Fresh Produce 2013

MANILA, Philippines - Every year, Young STAR rounds up the most promising in the next batch of movers and shakers for our ‘Fresh Produce’ list. From sports to music, fashion to theater, these kids are changing the way we look at old occupations and setting the scene for promising careers.

Being young feels like an obstacle course these days—ourselves being said obstacle. In fact, Time magazine just called our generation narcissistic, lazy, coddled, and delusional—and perhaps, rightfully so.

The Internet has turned us into distracted, sleep-deprived, hyper-conscious bros of burden so that by the time we actually get to deal with important pressures like school or work, we’re already exhausted.

But when you think about it, that’s exactly where the fun’s at—the condition. In a time when the young are constantly dismissed as this and that: therein lies the opportunity to rally by doing our own thing—and doing it well beyond our own expectations. Proving people wrong is old news to us, though; we’re all about proving our doubtful selves wrong first.

Young STAR zeroes in on eight up-and-comers and one rising band—young people who not only tirelessly push the envelope, but inspire a collective change in how we think of talent and aspiration.

She’s Only Sixteen, Rock band (Andrew Panopio, 19, guitars; Roberto Seña, 21, vocals; Anjo Silvoza, 21, bass; and King Puentespina (not pictured, 20, drums)

We had the wrong orientation when we formed a band in high school. Usually ‘pag may banda, may chicks, and then we realized that, no, there are no chicks. –Seña

She’s Only Sixteen was a name that I came up with when I was in first year high school. I stole it from a Red Hot Chili Peppers song She’s Only Eighteen. –Seña

There was this dude who went onstage at our gig once and wiped Anjo’s face with his handkerchief. He forgot to go to the back and wipe my face. –King

When I write the songs, it’s usually experience. Most of the time, it’s not fictional. Like, it has to happen before it’s written.  So kung mas magulo ang buhay ko, mas maraming kanta. –Seña

I’m totes fine with breaking into the mainstream. We’re not changing anything drastic as people would think going into the mainstream would be. We listen to the same stuff, we play our own songs, and we always have a say in how we project ourselves to the listener. Plus, we get food now! (Laughs) –King

What I like about music really is, if they don’t like it then whatever, but if they like it, then great.  I’m not really thinking much about the expectations of people. –Seña

What I appreciate from The Strokes is minimalism. –Andrew

Our music is still forming itself. It’s hard to put your finger on it exactly but we want to kinda not let the creative process be limited by being in a band of four people. –Anjo

The new record will be young, hip, and fresh. I’m going to have to say that we’re going to incorporate a lot of sounds and try new kinds of textures on the tracks. –King

We really wanna put a lot of thought into (the new album), make it more a painting than just a drawing. –Anjo

Cath Sobrevega, 23, style assistant for stylist Pam Quiñones

I’ve always been very observant, even as a child. I had an eye for detail and I’ve always appreciated beauty, good design, and aesthetic.

I’ve always loved fashion but I never really thought I could do it for a living. There I was, fresh out of college, figuring everything out when one night, Pam tweeted that she was looking for an assistant, and I thought, why not?

Working with the country’s top stylist is such as a blessing. I couldn’t wish for a better mentor. Every day, she teaches me something new. When I started out I had a very faint idea of how the industry worked and I owe a lot of my knowledge on the technicalities of styling to Pam. She’s also a very sweet and supportive person, almost like a mother to her assistants.

Fashion has the power to transform and create beauty and when someone appreciates that, I know I’m doing something right. There’s a certain satisfaction you get when people understand your work and it affects them in a positive way.

If you work hard, there are endless possibilities and open doors that await.

I know what I want, and I don’t believe in trends. There are no rules to break; I just go with my instincts.

I think sometimes we forget to stay in touch with who we are. We have such a rich culture, with so many talented artists and craftsmen and it’s a pity that we don’t take advantage of it.

