Jessie Glova Maquillage

CEBU, Philippines -  I found my first impressions of Jessie's hair and make-up studio at the Pacific Square complex in Mabolo quite interesting. For one, he has a trio of Pekinese dogs around the place; it is Art Deco in design, look and feel. Chintz rugs and cushions adorn Hollywood director-style chairs for his clients to sit on. Blue Italian glass vases are in one area. Meanwhile, remarkable curio baroque pieces are all over. 

My aunt, Mayen, sat in one of the Hollywood chairs for her transformation. With a few deft make-up strokes, the use of prosthetics, air brush make-up, and voila, she became a wicked witch, complete with a pointed buckled hat, gray hair, warts on her face, and thin plum red lips for a complete make-over.

According to Jessie, who is from Cebu, "I have been doing make-up as far as I can remember." When he came back from the UK in 2004, he established the brand name Jessie Glova, known for hair and make-up styling. He likens himself to a Renaissance man, wherein you need to evolve, so he diversified his business. Four years ago, he formed  a company named Chameleon, the acronyms which stand for Costume, Hair, Accessories, Make-up & Merchandise, Events, Lifestyle, Entertainment, and Other Needs. Chameleon sells Jessie Glova cosmetics, accessories and costumes. He adds that Chameleon is "giving out a bit of me." It's his personality and goes beyond the limit, by seeing things around you with endless possibilities. He also chose the name to blend with what people want him to be.

Jessie, passionate and determined, currently has numerous advocacies on his mind. Foremost is to promote make-up artistry as a true profession. The industry has always been very traditional, with weddings as the primary source of income. There is no venue in Cebu for make- up artists to excel in cinema or theater. Bigfoot, for example, imports foreign artists. Fresh from studies in Singapore and Manila, he introduced the airbrushing technique in 2005, which others are now doing. He also wants to encourage unity by regulating the industry, thereby avoiding the existing prejudice, discrimination, and bullying among the artists.

Jessie's number one inspiration for his work is his family. He also gets inspired by his dreams, and has a daily journal which he refers to regularly, to check if his plans have been fulfilled or not. These are what fuel him to create his stunning make-up transformations on his clients, with himself as a "test model." He has created himself to look authentically  like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribean and as the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, Frida Kahlo (wife of the Spanish poet Diego Rivera), Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and various artists like Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, as well as many other famous personalities. As Jessie shares, "There is so much you can do with make-up. It changes you as  person, and it's therapeutic for me.  A lot of research goes into the procedure of doing make-up for character or make-up for beauty like brides. It's a six step process starting with skin care discipline, primer, corrector, concealer, facial structuring, and powdering before the actual make-up. I use heavy make-up with a light effect, light colors that can stay for 18 hours." These are what he shares with his eager clients, who patronize any of his three shops, currently located at Ayala, Basak, and Pacific Square.

Like a true Renaissance man, as if he isn't busy enough, Jessie also manages to give make-up tutorials, and has had 98 graduates, to date.  Aside from being an artist, Jessie is also a painter, a collector, a singer, a ballet dancer, and one who firmly believes in education. He has two degrees from the University of San Jose Recoletos - one in Business Management, and another in Education. To add to his achievements, the Philippine Make-Up Artists Association has recently called him to be an Honorary Member.

Plans in the pipeline for 2014 are to come up with his own Lifeline album, featuring him singing memorable songs from his childhood to the present day. He is also working on a photo wall titled "Project Hulagway - 100 Faces of Me", depicting him as various notable personas.  Last, in his bucket list would be to work for Warner Brothers. And indeed, with Jessie's talent, determination, and engaging personality, that might be a dream fulfilled sooner than expected.

Jessie Glova is sponsoring the hair and make-up of Marlinda Angbetic Tan's character, the Wicked Witch, of Cebu Center for Dance's (CCD) ballet adaptation of James Lapine & Stephen Sondheim's Broadway Musical, Into The Woods. This is slated on December 7, 2013, 6 PM at SM Cinema One. Tickets are priced at PHP 400 & PHP 200 (free seating) and available for sale at CCD, Coffeebean I.T. Park, SM & Ayala branches. Call 416-9637 for more details. A portion of the ticket sales will be donated to the victims of Yolanda. (FREEMAN)