It’s a crazy world out there and there’s no denying it. From a global pandemic, to the threat of world war and all that, even just stepping out the door can be daunting. Especially for women. While there’s still a collective hesitancy to “act normal” especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, we do our best to adapt, to live. Even when the Philippine Commission on Women’s website mentions recent studies and data showing that during the pandemic, progress towards gender equality actually slowed down, we carry on. Despite the data, women all over the world continue to smash stereotypes, combat gender-based discrimination, and break the bias—and for no other reason than simply being that good at what they do. We are that good.
And that’s why, in full confidence and battle regalia, we round out Women’s Month with a resounding bang as we look to the future with three fearless Filipinas who have been breaking serious ground in their own right not just because they’re women, but because they’re representative of the industries they’re striving to dominate and thrive in.
From the heavy-hitting hip-hop scene, we meet Nicole Anjela, whose soulful sound akin to artists like Jhené Aiko and Jess Connelly have her riding the sound waves of the local music scene. With artist and model, Gelai Peñales, we weave through the intricacies of the modeling and art worlds, navigating two very different industries with boldness and grace. For tattoo artist, businesswoman, and graduate student Kishan Garcia, nothing and nowhere is off-limits to the creativity, nuance, and energy that she brings to the table.
Get to know them in all their bad-assery and we hope that, like us, you read this and take from it the courage, passion, and ferocity with which each of our cover stars pursue their dreams and come into their own.
It’s a crazy world out there and there’s no denying it. From a global pandemic, to the threat of world war and all that, even just stepping out the door can be daunting. Especially for women. While there’s still a collective hesitancy to “act normal” especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still in full swing, we do our best to adapt, to live. Even when the Philippine Commission on Women’s website mentions recent studies and data showing that during the pandemic, progress towards gender equality actually slowed down, we carry on. Despite the data, women all over the world continue to smash stereotypes, combat gender-based discrimination, and break the bias—and for no other reason than simply being that good at what they do. We are that good.
And that’s why, in full confidence and battle regalia, we round out Women’s Month with a resounding bang as we look to the future with three fearless Filipinas who have been breaking serious ground in their own right not just because they’re women, but because they’re representative of the industries they’re striving to dominate and thrive in.
From the heavy-hitting hip-hop scene, we meet Nicole Anjela, whose soulful sound akin to artists like Jhené Aiko and Jess Connelly have her riding the sound waves of the local music scene. With artist and model, Gelai Peñales, we weave through the intricacies of the modeling and art worlds, navigating two very different industries with boldness and grace. For tattoo artist, businesswoman, and graduate student Kishan Garcia, nothing and nowhere is off-limits to the creativity, nuance, and energy that she brings to the table.
Get to know them in all their bad-assery and we hope that, like us, you read this and take from it the courage, passion, and ferocity with which each of our cover stars pursue their dreams and come into their own.
The 23-year old singer and rapper has carved out her own name in the local music industry as one of the growing number of women steadily dominating the Philippine rap and hip-hop scene. Baguio-born-and-raised Nicole Anjela has worked on a collection of well-received tracks like those in her 2019 EP “Above Sea Level”, which were heavily inspired by the life and vibe of the City of Pines. She has also lent her voice to a series of collaborations with fellow artists Rjay Ty, DB Tha Girl, and most recently Josh Dutch on the single, Complicated. What is she up to now, you may wonder? Well, read on to find out.
The 23-year old singer and rapper has carved out her own name in the local music industry as one of the growing number of women steadily dominating the Philippine rap and hip-hop scene. Baguio-born-and-raised Nicole Anjela has worked on a collection of well-received tracks like those in her 2019 EP “Above Sea Level”, which were heavily inspired by the life and vibe of the City of Pines. She has also lent her voice to a series of collaborations with fellow artists Rjay Ty, DB Tha Girl, and most recently Josh Dutch on the single, Complicated. What is she up to now, you may wonder? Well, read on to find out.
First thing’s first: how are you really?
I’m alright, nothing to complain about. I have a few singles coming out but I’m also trying to work on an EP right now. The sound is definitely a bit different than my past work and also some of the writing—it’s more about myself.
As a lyricist living in a pandemic, how did you cope?
