Makeup artist with a heart

Makeup artist Erwin Totanes Oning (photo), also fondly called “Kleng,” is also a gifted artist with a beautiful heart.

Through his talents, Kleng helps to reflect the inner beauty on the outer, and guides people to see the greater beauty not only within themselves, but in others.

He took up AB Psychology at La Consolacion College of Daet, but found himself working in sales. He moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in search of greener pastures, and worked as a sales manager for a British company. While working full-time in his corporate job, Kleng enhanced his skills and explored his artistry by doing makeup in his spare time.

“I was always a creative and artistic child, but the arts were something I never really put much attention to. It was actually my very close friend, designer Aldwin Jlo Ornopia, my flat mate as well in the UAE, who pushed me to get into makeup,” shares Kleng.

Today, Kleng is a well-respected creative artist. He enjoys working with a growing roster of celebrity clients that includes Miss Universe Philippines 2016 Maxine Medina, Bb. Pilipinas International 2017 Mariel de Leon, Miss World 2017 first princess Glyssa Perez , Lucio Tan, Luis Manzano, Karen Davila, Ian Veneracion, Dimples Romana and Christopher de Leon. “More than the paid shoots, I’m more moved and driven doing work for charity and helping others,” Kleng says.

He remembers one fashion show in particular, wherein the proceeds of the show were used to support the medical needs of a fellow Filipino diagnosed with Leukemia.

He is planning to host small workshops, helping women cancer survivors to rediscover their unique beauty through makeup, as well as feeding programs for an orphanage in Labo, Camarines Norte. And he’s also opened himself up to training other talented youth.