ART WITH A CAUSE

Waray Jewelry Designer and Maker Danika Christyn Astilla started handcrafting accessories in high school by making bracelets from needlework thread. She then continued to explore other materials and eventually, discovered what she currently uses the most-aluminum, copper wires and freshwater pearls.

She did not attend jewelry design school but is a self-taught maker. She used to make jewelry for herself then later ventured to make a business out of her craft.  Now, she sells her jewelry in local shops and online on Multiply, Facebook, and Etsy.com. As a socially-responsible seller, 20% of her proceeds go to charity like Red Cross.  

RADIOACTIVE

A pure Waray Lourd Ernest Hanopol De Veyra, is a nephew of one of the pillars of Pinoy rock, Mike Hanopol. He is the vocalist of the band Radioactive Sago Project. An established writer, Lourd has been a three-time Carlos Palanca Award recipient, and is a prominent figure in the Filipino Poetry Circle.

He recently launched his first novel: SUPER PANALO SOUNDS! under the University of Sto. Tomas Publishing House. He also exerts his fearlessness on radio and TV. Lourd invades the internet through his intellectual masturbation exercises in his personal blog, as well as a contributor for Spot.ph.

Another surprising thing is Lourd comes from Hilongos, Leyte. Both his parents came there but he grew up here in Tacloban City. Currently, he is the host of Lupet, Sapul sa Singko and Tayuan Mo at Panindigan which all airs on TV 5.

THE SHOE FITS

Mai Escape-Ilagan, a shoe designer and entrepreneur from Tacloban City turned her passion into fashion. It was Mai’s cousin’s idea to drive her into venturing to business. Thus, in 2008, SHOESCAPE was born.

Her shoes appeared in Metrowear (ABS-CBN Publishing’s flagship magazines, Metro’s yearly major fashion show). She’s also lined-up with famous local fashion designers like Louis Claparols. Mich Dulce, Charina Sarte and a store at Rockwell Almost Famous.

Mai and SHOESCAPE have already been from print: Sense&Style Magazine, Meg Magazine, Preview Magazine, Philippine Star, and Philippine Daily Inquirer. To cyberspace: stylebible.ph, famous blogs like kikay.exchange.ph, and photographer’s blogs. She was also on TV as a guest in The Sweet Life (hosted by Lucy Torres-Gomez and Wilma Doesn’t). 

WARAY GUD!

A polite yet talkative and very animated Mr. Ed Romapal is a renowned editorial cartoonist and illustrator of Region VIII.  He then shares his talent in creating his own designs by spreading Waray Pride in the t-shirt industry. He gave his t-shirt business the name Waray Gud.

His business finally hit clicked during the 2009 Palarong Pambansa when curious athletes and out-of-towners took notice and bought a lot of t-shirts. Then, Mano Ed and his brother Melvin Rompal, owner of apparel store Kevin’s, merged both their businesses. Now the Waray Gud brand is also on other goods like coffee mugs and baseball caps. 

Reference:

Facts from 8 Magazine

AIRRA MAE ASTILLA DACUT

LEYTE NORMAL UNIVERSITY ABCOM INTERN