To be honest, by writing. Instead of letting all the thoughts just bounce around in my head, it’s better for me to just let it all out on paper.
Since your debut, how has the hip-hop scene in Baguio evolved?
A lot more people are producing more output ‘coz, before, I knew [of] a lot of singers and a lot of rappers and producers, but not [many] really put their work out for everyone. Now there’s more—like people do more music videos—just a lot more artists are up-coming from Baguio, even female artists.
While the battalion of Filipina emcees only continues to grow, hip-hop is still pretty male-populated. Are there many allies among our Filipino emcees?
I’ve been blessed to be around good people so from my experience, I haven’t really experienced yung hindi sila supportive. I’ve met producers who give me beats and for me, that’s big support ‘coz from that I feel like they see potential in me and they want me to grow.
In general, misogyny is still very ingrained in Filipino culture, though. What do you think we, as a society, can do to fight against it, especially in an industry like yours?
I’d say just be more empathetic to others ‘coz you don’t know what everybody’s going through. So if you feel more empathy towards them and maybe put yourself in their shoes, you could understand why they’re like this, why they’re like that—like everybody would be nice to everybody if everybody’s empathetic towards everybody.
If a male emcee came up to you and asked what he could do to be a better ally to female emcees, what would you tell him?
Continue supporting female rappers, female singers—give time to listen to them, because sometimes just ‘coz she’s a girl, she’s a lady, they won’t give her the time of day. Like some people—I’m not saying everyone—but some have that notion still, which is sad. So just give us a chance.
Are there other challenges that you’re facing in the industry now?
Right now my biggest challenge is having a platform ‘coz there are a lot of events and kung mapapansin niyo, meron namang female rappers but like 1 or 2 maybe, so I’d like to see more representation for the female hip-hop community in the Philippines. Now, I’m trying to be more active on YouTube and post more of my content, and also try to talk to people who produce events, just trying to put the seed in their minds like, “Yo, kami naman.”
Who do you look up to in the industry right now?
Super dami. The people that I looked up to before, I’m working with them right now, which I’m very grateful for but syempre marami parin ibang artists, but siguro ngayon gusto kong maka-collab pa ng more female rappers. Zae for sure—I like her energy. I’ve heard a lot of good things about her. Denise Julia… Sila, I see them a lot on my feed eh so like, whoa, I wanna meet you guys. (crosses fingers)
If a kid came up to you and asked you how they could be like you, what would you tell them?
Don’t be like me. (laughs)
But to be honest, don’t be “like me”—don’t be like anybody else.
Just try to look for your own sound, look for something that makes you comfortable and happy, of course, kasi it’s better to be the best version of yourself than another version of somebody else.
Follow Nicole Anjela on Instagram at @nicoleanjelac.
First thing’s first: how are you really?
I’m alright, nothing to complain about. I have a few singles coming out but I’m also trying to work on an EP right now. The sound is definitely a bit different than my past work and also some of the writing—it’s more about myself.
As a lyricist living in a pandemic, how did you cope?
To be honest, by writing. Instead of letting all the thoughts just bounce around in my head, it’s better for me to just let it all out on paper.
Since your debut, how has the hip-hop scene in Baguio evolved?
A lot more people are producing more output ‘coz, before, I knew [of] a lot of singers and a lot of rappers and producers, but not [many] really put their work out for everyone. Now there’s more—like people do more music videos—just a lot more artists are up-coming from Baguio, even female artists.
While the battalion of Filipina emcees only continues to grow, hip-hop is still pretty male-populated. Are there many allies among our Filipino emcees?
I’ve been blessed to be around good people so from my experience, I haven’t really experienced yung hindi sila supportive. I’ve met producers who give me beats and for me, that’s big support ‘coz from that I feel like they see potential in me and they want me to grow.
In general, misogyny is still very ingrained in Filipino culture, though. What do you think we, as a society, can do to fight against it, especially in an industry like yours?
I’d say just be more empathetic to others ‘coz you don’t know what everybody’s going through. So if you feel more empathy towards them and maybe put yourself in their shoes, you could understand why they’re like this, why they’re like that—like everybody would be nice to everybody if everybody’s empathetic towards everybody.