I was very insecure growing up. I was short and thin—I still am now—and my classmates would call me “stick.” As a result, I’ve always wanted to be taller and fuller. I struggled with it for a while and then one day I just got tired of it.

I realized that being chic meant being comfortable with your own skin, not pretending to be someone else. I’ve learned to work with my body, to choose clothes that work for me and complement my body type. I am now more confident with who I am and how I look.

Job De Leon, 22, editorial assistant for The Manila Review and sportswriter for GMA

In grade school, I was a nerd, the six-year-old who randomly opened the encyclopedia while waiting for the school bus in the morning and brought abridged classics to class. I was probably one of the few kids in my year who was outwardly excited by English and reading classes because I got to tell the teacher what I thought about the story.

Many things revolved around getting home at a decent hour because I live two hours away from school. I didn’t aspire for must-take profs, only for the ones that would leave me with enough free time to do what I wanted.

At around third year, I started to concentrate on debating and writing for the school paper. There’s a certain sense of pride and entitlement that comes with being associated with smart people that makes you feel you have a mission to civilize and in hindsight I probably could’ve been more restrained with my views, though I maintain that many times I’m still no less right. (Laughs)

If I can be cheesy for a bit, I entered publishing because I always want to work with the best.

I’d rather be a lottery pick who works his way up on a loaded team than the top pick who has to carry a mediocre franchise.

I joined Manila Review because (editor-in-chief) Leloy Claudio’s idea of widening public discussions through a publication appealed to the writer and the debater in me.

The statement that only old, experienced people have the right and ability to articulate intelligent opinions is absolutely not true. I’d prefer people to focus on the content, and engage and criticize it.

There are influential people who treat all drugs like they’re the root of all human depravity. That’s really persuasive to a lot of people but it’s really cheap. We need to talk about each substance individually and why they’re banned. This is not a public admission I smoke marijuana, but I’m saying people need to elevate the discussion and stop assuming everyone’s stupid.

I’ve only had one insecurity and it’s the same up to now: somebody bigger and badder is going to publicly eviscerate my work, my choices, my beliefs. And worst of all, they’ll convince me they’re right.

My parents have been very supportive of whatever I do, the kind that will probably clip this article and share it online with all their friends and my high school teachers. They give me space to make mistakes, but they’re always there 1,000 percent to back me up when I’m in need. Sobrang sweet at minsan nakaka-umay na, but I love them all the same for it.

This year is a turning point for me. I’ve lined up a few deadlines for personal decisions to be made and the rest of my life depends on those results, so I’m just as uncertain as you are.

Nacho Tambuntin, 17, theater actor

My real name is actually Ignacio. Aside from Nacho, most of my friends have actually come up with their own nicknames for me: Nach, Snatch, ChoCho, Nachichi, Naching, and so on. I love my name. I think it’s very unique.

I’ve always loved performing ever since I was a kid. I used to sing all the time and produce little plays at home, which I’d force all my friends to be in.

When I was 10, I auditioned for Repertory Philippines’s The Sound of Music, and after a long audition process, I made it. That was in 2006. Since then I’ve done Children’s Letters to God, Seussical (thrice), A Christmas Carol, Jack and the Beanstalk, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, and most recently, Camp Rock. Most of which was with Repertory, but I’ve also done shows with Atlantis and Actor’s Actors, Inc.

What keeps me in theater is the people. I love making new friends in all the shows I do, it’s like a big family. We get so close, ‘cause we spend so much time together rehearsing, that it’s always hard to say goodbye.

I think that the theater industry in Manila is very vibrant. Everyone is so talented, and there is so much going on at once. It is world class.

Theater may not be the best source of income, but this just means that the people in theater really do it because they love it. So you can be assured that the person performing on stage truly loves what they are doing, and is passionate about performing, which is why it’s just so amazing.

Growing up I was always worried about what other people thought of me. I didn’t want them to make fun of me for what I did. So I often hid, and didn’t tell people I did theater… I realized that I shouldn’t care what other people think, because as long as I am happy and I am doing what I love, people will be supportive.

