Illustrado Magazine – Filipino Abroad

Tag: 100 most influential filipinos in the gulf

  • Niche Modelling Agency – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Niche Modelling Agency – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Niche Modelling Agency

    Since their first foray into the fashion business in 2017, Niche Modelling Agency has been quickly growing from strength to strength and has become one of the most dynamic providers of talents for brand campaigns in the country.

    The agency, under the leadership of Founder and CEO Glitzy Robles and Co-Founder and COO Ingrid Aureada, has carved a name for itself in the competitive fashion industry racking up an impressive list of clients in their short existence.  They have provided local and international models for well-known brands in the Middle East such as EMAAR, Splash, Iconic, and Namshi. They have also worked in tandem with some of the biggest names in Filipino fashion, including Michael Cinco and Ezra couture, to name a few.

    CEO Glitzy believes that the company’s rising trajectory is a testament to their quality of teamwork.  She advises would-be entrepreneurs that maintaining an effective team is critical in gaining the most out of one’s hard work. She says “I truly believe that your employees are your first customers, if you take good care of them, they’ll be able to take care of your business.”

     

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    Special thanks to our sponsors: Emirates Airline, Stars n Bars La Mer, Liali, Instax – Grandstores UAE, Dusit Thani Dubai, Gver – Your Friendly Marketplace for Sharing, Meeting Dancewear , MPQ, CMG, Filbrit, and our partners Rozen Antonio Photography,  Alex Callueng Photography, Jef Anog Photography, and Ethereal Photography.

     

    Browse the digital issue of Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos of the Gulf 2018

  • Emerging Talents in Photography/Videography  – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Emerging Talents in Photography/Videography  – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Emerging Talents in Photography/Videography

    It’s a well-known fact, especially in the Emirates that Filipinos are quite the gifted visual story-tellers.  Whether they are doing that via still photos or through videos, Pinoys are hands down leaders in the field.  Meet the next crop of young talents making a mark in the business.

     

    Emerging Talents in Photography/Videography  - Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

     

    Ace Reyes

    “Each one of us has a chance to be in the spotlight.  Everyone can make it,” said Ace Reyes who first got recognized as a promising Filipino photographer when he debuted as a featured artist in Illustrado Scrapbook.  From his small beginnings four years ago, Ace has quickly become one of the most dynamic fashion and event photographer in the city working for some of the region’s most well-respected brands including Sony Music, Clean & Clear Arabia, Maserati, and Namshi. Ace’s works have also been featured at the Dubai and Paris Fashion Week.   Ace also supports local artists in the region, doing editorial shoots and album covers for local pop bands Carizma and The5.

    For the young photographer, everyone has a chance to follow their dreams and make a difference, as long as they put in the hard work.  He says, “You should never stop grinding for your dreams and aspirations.”

     

    Augustine Paredes

    Artist, photographer, art director, and creative consultant Augustine Paredes proves that success can be achieved even at a young age. At just 24 years old, he has already staged solo, as well as group exhibitions outside of the Philippines. His work  for Campus Art Dubai, as well as the #WeAreNamshi campaign,  have been featured prominently in the UAE. Augustine has also collaborated with PUMA, Farfetch, as well as Zadig et Voltaire.

    For Augustine, working in the creative field means being among the fiercest competition within the market. “I’ve overcome self-doubt and self-inflicted insecurity by looking back and reminding myself to not be too hard on myself.”

    In a land where talents are plentiful, yet support is hard to find, Augustine works towards raising the status of not just Filipinos, but artists as a collective community. “My hope for the future is for a fair playing field for creative individuals, where passports are looked beyond and portfolios and talent matter more.”

     

    Tonyo El Estwani

    Sometimes credentials and fancy degrees aren’t the determinants to a great future, and that’s especially the case with Filipino-Lebanese Tonyo Al Estwani. Born and raised in Davao, he initially gained a culinary arts degree and worked in the kitchen for four years.  That is until he discovered his passion for cinematography through surfing and longboarding. “I started with simple sports documentaries until a UAE-based media entrepreneur saw my videos and asked me to work with him.”  Since 2015 Tonyo has been steadily making his way into the film industry. Currently working for Chopper Shoot, an aerial filming company in the Middle East, he has worked for both Hollywood and Bollywood films. Tonyo’s recent film on Armenia showcasing the country’s beauty has also been recognized and commended by the Armenia Department of Tourism and featured in their local TV channels and newspapers.

    Tonyo’s story is one of his real passion taking over his life. “When I dream, I dream big. So, I always make sure I consistently move closer to my triumphs. For me, there’s no such thing as an overnight success, so I invest in small, manageable bits of progress every single day.”