If a male emcee came up to you and asked what he could do to be a better ally to female emcees, what would you tell him?
Continue supporting female rappers, female singers—give time to listen to them, because sometimes just ‘coz she’s a girl, she’s a lady, they won’t give her the time of day. Like some people—I’m not saying everyone—but some have that notion still, which is sad. So just give us a chance.
Are there other challenges that you’re facing in the industry now?
Right now my biggest challenge is having a platform ‘coz there are a lot of events and kung mapapansin niyo, meron namang female rappers but like 1 or 2 maybe, so I’d like to see more representation for the female hip-hop community in the Philippines. Now, I’m trying to be more active on YouTube and post more of my content, and also try to talk to people who produce events, just trying to put the seed in their minds like, “Yo, kami naman.”
Who do you look up to in the industry right now?
Super dami. The people that I looked up to before, I’m working with them right now, which I’m very grateful for but syempre marami parin ibang artists, but siguro ngayon gusto kong maka-collab pa ng more female rappers. Zae for sure—I like her energy. I’ve heard a lot of good things about her. Denise Julia… Sila, I see them a lot on my feed eh so like, whoa, I wanna meet you guys. (crosses fingers)
If a kid came up to you and asked you how they could be like you, what would you tell them?
Don’t be like me. (laughs)
But to be honest, don’t be “like me”—don’t be like anybody else.
Just try to look for your own sound, look for something that makes you comfortable and happy, of course, kasi it’s better to be the best version of yourself than another version of somebody else.
Follow Nicole Anjela on Instagram at @nicoleanjelac.
No stranger to the beauty in the struggle, Gelai Penales first rose to the spotlight when she won the fourth season of modeling contest SM Youth Go-See, bringing a fresh fierceness that the mainstream industry desperately needed. But more than that, Gelai is a quintessential creator as an artist of many talents and mediums in the form of paint, canvas, digital art, filmmaking, and most recently rug tufting. Get to know the artist and her craft as we navigate the intricate details of both worlds.
How are you, Gelai?
I’m okay. I’m actually in a really good place mentally and emotionally. Besides my day job, I’ve been really blessed to have projects such as this one and I have a few shoots lined up after this. And of course, some illustrating projects so, yeah, it’s been very busy recently.
As an artist, we see that you don’t limit yourself with just one medium.
Well, I feel like one form that I use to express myself, obviously, is the way I look. So I feel like how I look, with the shaved head—I just wanna show that I’m very bold and I’m not really afraid to try lots of things. In terms of art, I’ve tried illustrating, drawing, digital art, filmmaking, and recently I got into rug tufting. I feel like what led me to exploring is just basically my unquenchable thirst to create. Like literally, my hands really itch sometimes—when I get an idea, I really wanna put it out there.
Rug tufting. How did you get into it?
It was actually during the start of the pandemic. I’d just be on Instagram and I’d see people who do rugs and at first I thought that it was impossible kasi you have to really go punch by punch. I found it really cool so I started following certain artists that do it, then I just started researching—like where to buy materials, and I eventually tried it out.
Are your creative influences just as varied as your choice of medium?
I feel like when I was still trying to find my style as an artist, I really looked up to Egon Schiele and this Spanish artist, her name’s Carla Fuentes. But recently, since I feel like I know how I wanna go about my art and my art style, what really influences me sometimes is the music I listen to, sometimes what film I just watched, or just something I saw out of nowhere na I want to translate into something that is my own.
What would you say is the most challenging part about being creative?
For me, the most challenging part about being a creative, especially today, is I tend to feel insecure. I tend to compare myself to other artists; I feel like, “oh I should’ve done this” or “why didn’t I think of that”—just doubting myself.
So modeling. From when you won that competition to now, how has your idea or perception of beauty and body changed?
Actually that competition was the first time I ever modeled in a studio; compared to my other adversaries, I can say that I was the most inexperienced and in terms of physical features, I’m not really the most modelesque. It was something I was getting ahead of myself with—parang pinapangunahan ko, like “oh I’m not good enough, I’m not experienced enough”, but surprisingly people were very supportive. And it made me more confident. It made me realize that I don’t have to look a certain way to become a model. It’s really in how you express yourself, how you project yourself.
