Novice

Joules Cagurangan, also known as JYUUCIE (JYUUCIE 🧃), is a self-taught illustrator from Metro Manila. Their art is where their playful and candy-colored ideas come into fruition, as refreshing as the first sip from a juicebox.

In 2026, their first storybook, “Si Sally mokō Kodjinisan Nyawa (Si Sally at ang Sari-saring Buhay)”, was published by Aklat Alamid.

For more of JYUUCIE’s works, check out their social media accounts:
IG: www.instagram.com/jyuucie
X: www.x.com/jyuucie

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Got awesome artworks and photos to share? Tag us on social media or email your best works together with a short bio at [email protected] ✨

—Novelty is back. 💃🕺🎶

From the heyday of the SexBomb Girls, Vhong Navarro, and Bayani Agbayani to today’s viral dance tracks and P-pop experiments, novelty songs are once again finding their audience. What was once dismissed by some as baduy or corny is now being embraced as a distinctly Filipino form of entertainment.

If you danced to “The Spageti Song,” “Totoy Bibbo,” “Otso-Otso,” or “Bulaklak” in the mid-2000s, you might find yourself moving to “Oooh Lala Baby” and “Telebong (Hello Po)” today. So why is this subgenre, long viewed by some as lighthearted entertainment rather than serious musical artistry, experiencing a digital renaissance?

Part of the answer lies in how audiences consume music today. In an era driven by social media, catchy hooks, memorable choreography, and community participation can turn a song into a cultural moment. Nostalgia, TikTok, organized fandoms, and a new generation of performers have also helped introduce novelty music to new listeners.

More than just viral hits, novelty songs remain a uniquely Filipino reflection of our humor, creativity, and love for music that brings people together. 🇵🇭✨

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Words by Lloyd Zapanta (𝙇 𝙇 𝙊 𝙔 𝘿 𝙄 𝙀 ! !)
Layout by Allen Esteban (𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻 🇵🇭)
Cover photo by Miles Wency (Miles Wency)

Showtime Baby Dolls MEI MEI VVINK PH BINI_ph Rochelle Pangilinan SB19 Official

—From the Philippines to the Criterion Collection. 🇵🇭❤️‍🔥🎬

This October, The Criterion Collection (Criterion Collection)—the renowned home video label celebrated for restoring and preserving some of the world’s greatest classic and contemporary films—will release a 4K edition of Guillermo del Toro’s (Guillermo del Toro) Frankenstein (2025) (Frankenstein Film) featuring cover artwork by Filipino artist Denver Balbaboco (Denver Balbaboco).

Balbaboco is no stranger to the world of Frankenstein. Before creating the Criterion Collection cover, he made a tribute poster inspired by the film. The artwork caught the attention of Guillermo del Toro and his team, who licensed it for the film’s awards season campaign.

Denver shared with Novice that growing up, he was the kid who was really into classical music and drawn to medieval and Baroque aesthetics in grade school. But he never abandoned the things that brought him joy. Instead, he held on to them and trusted they would lead him where he was meant to be.

When asked what advice he would give fellow creatives, Denver reflected: “What makes you different is often what helps the right people find you. Keep doing your thing. Let it flow naturally, and trust that the people meant for your work will find their way to it.”

Moments like this remind us that Filipino creatives are world-class, continuing to make their mark far beyond our shores and sharing their talent, vision, and creativity with audiences around the world.

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See more of Denver’s works here:
IG: www.instagram.com/denvertakespics
Website: www.denverbalbaboco.com

Pre-order Criterion’s “Frankenstein” release here:
www.criterion.com/films/35825-frankenstein

JC Calingo is a street photographer with roots in the Philippines who discovered photography during the pandemic and taught himself the craft while wandering city streets. Drawn to black-and-white photography from the start, he developed a style influenced by film noir, characterized by strong contrasts, dramatic shadows, and the thoughtful use of negative space. His work explores the interplay of light and human presence, transforming everyday scenes into cinematic moments. Through patience, observation, and timing, JC seeks to reveal the beauty, mystery, and emotion often hidden within ordinary life.

For more of JC’s works, check out his social media accounts:
IG: www.instagram.com/jc.kodaks
Threads: www.threads.com/jc.kodaks

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Got awesome artworks and photos to share? Tag us on social media or email your best works together with a short bio at [email protected] ✨