Cebu creatives selected for Apl.de.ap, Thames scholarship
Four Cebuanos were among the 22 creative talents chosen for the scholarship in Innovation and Creative Enterprise (Professional Diploma) offered at Thames International Business School, while another four were selected to represent Cebu among 15 other hub leaders in the Creative Innovators Fellowship offered by the British Council along with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Design Center of the Philippines, and Philippine Trade and Training Center.
In “Communities of the Future,” the event held in the newly renovated National Museum of Natural History in Metro Manila, eight Cebuano creative minds were introduced—selected from around the country—joining the prestigious Creative Innovators, and Innovation and Creative Enterprise programs.
These were Karla Batiquin (manager, Holistic Coalition of the Willing–Holicow), Regil Cadavos (community engagement lead, ASpace), Cherame Lopez (creative operations officer and designer, Anthill Fabric Gallery) and Patricia Mendoza (project officer, Materials Innovation Centre–Matic).
Tiffany Neri (SunStar Publishing Inc.) for media and publishing, Genesis Raña (University of the Visayas New School of Art and Design) for design and education, Eli Razo (Studio Evision) for film and theater and David Louise Ouano (NS Network and DongPeds DesignCo.) for graphic design and visual communication were the four Cebuanos among the diploma scholars.
The Apl.de.ap Foundation and Thames International Business School recently launched the Creative Innovators Program, aimed at fostering more sustainable and impact-led creative hubs within creative and cultural sectors.
“I’m an advocate of the creative industries because I am a direct product and beneficiary of the sector. Our creativity and potential can be maximized through training and education supported by creative hubs and investments,” said Apl de Ap, musician and founder of the Apl de Ap Foundation. The program is centered on cultivating and shaping creative entrepreneurs—people who invest in creativity and combine creative innovation with their entrepreneurial abilities to develop successful businesses that sustain artistic initiatives. It aims to support the country’s creative industries, create a more inclusive growth in the creative economy and strike positive change in cities.
“Supporting the establishment of creative hubs in the country means unlocking their potential to provide avenues that support the growth of hundreds of creative entrepreneurs, innovators, creative mentors and leaders in the Philippines and abroad,” said Nora Terrado, Undersecretary for the Trade and Investments Promotion Group of the DTI.
The other diploma scholars were Jim Torres, Kat Mallillin, Cheska Cadorniga, Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, Jun de Leon, Clint Catalan, AJ Dimarucot, Miguel Señires, Chino Carlo Aricaya, Cherry Saculo-Genato, Franchesca Casauay, Carlos Celdran and Chuck Dela Rama from Manila, Alee Garibay from Cavite, Gerome Sta. Maria from Caloocan, Alison Segarra from Quezon and Tommy Secuya from Davao.
Other creative hub fellows: Maria Roma Agsalud-Agsunod (Common Room), Jodinand Aguillon (Pineapple Lab), Kenneth Biunas (Design Center of the Philippines), Gino Carino (Makerspace Manila), Emi Englis (Artisinal Heritage Studies and Creative Enterprise Center), Maria Holganza (HUB: MakeLab), Maria Ofrasio (Craft MNL), Paul Orpiada (Karaw Craftventures), Don Senoc (Film Producers Society), Maria Sta. Ana (Zapateria) and Ian Tamara (Toon City Academy).