Quarter-life queens

MANILA, Philippines - Young Star’s seen more than its fair share of quarter-life champions, of course. While quarter-life might be a tricky transition, these five women have handled it with flair. From fast-rising designer Sassa Jimenez to hard-hitting indie drummer Pat Sarabia, these girls are changing our notions of success and quarter-life. Of course, where a generational shift goes, a brand follows.

Olay Total Effects is all about the 25-year-old lady in transition. An all-in-one product designed for the modern, multi-tasking woman concerned about the impending signs of aging, the product fights the seven signs of skin aging — fine lines and wrinkles, rough skin texture, dark skin tone, skin surface dullness, visible pores, blotches and age spots, and dryness.

Sassa Jimenez, 24, fashion designer

Young Star’s all about injecting freshness in staid formats. What do you bring to the field you work in? If you’re trying to innovate in any way, how and why?

One thing designers strive for is to be different. I think I’ve stayed true to what I’ve always wanted to do by re-introducing classic styles and re-formatting it to fit today’s modern world. I believe women should dress well no matter what the occasion and I like to provide clothes for women who believe in that too. I’ve recently been experimenting with menswear and infusing the same design philosophy that I have for my women’s line. It’s important for me to keep pushing myself because the market will always want something new, something they have never seen done before.

What’s the most difficult thing about your mid-20s?

It’s gotten a lot harder to stay in bed, calm down and not think of anything. In my mid-20s, I really just don’t want to waste any time. There’s too much to learn, see and discover.

Christel Boncan, 24, advertising executive, co-owner of UNSCHLD

What do you bring to the field you work in? If you’re trying to innovate in any way, how and why?

Someone once told me never to fill empty with empty. That stuck to me so I believe that genuine art evokes emotions and provokes thoughts. I’d like to reach that point where whatever I do creatively, it will make people feel and think.

What’s the most difficult thing about your mid-20s?

Just when you think you have it down pat, a new challenge is thrown your way. It may be difficult but when that happens, it only means you’re ready to say, “Next!”

Quarter-life crisis is….

The cusp, the brink of being the dopeness!

Janthina Fong, 25, PR professional

What exactly do you do now?

Since I just returned to Manila in late July, I’ve been reevaluating the market here in conjunction with the sort of work I was doing in L.A. I’ve thankfully had several offers for freelance work, but I am concentrating on rolling out a digital PR campaign for a designer fashion line and a sports management agency for the moment. While I am still in the early stages of my career after coming home after five years, I am definitely keeping my options open and in talks with some in-house corporate prospects. It’s a pretty exciting time right now.

What changes do you want to see in the field you work in?

I was kindly counseled by a PR industry veteran very recently. She told me that she felt like the PR industry in the Philippines is aging — and that the need for new blood is becoming more evident than ever. I think that keeping things dynamic, fresh, and now are the life pulse of public relations, apart from the personal relationships, of course. My generation grew up with everything at the click of a button and at the edge of our fingertips. A mentor once told me there are two speeds: fast and dead. If you’re young, hungry, and hopefully talented, chances are you’ll go far fast.

Pat Sarabia, 23, drummer

What exactly do you do now?

I’m involved with several bands. I play percussion and manage the band Wilderness, and play drums for a new band called Soul Airplay/n. I also session regularly for other bands like Twin Lobster, Mike’s Apartment, The Butchercons, and whoever else decides to contact me, actually. I also make my own music under the name “plant a tree,” which is under Number Line Records, a community/collective group of Filipino musicians. Everyone’s music is put up on their site, everything’s up for free download. 

What changes do you want to see in the field you work in?

More musicians/bands bringing new ideas to the table, to just do their own thing, to not be afraid if people will appreciate it or not. For them to be able to open up the minds of the Filipino audience. From what I’ve been seeing/experiencing so far, it’s still a relatively small community, compared to what is really mainstream among the general public and what’s being played on the radio. I think I’d want to see more of an evolution than a change, really. It’ll take time, but as long as there are always people keeping at it, it’ll happen.

Ysabel Yuzon, 22, artist manager, events associate and program director

What exactly do you do now?

Under 7101 Music Nation, I am in charge of The 2nd ELEMENT National Singing and Songwriting Camp. We’re only on our second year so as program director, I am in charge of various tasks from coordinating with the artists, to managing the content of the website, to interfacing with our staging team, to arranging the schedule of modules and activities and whatever else is needed. We’re a small team so despite having titles, we all end up sharing most of the responsibilities.

I end up turning hobbies into actual work so I do a lot of random things, but most of them revolve around art. Most of my friends are either in film, music and theater production so I help them out when they have projects. I occasionally do bar promotions for events where my friends spin, I sometimes do production management for film and theater. I act from time to time and write when people ask me to.

Young Star’s all about injecting freshness in staid formats. What do you bring to the field you work in? If you’re trying to innovate in any way, how and why?

Since I don’t just stick to one discipline, I integrate the different things I learn into projects I have. For example, Ron Capinding in a basic acting workshop told us about truth, service and creativity. I apply that to my writing, and into our events. You have to believe in what you do and the artists you collaborate with, there has to be a reason why you choose to do the things you do, you have to take the audience into consideration, and you have to be innovative.

A gig isn’t just an excuse to drink and go out on weekends. It’s an event that showcases the talents of individuals who want to make their own music for a living. They are people who want, and more often than not, deserve to be heard. A gig is a show. A show is not a show without audience members. You get people to watch by promoting it well. Even in poster designs, it has to be cohesive. You can’t have a picture of the sun on the poster for no reason at all. These details matter in putting up an event.