     

     

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    Special thanks to our sponsors: Emirates Airline, Stars n Bars La Mer, Liali, Instax – Grandstores UAE, Dusit Thani Dubai, Gver – Your Friendly Marketplace for Sharing, Meeting Dancewear , MPQ, CMG, Filbrit, and our partners Rozen Antonio Photography,  Alex Callueng Photography, Jef Anog Photography, and Ethereal Photography.

     

    Browse the digital issue of Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos of the Gulf 2018

     

     

  • Fashion Photographers – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Fashion Photographers – Most influential Filipinos in the Gulf 2018

    Rozen Antonio

    Rozen Antonio’s work speaks for itself. A fashion photographer armed with a striking body of work – consisting of projects for publications like Velvet, OhLaLa, and the Art of Living, not to mention commercial projects for brands like Himalaya, Coca Cola, Lords, and United Colors of Benetton, his eye for captivating imagery is nothing short of profound.

    While 2018 has jolted even the most prolific industry professionals, Rozen has persistently brought several exciting projects to life as the photographer of choice for the region’s most highly revered designers. A master at spinning fantasies from a single composition, this year was marked by an extraordinary feat for Rozen having shot Filipino fashion’s ‘Holy Trinity’ – Michael Cinco, Furne One, and Ezra Santos for the cover of Illustrado Magazine’s 12th Anniversary Fashion Issue. Of the landmark project he shares: “The latest cover of Illustrado Magazine is very important for me as it was the first time we had the 3 of the best fashion designers to collaborate.” On another front, as an entrepreneur running his events management company Houz of Zen, Rozen has also worked with hotels and renowned brands, providing design services for weddings, events, and other occasions.

    In the continuous pursuit of knowledge and experience, Rozen voices the sheer importance of adaptability when it comes to thriving within such a fast-changing economic environment: “The world is moving so fast, and we need to keep up with it and learn continuously. You can never learn enough.”

     

    Alex Callueng 

    Despite shifting career trajectories not too long ago – from leaving the corporate world, to becoming a full-time photographer – Alex Callueng has made a fantastic impact at such a short time.

    Now fully immersed within his craft and regarded as one of the most successful fashion photographers in the city, Alex has quickly surpassed field veterans, having worked alongside some of the region’s most well-known fashion houses, publications, and businesses. Alex has produced work for Harper’s Bazaar Middle East, Grazia Middle East, Riva Fashion, and Bedouin Studios to name a few. The highlight of 2018 for him was shooting an exclusive fashion editorial for Vogue Arabia.

    Maintaining a consistent track record and relevance is every photographer’s challenge each year, besides familiarizing oneself with market activity and developing strategies to succeed.  Alex shares that always having something new to offer is of paramount importance: “In this industry, we have to be constantly evolving, innovating, and re-inventing ourselves.”

     

    Jef Anog

    Jef Anog had come a long way from his corporate beginnings as an accountant back in 2010. Today, as one of Dubai’s most sought after and accomplished photographers, he runs his free zone agency, tackling a growing list of regional and international clients from government agencies, couture houses, magazines, and publishers. Some of his most recent notable projects include shooting fashion editorials for Michael Cinco, Ezra Santos, Amato, and Mona Al Mansouri, as well covers for Eluxe Magazine – Paris, and Zahrat Al Khaleej.

    Apart from his commercial projects, Jef counts his most recent involvement with the Philippine Consulate’s initiatives for the community as part of his achievements for the year. “It has been eight years since I started working in the UAE, and I owe everything that I’ve achieved to the people who’ve helped me. It is time to pay it forward.  So, whenever I have the chance to participate in any projects for the Filipino community, I’m always more than willing to help.”

    Hard work prevails for this artist/entrepreneur in the end. In pursuing his future ventures, Jef always puts his best foot forward. “I always show my commitment not only to an on-going project but also to any of my promises. I want to create a reputation for not just working hard, but also showing clients that I put my heart in my work.”

     

     

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    Special thanks to our sponsors: Emirates Airline, Stars n Bars La Mer, Liali, Instax – Grandstores UAE, Dusit Thani Dubai, Gver – Your Friendly Marketplace for Sharing, Meeting Dancewear , MPQ, CMG, Filbrit, and our partners Rozen Antonio Photography,  Alex Callueng Photography, Jef Anog Photography, and Ethereal Photography.

     

    Browse the digital issue of Illustrado 100 Most Influential Filipinos of the Gulf 2018