I have learned that if you are open about who you are, people tend to embrace you and appreciate you more.

My dream is to one day make it on Broadway, and I won’t stop till I do.

Zoe Laurente, 21, fashion designer and Status magazine contributor

There were early signs I wanted to get into fashion. I used to play dress up and drape my sheets on myself and pretend I was a Disney Princess or Power Ranger.

Funny thing is fashion seemed like the most practical course to take out of all the ones I applied for.

School really helped develop my taste and aesthetic. I used to picture myself designing Elie Saab-esque frocks but after this one class with Veejay Floresca where we had to create a menswear-inspired look, I never looked back. It was tomboy dressing from then on.

I like doing what I do because it’s fun.

The creative process can be stressful, but it’s the kind of stress I look for. Seeing the final product also puts a big grin on my face.

The fashion industry here in Manila is a baby, like me. (Laughs) Yes, we have a lot of talented, well established designers from the older generations, but I feel like the industry still has a long way to go before it reaches its peak.

My parents have helped me do what I do by financing my studies. (Laughs) They’re both into art and design even if they’re not in the creative industry.

Growing up with my mom’s collection of paintings and my dad’s collection of vintage watches heavily influenced me.

Expect that I’ll be following up on my grad collection soon ‘cause three looks just aren’t enough.

Catriona Gray, 19, Fil-Australian singer and model

I’ve been singing ever since I was very young, not with the ambition to be a singer, but because I genuinely enjoyed it.

I guess my demos sound pretty lonely, maybe because I primarily do acoustic covers without backing vocals or any Auto-Tune. I’m showcasing just my voice and I think there’s an honesty in presenting oneself in such a raw medium of music. No extras to hide behind. Just me, singing to my listeners.

I’m always going to watch live gigs and concerts whenever I can, because it’s so inspiring to see talented, local musicians in their element. It inspires me to hone my craft and to form my own artistry as a singer.

Filipino culture has been a part of my life, long before I was based here in the country. My parents and I traveled often to the Philippines when I was growing up. Some of my closest family is from my mother’s side in Laguna, so I grew up with Filipino culture all around me, from the food, to the values to the traditions, it has been integrated into my life from an early age.

I grew up without ever initially learning the Filipino language. So you can imagine, residing here now, although not imperative, it would be handy. But I’m studying Tagalog now in UP, so it’s a challenge that will be overcome in the near future.

When it comes to modeling, I enjoy the variety the most. I’m lucky enough to be able to do shoots, shows, TV commercials and events in my work as a model. They encapsulate a lot of preparation and challenges, so it keeps you on your toes.

My awkward phase was from nine to 11 years old. I had braces, terrible teenage skin, and I was just super tall. But you know, who doesn’t go through that phase?

This year you can expect me to grow and develop within my craft of singing and modeling. I always want to keep learning, to keep moving forward. The release of my first original singles will be this year also, along with the continued endorsement of my brands Pond’s and Bench and hopefully others in the future.

Samantha Humphries, 17, model

I know each and every insecurity and fault of mine from head to toe. I can say everything.

When I ask my friends why they do modeling, they say it’s for the money, lifestyle, people you meet, fame. I actually never did it for any of those reasons.

The reason why I started modeling was because I’m actually a super self-conscious person. Whenever I take pictures I always look at the faults and my agency is like “Ano ka ba? It’s nice!”

I was always pessimistic about myself and modeling was the only way I gained confidence.

My dad’s a rocker who grew up in France. He used to go to all the Pink Floyd and Aerosmith concerts. In the car, he would play a “Who’s this band?” game and out of all my siblings I was the only one who really appreciated it. Ever since, my feel has just been really chill like him.

I’m not ma-designer, I’m not even materialistic. I like old things. I like things with a story, with a history, stuff like that.

I never really needed traditional school as an outlet for sociability, or to have a group of friends. I’m still social despite being home-schooled ‘cause I’m an extrovert.