Have there been many challenges in either the art or the modeling industry that you’ve faced?
With modeling, for example commercials, I feel like sometimes there’s still this box that limits me in terms of what roles I get. Parang may categories parin siya, even if we wanna claim that this project is very diverse, it has diverse characters…there’s still limits that even if I consider myself to be you know, unconventional, I’m still not “something” enough for the role. I still try to show up even though I know that malabo na I get a certain role or a certain project, I still do my best.
What about in art?
I feel like it’s too saturated, in media. That I always feel like I’m not creative enough, I’m no longer unique, I’m not as unique as I thought I was—‘coz I’d see certain artists that have the same style as me. I just try to stay in my own lane. I try to make myself grow by myself and not really compare myself to other people.
If a kid came up to you and asked you how they could be like you…
I would tell the kid to make as [many] friends as he or she can, kasi it really teaches you who to trust, who not to trust; it makes you kinder, it makes you realize what kind of person you are, so it helps to know what kind of person you don’t want to be around. And draw as much as you can.
Follow Gelai Penales on Instagram at @jelaipenales.
No stranger to the beauty in the struggle, Gelai Penales first rose to the spotlight when she won the fourth season of modeling contest SM Youth Go-See, bringing a fresh fierceness that the mainstream industry desperately needed. But more than that, Gelai is a quintessential creator as an artist of many talents and mediums in the form of paint, canvas, digital art, filmmaking, and most recently rug tufting. Get to know the artist and her craft as we navigate the intricate details of both worlds.
How are you, Gelai?
I’m okay. I’m actually in a really good place mentally and emotionally. Besides my day job, I’ve been really blessed to have projects such as this one and I have a few shoots lined up after this. And of course, some illustrating projects so, yeah, it’s been very busy recently.
As an artist, we see that you don’t limit yourself with just one medium.
Well, I feel like one form that I use to express myself, obviously, is the way I look. So I feel like how I look, with the shaved head—I just wanna show that I’m very bold and I’m not really afraid to try lots of things. In terms of art, I’ve tried illustrating, drawing, digital art, filmmaking, and recently I got into rug tufting. I feel like what led me to exploring is just basically my unquenchable thirst to create. Like literally, my hands really itch sometimes—when I get an idea, I really wanna put it out there.
Rug tufting. How did you get into it?
It was actually during the start of the pandemic. I’d just be on Instagram and I’d see people who do rugs and at first I thought that it was impossible kasi you have to really go punch by punch. I found it really cool so I started following certain artists that do it, then I just started researching—like where to buy materials, and I eventually tried it out.
Are your creative influences just as varied as your choice of medium?
I feel like when I was still trying to find my style as an artist, I really looked up to Egon Schiele and this Spanish artist, her name’s Carla Fuentes. But recently, since I feel like I know how I wanna go about my art and my art style, what really influences me sometimes is the music I listen to, sometimes what film I just watched, or just something I saw out of nowhere na I want to translate into something that is my own.
What would you say is the most challenging part about being creative?
For me, the most challenging part about being a creative, especially today, is I tend to feel insecure. I tend to compare myself to other artists; I feel like, “oh I should’ve done this” or “why didn’t I think of that”—just doubting myself.
So modeling. From when you won that competition to now, how has your idea or perception of beauty and body changed?
Actually that competition was the first time I ever modeled in a studio; compared to my other adversaries, I can say that I was the most inexperienced and in terms of physical features, I’m not really the most modelesque. It was something I was getting ahead of myself with—parang pinapangunahan ko, like “oh I’m not good enough, I’m not experienced enough”, but surprisingly people were very supportive. And it made me more confident. It made me realize that I don’t have to look a certain way to become a model. It’s really in how you express yourself, how you project yourself.
Have there been many challenges in either the art or the modeling industry that you’ve faced?
With modeling, for example commercials, I feel like sometimes there’s still this box that limits me in terms of what roles I get. Parang may categories parin siya, even if we wanna claim that this project is very diverse, it has diverse characters…there’s still limits that even if I consider myself to be you know, unconventional, I’m still not “something” enough for the role. I still try to show up even though I know that malabo na I get a certain role or a certain project, I still do my best.
