This is me feeling cute in my Gorilla inflated mascot.

I suddenly got so excited with the inflatable that I literally purchased a lot of inflatable characters in Lazada – dinosaurs, unicorns, lizards, pokemon and just random characters I find cute.

The first brand I thought of was “Cebu Inflatable Costume,” and tried to market it as a cute alternative for PPEs; people were “interested” in me wearing it BUT but no one was interested enough on renting it.

Here’s the first graphics I had for the first brand.

My friends called me crazy. In the time of the pandemic, buying these was a “waste of money”, really. I don’t know but I am happy when I somehow do these “cute things” to make people smile.

Thankfully, Ayala Center Cebu rented some of my inflatable mascots for their Halloween event in 2020. In this time of heightened safety measures, my inflatable mascots were a perfect fit it!

So fast forward when I decided to shift from inflatable to real mascots since no one is really interested in renting it. At first, I am hesistant to start this business given that a quality mascot costs P35k to P40k per piece, but well, I did what I did and bought my first mascot – JJ of Cocomelon.

Undoubtedly, he was and still is the most booked mascots.

I was hesitant due to copyright concerns, but after several discussions of fellow mascot rental owners, I felt complacent as long as we market it as “character-inspired.”

To date, I have 40+ premium mascots from JJ to Peter Rabbit to Disney-inspired princesses, to Avenger-inspired to random characters; until it dawned on me that with this bulk of collection, I need to have breathable warehousing for my mascots. I was literally hopping from one warehouse to another until I finally got a safe space for them – thankfully, it’s near my agency office in Mabolo, Cebu.

It was this February 2022 when I decided to finally do a soft launch for my mascot business now that the quarantine restriction in our city lessened, and gatherings and parties where slowly being allowed.

Here’s to 2 years of “collecting mascots” “wasting money” “investing in useless business” and hearing people telling me it was not a “necessity.”

I have to admit, they were actually right. But look at where we are now – Cebu’s only supplier of quality premium mascots. (wink)

Humility aside, we are getting at least 5 bookings every week, and our income is generating 6 digits per month. Numbers won’t lie, and I am proud of myself for making this crazy decision in the middle of the pandemic. Haha.

I want to make people happy when all of us were in a deprived state during the pandemic. I also wanted to bring the “star struck excitement” to people, especially to kids, by bringing their favorite cartoon characters in their celebrations.

I also found out that there is not much of a competition for mascots in the party needs industry here in Cebu. I think there were a few mascot suppliers before, but not much now. This is the reason why I started Cebu Premium Mascots — to provide the Cebuanos quality mascots and quality performances.

I am also very thankful to have a team of hardworking staff and performers to make all our bookings very memorable to each of our clients.

To know more about Cebu Premium Mascots, please visit our fb page at www.facebook.com/CebuMascots.

Celebrate with you soon! Your mascots are waiting!

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Ms. Wilma, the Marketing Head of Ayala Center Cebu offered this project to our team, which I was hesitant to handle at first due to some business elements that I found uneconomical – from the variability of sales to convenience fees, etc.

She mentioned that she was looking for an agency to handle the Virtual Shopper project for the mall, and we were in mind. In a moment, I was quite unsure if we can handle it but as random as I am naturally, I said my sweet YES!

Again, I definitely have no idea how Virtual Shopping works but given that some malls are doing this, I tried other malls’ Virtual Shopping services just so I know how its ecosystem works.

I contacted some of my friends after to handle this “passion project” — I call it passion project because, in a way, I am not quite sure if we are going to make money out of this, or maybe I am purely doing this for goodwill? — Yes, maybe.

I have Ram as Project Manager, my College classmate; Ms. Thannya as Marketing Manager, my tour guide friend; hired 2 dispatchers and 3 shoppers for this project to operate, and as usual, we have Jeff for the graphics for all of the Marketing artworks.

We were making all of our plans to reality as the days come near the launching date. We have our uniforms and created our booth, finally, we are doing this thing. I honestly still can’t believe in giving my “yes” to a project that I am not confident to pull off, but I guess we are in the right direction. We have been receiving commendable feedbacks so far.

I am expecting something big from this project – not in earnings, but big in good customer service! I am just happy that we are doing a project out of our comfort zones — and it’s fun, and we are learning a lot!

I hope you can support Ayala Center Cebu Virtual Shopper by Shopline by visiting and giving us a like on our page.

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We featured a young kid from Talisay City, Cebu who recently got viral for his video dancing to the popular TikTok hits. Thank you Jerico Lawrence for taking great shots, and Rizzi for the assistance!

Also, to Honelyn for the coordination, and to Marco and the parents!

Thank you for the sweet words to the team of “Iba Yan” especially to Ms Ria Garcia who tapped me to go on-board the show. To more inspiring stories to tell here in Cebu!

Here is a clip from the pilot episode of ‘Iba Yan’ hosted by Angel Locsin and co-hosted by Dimples Romana. Enjoy!

You can watch the show at the Kapamily Channel and episodes on iWant.

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CEA Creatives and Events is honored to be part of this event for organizing and the talent supply of the entire duration of the festival.

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By that time, I had a scheduled trip to HongKong, possibly the reason why I wasn’t given a project until their 3rd month of taping.

It was January 2020 just after the busy weeks of Sinulog when we started supplying talents/extras to the show. The whole talent supply experience brought me back to what I have experienced with TV work – no enough sleep and exhausted, but fulfilled and proud.

My gratitude goes to Ms. Ria and Sir Jevan of the talent department for having me on board. This was my 2nd time to provide talents, first was when Probinsyano shot some episodes here in Cebu few years ago.

