Mons Romulo

Connie Macatuno wears many hats — as TV and movie director, screenwriter, and creative designer for I Am Lokal, a clothing brand that aims to highlight Philippine weaves and fabrics, mixing upcycled materials. The films Direk Connie has helmed include Rome & Juliet (2006), Glorious (2018), Malaya (2020), The Broken Marriage Vow (2022), and Guilty Pleasure (2024), her latest film. Direk Connie has a degree in Broadcast Communication from UP Diliman and has always had a love for film.

After a series of eye surgeries in the US (18 surgeries from 1982 to 1989 due to glaucoma), Jaime Silva, more known to family and friends as Jimmy, and his wife Helen decided to change the focus of their lives. Instead of travelling back and forth to the US for his eye treatments, they opted to stay at home in Manila to take care of their daughter Erica and build their family. Later on, they were blessed with a son, Sandro.

Strozzi handcrafted jewelry, a local brand based in Liloan, Cebu, is known for its vibrant, intricate designs that celebrate Philippine culture and nature. “In 2005, my parents encouraged me to enroll in a metal-making workshop in Cebu under FAME. It was a six-month, hands-on intensive training course under the direction of German metal artist Ingrid Haufe. That was the time I discovered my passion for metalsmithing and love for jewelry making,” shares jewelry designer Strozzi Abecel Rosende.