What about in art?
I feel like it’s too saturated, in media. That I always feel like I’m not creative enough, I’m no longer unique, I’m not as unique as I thought I was—‘coz I’d see certain artists that have the same style as me. I just try to stay in my own lane. I try to make myself grow by myself and not really compare myself to other people.
If a kid came up to you and asked you how they could be like you…
I would tell the kid to make as [many] friends as he or she can, kasi it really teaches you who to trust, who not to trust; it makes you kinder, it makes you realize what kind of person you are, so it helps to know what kind of person you don’t want to be around. And draw as much as you can.
Follow Gelai Penales on Instagram at @jelaipenales.
When speaking with Kishan Garcia, one word immediately comes to mind: equilibrium—a state in which opposing forces are balanced. And if you ask her, she’ll tell you all about these forces opposing her left and right. But this is all part of that thing we call growth. As a tattoo artist, graduate student, and businesswoman, Kishan has found the balance between the three (and beyond, if she chose it) bringing together a woman ascending. Now, watch her rise.
So, how are you doing Kishan?
I’m doing very good. I’m actually at the point in life where I’m just very grateful for the things that are happening in my life so it’s been [going] really well; I‘m doing the things that I love doing and I’m meeting a lot of new people, so I love it.
What’s been keeping you busy?
Recently I’ve just been working on myself, my art, and my craft so I’ve been practicing tattooing and enhancing my design skills. Aside from that, I’m also working on a business right now with my bestfriend. We are creating a space for artist-healers to cultivate their craft and create community within a community.
It’s called Sacred Space Los Baños and it’s going to open soon, so that’s what’s been keeping me very busy right now.
Chemical engineering, tattoo, and illustrating.
What was it that attracted you to each of these very distinct fields?
I found chemical engineering when I wanted a challenge. It was very cerebral, in a sense, so I wanted that for myself. I really think to myself, “Learning chemical engineering is just basically learning about life.” And when it comes to tattooing, it’s the way I wanted to express myself with another person, so it’s basically a tango between two people. It’s very spiritual in a sense kasi it’s a connection, it’s creating between two people, and I really appreciate it.
How did you first get into tattooing?
For tattooing, it was a concept—it started as a concept. When I decided to tattoo, the first thing that I did was get my sketch pad and try to draw again and sketch again. I’m a self-taught tattoo artist so when I started getting my tattoos, it was learning through visuals and the experience of it, and then when I started doing it, it was more of the application of it. Kudos to my friends for letting me tattoo them for the first time.
How would you describe your personal style, your signature?
For tattoos, I really like my designs to have symmetry. I really like themes on nature, femininity—I like themes like animated stuff, so that’s how I developed my style right now. I really like designing bodies in the sense that it looks good on a body. My personal style…it’s very volatile—I can’t define it. It’s just there. It’s ever changing it’s ever glowing, and exactly what I want to say about my tattoos as well.
In a past interview, you mentioned that tattoos were transformative for you.
Every time that I tattoo, it’s an experience with another person, it’s a conversation, it’s a dance between two people—and it’s never the same, it’ always so different and that’s what I really like about it. I think that it transforms me in a way that I can relate to a lot of people because that’s how it is.
And whom have you transformed into now?
Kishan today is very consistent. She is very decisive, she knows what she wants, she does what she does—she’s a doer. Of course now, there’s still a struggle but it doesn’t matter anymore because at this age, at this time, now that we’ve unlocked the secret of the universe na we just have to be what we wanna be and do what we wanna do, it’s waaay easier right now and it made me much more confident about myself; my skills, my craft, and what I want to share with the world.
Moving within such different industries must make for some interesting company and conversations. Who do you look up to in both chemical engineering and tattoo?
During my chemical engineering years I had this teacher, she’s Ma’am Jeanne [Valencia]. She taught me how to work through problems in a different way. Marami siyang binagsak eh so onti lang kaming nakapasa, and we fought for that; me and my classmates and my good friends. Another would be my thesis advisers right now, Ma’am Monet Concepcion-Detras, PhD and Ma’am Veronica Migo, PhD. They are such mothers and that’s why my heart beats for them—they’re very considerate and I just really love that about them, kasi it showed me that you can be much more considerate to other people when it comes to hard times, like a pandemic, that we’re going through.
