I finished the course Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture at Cebu
Institute of Technology University in Cebu City Philippines. I started
developing interest in creating illustrations when I was in 2nd year
High School. I used to participate in the school Slogan contest. It
made me proud when people started to recognized my drawing skills.
However during college, I shifted my interest in creating buildings. We
were so inclined in making structures using AutoCAD and my I haven’t
created an illustration since then.
I finally graduated from college
and started a new life. I became addicted to computer games and I
somehow decided to stay at home and watch TV and play computer games for
as long I wanted. Finding a job was the least of my worries. My
mother was somehow very understanding and supported me financially.
After 5 years of not having a job, I started hearing some concerns from
my parents on my future. The negative comments regarding my situation
has finally given me new spirit and inspiration to start looking for a
job.
My struggle in pursuing for a job ended when I was accepted as
an Associate Interior Designer in a Department Store. The nature of the
job was more on handling Carpenters and spending a lot of time talking
to Contractors. With an intensified social exposure, I finally decided
to file my resignation and start looking for a better job. The next
thing I know I was already an Associate Engineer in another company. I
stayed there for 18 months until I got bored with my work. The nature
of the job was not only repetitive but also it was more on designing Car
Seat Interiors which was far from being inclined to Architecture.
I
was once again staying at home studying new features of the AutoCAD
software while looking for new job. I stayed at home for 3 months until
I saw an advertisement in the internet regarding an American Publishing
Company here in Cebu wanting to hire illustrators. I tried my luck and
sent my application. The examination was tremendously hard for me. I
had to rely on my drawing skills from High School. I never in my life
thought that I would be creating an illustration again but I did.
My
first 3 months at work had been a total struggle. I couldn’t finish an
illustration that was even acceptable to a client. I was however very
lucky since the company has just started its Illustration Service and
there were very limited illustrators. I was given all the time to catch
up. I took it as a challenged and I had always believed in myself and
the things that I could do when I worked hard and the next day even
harder.
I became a regular employee and now I had been working as a
Professional Illustrator for more than 3 years. My drawing skills had
been consistently developing and refining itself. Each day I grow
prouder of the new things that I could do as an Illustrator.
I am now
married to a beautiful wife for a year and 7 months and I have one year
and 5 month old daughter. From time to time I am accepting freelance
illustration jobs to further harness my craft and share what I could do.