For 14 years, Jopie has built a career through non-traditional paths. Her work as a hair and makeup artist has enabled her to learn from the best in the industry including from a BAFTA award–winning mentor behind her favorite Black Mirror episodes. Beyond the makeup chair, she also immerses in other creative pursuits like writing and film. According to Jopie, these projects may not always bring in high income, but they are essential to her sense of self-expression and growth.

Interview and words by Guia Dionido After the EDSA Revolution in 1986, just a couple of years after she graduated from university, Nelly Dillera decided to enter government service. This was her promise as a young child in Mindanao then who used to ask herself, “kung may gobyerno, bakit may ganito? Hindi mo nakikita sa buhay ng mga tao,”  (if there’s a government, why are things like this? You cannot see in the lives of the people). She believed she could do something. Nelly

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