itself, it’s located at The Gallery, Golam Drive, Cebu City.
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