On the last weeks of taping, we were also given the chance to become extras for experience.

After 6 months, the taping finally came to an end, interestingly just before ECQ was mandated and most of the staff flew back to their homes.

Pack-up Party with the rest of the staff, executives of ABS-CBN & WGN, crew and suppliers at the garden of Bigfoot Studio in Mactan Island, Cebu.

Thank you to my hardworking staff for this project – Michael, Jen and Peter. You were with me in an emotional rollercoaster ride, but we made it! They also have bit-roles, so I gave them the liberty to be a talent and staff at the same time. Until our next taping project.

Almost Paradise only on WGN America.

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Smile Dental Clinic by Dr. Kim Fajardo is located at the 2nd Floor, Building B, Ayala Malls SerinTagaytay City. For more information, Call (046) 443 2312.

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I spoke Cebuano at the entire duration of my story with bits of English in between. The story I shared was an original story from the students of Cebu Technological University (CTU) – Argao Campus. The animation was created by the animation students of the University of Cebu – Banilad Campus.

The project was also guided by the Department of Education.

I had fun dubbing the voices of Tikboy and Lolo Melio, and the entire story of Argao, Cebu’s “Ang Diwata sa Konta” amazes me.

Aside from me, SMART also invited other guest storytellers like DepEd Undersecretary Toni Umali, and Kuya Kiefer Ravena for the Sports Education sessions.

Smart Communications’ Kaalam App was awarded last 2018 at the prestigious 54th Anvil Awards in Manila.

It also was the sole finalist from the Philippines for Asia’s prestigious GSMA’s Asia Mobile Awards 2019.

Enjoy the beauty of the Cebuano language to your children through the Kaalam app. The app is available through Google Play.

You can watch the replay of the storytelling at Smart Communities FB Page HERE: https://bit.ly/2yhXoZr

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Since then, I have been a contributor and written a handful of 1-page self-help essays focusing on self-development. This started my interest in Creative Writing.

Dream Job

2 years after and at 22 years old, I was accepted as a Writer and Producer for TV for ABS-CBN Corporation in Metro Manila. I was in awe the first time I stepped in the company I have always dreamt of since Grade School. Celebrities were just on TV and Magazines and now I am working with them. It was hard to mix work and being starstruck.

I wrote and produced several cable shows in my early years in the company, and was assigned as Writer for KrisTV on Channel 2, Writer/ Producer for ABS-CBN Convergence and Marketing/ PR for ABS-CBN Events (ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra) the years after. Being an IJM, I was allowed to work multiple jobs in the company.

I have also been managed by a talent agency for Asian-looking roles for ABS-CBN’s teleseryes. I also did hosting gigs for Star Cinema and ChinoyTV (The main reason why I want to work for TV. Giggles.)

As someone from the province with no TV background, I braved to move-out having with me only the confidence that it will be a great learning experience — and it was. It was remarkable.

It was an achievement having to work for my dream company for 6 years, with brilliant individuals having the same passion for mass media and the arts. I learned a lot from them. They are the leaders in the field.

The job was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausting, though I surpassed that all for the love of my job and the company I value as my second home. As they say, once a Kapamilya, always a Kapamilya.

Politics

Apparently, born to a political family, I have to make a decision to leave my dream job when I decided to support a relative who was running for a spot in the congressional race in 2016, but that time wasn’t ours yet, we did not make it to even one seat. I was supposed to be the Chief of Staff if we have won.

In the political race, I have come to realize that one should be able to have a full pocket and wide connection to win and survive the political race… but then again, we are hopeful for better days in the next elections. 

Mabuhay!

No mainstream broadcasting yet, I — without a whim — decided to apply to other industries. A Creative Marketing/Service work in another industry as long as I don’t go back to Cebu that soon. I wanted to explore what the Capital has in store for me. I have always dreamt of working in Manila, and I will make it my best to survive here no matter the circumstance.

The labor competition in the capital is just so tough. Not until Philippines Airlines called me for my Cabin Crew application in March of 2016, and got in. It was a rigorous hiring and training process.

Fast forward to 5 months, I was confused if I really wanted the job; or was I, during that time, emotionally unstable (due to our lose in the elections?) I even didn’t realize until I went out of PAL that thousands of young girls (and guys) would kill for the job, literally thousands — but I was not one of them. I was just a creative guy that needed a job.

After a year in 2017, I got a call from HR and met my trainers. I was given the chance to comeback and earn my wings. I missed them so much and hugged them tight. I was happy for the opportunity.

But then, maybe “Coffee or Tea?” and “Emergency bend down” was not for me. Though having cousins and friends in PR and 2P, working there is always a wonderful option. “Mabuhay!”

Pursuing the Passion

I decided to come back to Cebu. To rest and for clarity.

After enough rest, I started freelancing and pitching through my network and started receiving projects both from the government and private sectors with creative assignments, then CEA Creatives and Events came to happen. It was a one-man show for me, until I needed a growing team.

This is what I want to focus on – being a Creative.

It was a “for fun” project turned serious, when I realize I have a big responsibility to my clients who trusted my service, and since then my team and I have survived the agency life – 3 years and 4 months, as of this writing. Thank you to all our clients-turned-friends who trusted us.

For now, we are having fun with what we are doing. I am also happy that I have given, thru my clients, jobs to my growing staff.

Whatever my business and professional venture is in the future, I am ready with an excited heart. I am in no competition with anyone because I know, in reality, that we can’t serve everyone. We need to have our fair share. May we all make it.

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