Dedicated to everyone who I had the honor of meeting and hanging out with. To everyone in the world of art and design who had a big role in making me what I am now, whether they know me or not. To my role models, who I faithfully adore. I thank you for bringing my dreams into life. -DiCi, May 2016
“Kung ang taong grasa pala ang simbolo na nagpapakita kung ano ang kahirapan, aba edi malamang lahat pala tayo ay taong grasa.�
I came up with “Taong Greasy” for the sole reason of irony, but it means a lot of things, good and bad. We are both a poor and rich country which results to “konyo na mahirap” and what could be a lower lifeform that us Filipinos consider is a “Taong Grasa”. A defunct member of the society, or as many would say. A taong grasa would be the reflection on how poor we actually are. Not just in wealth, but in other aspects as well. I guess it can also be a good thing, our people thinking they are rich as it gives them hope. As far as I know, hope really can get you places. So to sum it all up, being taong greasy is what we all are. We are “Taong Greasy” in this society.
“A Civil War” August 2015
I had quite the college experience in college. I learned so much from Asia Pacific College, but more outside of it. I learned a lot from fellow artists who share the same passion as I do. I tried a lot of college aspects so I enjoyed parties and had a blast being a young adult just before I finished college. Mostly, this stage has defined me the most. Giving me my own perspective of the world and my own set of principles that I strongly believe in.
My style is heavily influenced by comic book visuals specifically in the area of graphic novel that has it’s certain feel almost like presenting a film. I grew up reading comics and spent my transition from teen to young adult by reading locally made “komiks” in which I have been dreaming to be a part of. Up to now I have been working on a something that might possibly put me in that industry up to a point that I have met a lot of interesting people who share the same dream as I do.
“The Sixth Child” a fan art for Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo’s “Trese” series May 2015
I always loved the idea of freedom of speech. It lets me tell a lot of stories that revolves around my home or even outside of it, whether it be truth, or fiction, or something in between. I mix the techniques of storytelling from images alone or at times along with text to tell what I want to tell. I would often times believe that it was what I was born to do. I would dream that I would spend the rest of my life telling stories to people who find them amusing.
LEFT: (top) “Santo Pulitiko”, September 2015 (bottom-left) “Untitled“, September 2015 (bottom-right) An artwork for the Syrian refugees late 2015 RIGHT: “If Trains Were People“, comic strip, December 2015
some quote, January 2016
(top) “Graduation Blues“, May 2016 (left) Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr. Fox, January 2016 (right) “Allan” April 2016
“Exceptional Beasts“ July 2016
Over the years I have been trying to make comics myself, most times I would fail, and the ones I have put out there barely made it into final work. As of now I have currently published two comics online, a one-shot that’s supposed to be a series and my thesis for college. I haven’t stopped trying and maybe I’d be dumb enough to not stop at all. But then again, the things we do for love, eh?
LAST PAGE: (left) DiCi’s Buckshot, 2012 (right) Hydra Manila: A Graphic Novel, 2014 LEFT: “Constellations“, April 2015 RIGHT: (top) An album cover (plus back cover) for Lil Marsli, a Turkish rapper (bottom) A cover for a Middle Eastern graphic novel, Abu Rich
What’s best about doing what you love is that you have a chance of turning it into a profession that you would never despise. I have worked a lot of freelance works as an illustrator which would sometimes stress me out but the results are rewarding.
(left) First Issue Cover of Constellation City (right) Landing page Illustration for Reserva Iberica Hong Kong
(top) cover photo for Yettio Travel Magazine (left) case studies for Don’t Hold The Juice, a hip hop anthology album
2016