For tattooing, I really look up to Eloise of siningtinta. She’s a good artist and a businesswoman and she’s very young. I’m guesting there so I’ve met her a few times and I’ve learned a lot from her; how she manages people, how she manages the business—it’s very inspiring and it’s very down to earth. Another one would be the women of Crimson River Tattoo. I love the community that they are trying to build and are building. It’s very women empowering and I love that, so hopefully I could get to meet them some day.
For both chemical engineering and tattoo, what’s the dream?
Actually, I would want them to merge in the future. So for my chemical engineering [graduate] studies right now, I’m actually doing a study about organic things, so that’s where I’m headed. I want to infuse that with tattooing in the sense na it’s very visualistic and very personal to myself.
Being a woman in either field comes with its own challenges. How do you navigate through them?
Actually, the challenges about gender stereotypes and discrimination, I went through that even before I started tattooing. As a trans woman I’ve experienced a lot of discrimination—very unwarranted, very unnecessary. So when I came into tattooing, I was at a point wherein I didn’t really care at all. Because of that, my experiences with tattooing and my craft have become very pure, in a sense. When I tattoo, it’s just me, the tattoo, and the client. I don’t really focus on anything else. If [being me] is a disadvantage [to work somewhere] then it’s not for me.
When it comes to chemical engineering, I only have experiences with the academe so they’re very free, they’re very open, and they’re very academic about things. But I experienced a lot of the disadvantage that we were talking about during the times when I tried to penetrate the industry or when I tried looking for a job and I got rejected and rejected after how many times—twice! But yeah, it showed me that maybe this is not for me. You shouldn’t make life hard for you.
Let’s say a kid came up to you and said they wanted to be like you, how would you respond?
First thing I would tell them is it’s easy to be like me, that’s it. But also, I would tell them that you should be yourself. You should be comfortable, you should be having fun with your life, you should be doing things that you love and if this is how you want to express yourself, then fine, it’s okay. I can give you a little tip na parang, “Artehan mo lang.” Like, you just have to be you; that’s what I would tell them. And if it gets hard, then that means it’s worth it.
So what are you most looking forward to now?
The business I talked about earlier, Sacred Space, so that’s what keeps me excited at the moment. It is going to be part of a huge community building within the [Los Baños] community; we want artists to collaborate, we want them to have networks, we want them to be able to express th emselves fully, we want them to dream without bounds because we are there for them, and this space would be—I think what we are doing right now, the world needs it. Especially right now during a pandemic where people just want to express, I feel like our space is going to be a very huge change for them. And also, [it’s exciting] how the people that I’m looking for are finding me at the moment. That’s what I’m really excited about because I am looking at the stars and I’m just head on, full on, full-force towards my dreams and my goals and I will never stop.
Follow Kishan Garcia on Instagram at @kishaning.
When speaking with Kishan Garcia, one word immediately comes to mind: equilibrium—a state in which opposing forces are balanced. And if you ask her, she’ll tell you all about these forces opposing her left and right. But this is all part of that thing we call growth. As a tattoo artist, graduate student, and businesswoman, Kishan has found the balance between the three (and beyond, if she chose it) bringing together a woman ascending. Now, watch her rise.
So, how are you doing Kishan?
I’m doing very good. I’m actually at the point in life where I’m just very grateful for the things that are happening in my life so it’s been [going] really well; I‘m doing the things that I love doing and I’m meeting a lot of new people, so I love it.
What’s been keeping you busy?
Recently I’ve just been working on myself, my art, and my craft so I’ve been practicing tattooing and enhancing my design skills. Aside from that, I’m also working on a business right now with my bestfriend. We are creating a space for artist-healers to cultivate their craft and create community within a community.
It’s called Sacred Space Los Baños and it’s going to open soon, so that’s what’s been keeping me very busy right now.
Chemical engineering, tattoo, and illustrating.
What was it that attracted you to each of these very distinct fields?