My mom would say that as soon as I popped out of the womb, I couldn’t stop talking. I’ve always been the social type.

I’m the type who enters a party and talks to the people in the corner ‘cause the quiet people always seem the most interesting.

I’m thankful and blessed for having siblings. And I hope you recorded that. (Laughs)

Maturity doesn’t have anything to do with age. My sister goes to me every time she has guy problems. (Laughs)

I’m hoping that when I turn 18, I’ll get to travel. That’s also why I love modeling, because it’s a way for me to find my roots.

Whenever people say I should be confident, I’m like, hello, this is the only age when I can be insecure. So let me be.

Michele Gumabao, 20, volleyball player (DLSU Womens Volleyball Finals MVP)

(Styling by Grace Angelica Ong; clothes by Sabrina by Teena Tan; makeup by Kaye Reynales of Laura Mercier; hair by Ruru; special thanks to Kat Gumabao)

Volleyball taught me how to be disciplined, how to work hard for what I want. Waking up early every day to train then you still have to go to school—it’s very hard but you shouldn’t give up. Volleyball taught me (how) to be independent and to really set goals and priorities in life that I want to achieve.

When we lost our first game we knew it was a wake-up call for us and we worked harder not only physically but mentally.

We solve problems as a team, we talk among ourselves and, being one of the ates of the team, I try to help as much as I can.

I feel honored that young kids look up to me. For me, it’s a challenge I am willing to take on because I know it would also benefit me and make me more mature. Knowing that a lot of eyes are on me helps me be mindful of my actions and know that my decisions can also affect other people.

I was heavier than the other kids maybe because of all the love from my family and friends. Even if I was chubby I really didn’t mind. I was a very happy kid.

When fans constantly message or text me anonymously weird messages, I get a little scared because they seem creepy, but I try not to mind it. I’ll be changing my number soon. (Laughs)

I am very passionate about being healthy and helping other people realize that losing weight isn’t all just about appearances and society.

When I commute, there are people who talk behind my back and sometimes have a photo with me but I really don’t mind. Taking the train is very convenient at times. I ride when it’s not rush hour, though, because it’s like a stampede in there during those times.

These are people who go against the flow of society. They don’t like brands or even labels and sometimes I may act like this, but I believe I’m somewhere in the middle of everything. I also love following rules but there are times wherein I want to let loose and be different also. I am sure everyone has moments like those.

I believe volleyball has a future in this country and it can benefit a lot of young kids who want to get into universities through scholarship funds. It can be a great opportunity for all the young boys and girls who love the sport.

Tim Serrano, 22, photographer

Photography is an excuse to wander. I guess you can say photography is my ticket out of the routine.

I really admire photographers who are honest and true to their craft and still remain resolute.

Doing photography lost its excitement for me at some point and in absence of that feeling I started studying older photographers and trying out different mediums and methods. I realized that there are so many layers to this visual language and I felt like I needed to examine and refine myself before I could continue working.

The allure of film photography isn’t because of (the process of developing and scanning) anymore. All those things become monotonous and very time-consuming. It can be frustrating. It’s more to do with the act of doing it that keeps me coming back.

I honestly don’t want to be eulogized as a film photographer.

I guess my photos have that quiet finish to them but that’s because I’m attracted to things that are mundane yet have this moody or atmospheric quality.

I’ve never really thought about channeling myself into my pictures.

Photography isn’t entirely a business for me so I know very little about the industry.

Growing up, I guess I was too timid. Making pictures will sometimes involve levels of intrusion and exploitation and when that happens I get very anxious. It’s something I haven’t been able to overcome completely but I’m learning to cope with each picture.

In the future, I’d like to do more narratives, or anti-narratives. I’m drawn to pictures that are suggestive and visceral in nature, and that’s how I try to approach my own photography. The thing I find most beautiful about it is that it’s very ambiguous; the meaning of the image resides in the viewer.

I feel like my work is still very young so I haven’t been very aggressive when it comes to pushing it. Right now I just want to work feverishly.