Can you tell us more about you and what you do?

Hi, my name is Cj de Silva-Ong (1987–2024) was a Filipino painter, art director, designer, and podcaster whose creativity moved fluidly across mediums—from world-renowned ad campaigns to a Palanca-winning children’s book. A Promil kid who actually lived up to the hype, she brought intellect, empathy, and a sharp eye to everything she touched.

She co-hosted Telebabad Tapes, where she talked about life, media, and culture with wit, warmth, and just the right amount of nerdery. She loved traveling—especially to Glasgow and Vienna—curating playlists where Steely Dan and BINI peacefully coexisted, and being gently bossed around by her two cats, Andres and Max.

Cj was thoughtful, funny, and quietly brilliant. She lived with care and conviction—and if you knew her, you were probably better for it. Just don’t mess with her Photoshop layers. Seriously.

Every artwork tells a story. What inspired your cover design, what narrative or message are you conveying through your cover design, and can you share the creative process that led to its final form?

I have always loved drawing women doing things that unexpected of them. My artworks celebrate the joys of being a woman, of being a Filipina. I wanted to subvert the archetype of the Maria Clara--the repressed and guilt-laden women bound to domesticity. It's so liberatingseeing the Filipina in a formal baro't saya doing something unexpected, like skateboarding. There's so much joy and freedom in the idea.

How does creativity connect to self-expression for you?

I've always been a craft-first kind of artist. Craft leads to creativity, and then self-expression. It's easier to express yourself when you know your craft.

How do you define your individuality as an artist, and in what ways does this uniqueness manifest in your creations?

I am a feminist and proud of it. I feel very blessed to be born as a woman. I feel empowered to be a woman. And I think that's the energy behind most of my artworks--the joys of being a girl.

In your perspective, what role does creativity play in empowering individuals and communities, and how have you witnessed this power in action?

I think art is the greatest form of communication. Art makes the message pretty. And as artists, we should work hard at the causes close to our heart.

Have you faced any challenges in maintaining your individuality in your work, especially in the face of trends or external expectations? How did you overcome them?

Of course, yes. For most of my life, I was known as the kid who painted mother-and-child portraits. When I came of age, I sort of broke taht mold and I started drawing women who weren't just mothers. I drew women who did other things outside being just a mother. Women as adventurers, as athletes, as detectives.

What advice would you give to emerging artists who are trying to find and express their individuality through their work?

Just look at the shelf in your home and look at the art that you consume. The clues to your style are in there.