I found chemical engineering when I wanted a challenge. It was very cerebral, in a sense, so I wanted that for myself. I really think to myself, “Learning chemical engineering is just basically learning about life.” And when it comes to tattooing, it’s the way I wanted to express myself with another person, so it’s basically a tango between two people. It’s very spiritual in a sense kasi it’s a connection, it’s creating between two people, and I really appreciate it.
How did you first get into tattooing?
For tattooing, it was a concept—it started as a concept. When I decided to tattoo, the first thing that I did was get my sketch pad and try to draw again and sketch again. I’m a self-taught tattoo artist so when I started getting my tattoos, it was learning through visuals and the experience of it, and then when I started doing it, it was more of the application of it. Kudos to my friends for letting me tattoo them for the first time.
How would you describe your personal style, your signature?
For tattoos, I really like my designs to have symmetry. I really like themes on nature, femininity—I like themes like animated stuff, so that’s how I developed my style right now. I really like designing bodies in the sense that it looks good on a body. My personal style…it’s very volatile—I can’t define it. It’s just there. It’s ever changing it’s ever glowing, and exactly what I want to say about my tattoos as well.
In a past interview, you mentioned that tattoos were transformative for you.
Every time that I tattoo, it’s an experience with another person, it’s a conversation, it’s a dance between two people—and it’s never the same, it’ always so different and that’s what I really like about it. I think that it transforms me in a way that I can relate to a lot of people because that’s how it is.
And whom have you transformed into now?
Kishan today is very consistent. She is very decisive, she knows what she wants, she does what she does—she’s a doer. Of course now, there’s still a struggle but it doesn’t matter anymore because at this age, at this time, now that we’ve unlocked the secret of the universe na we just have to be what we wanna be and do what we wanna do, it’s waaay easier right now and it made me much more confident about myself; my skills, my craft, and what I want to share with the world.
Moving within such different industries must make for some interesting company and conversations. Who do you look up to in both chemical engineering and tattoo?
During my chemical engineering years I had this teacher, she’s Ma’am Jeanne [Valencia]. She taught me how to work through problems in a different way. Marami siyang binagsak eh so onti lang kaming nakapasa, and we fought for that; me and my classmates and my good friends. Another would be my thesis advisers right now, Ma’am Monet Concepcion-Detras, PhD and Ma’am Veronica Migo, PhD. They are such mothers and that’s why my heart beats for them—they’re very considerate and I just really love that about them, kasi it showed me that you can be much more considerate to other people when it comes to hard times, like a pandemic, that we’re going through.
For tattooing, I really look up to Eloise of siningtinta. She’s a good artist and a businesswoman and she’s very young. I’m guesting there so I’ve met her a few times and I’ve learned a lot from her; how she manages people, how she manages the business—it’s very inspiring and it’s very down to earth. Another one would be the women of Crimson River Tattoo. I love the community that they are trying to build and are building. It’s very women empowering and I love that, so hopefully I could get to meet them some day.
For both chemical engineering and tattoo, what’s the dream?
Actually, I would want them to merge in the future. So for my chemical engineering [graduate] studies right now, I’m actually doing a study about organic things, so that’s where I’m headed. I want to infuse that with tattooing in the sense na it’s very visualistic and very personal to myself.
Being a woman in either field comes with its own challenges. How do you navigate through them?
Actually, the challenges about gender stereotypes and discrimination, I went through that even before I started tattooing. As a trans woman I’ve experienced a lot of discrimination—very unwarranted, very unnecessary. So when I came into tattooing, I was at a point wherein I didn’t really care at all. Because of that, my experiences with tattooing and my craft have become very pure, in a sense. When I tattoo, it’s just me, the tattoo, and the client. I don’t really focus on anything else. If [being me] is a disadvantage [to work somewhere] then it’s not for me.
When it comes to chemical engineering, I only have experiences with the academe so they’re very free, they’re very open, and they’re very academic about things. But I experienced a lot of the disadvantage that we were talking about during the times when I tried to penetrate the industry or when I tried looking for a job and I got rejected and rejected after how many times—twice! But yeah, it showed me that maybe this is not for me. You shouldn’t make life hard for you.
Let’s say a kid came up to you and said they wanted to be like you, how would you respond?
First thing I would tell them is it’s easy to be like me, that’s it. But also, I would tell them that you should be yourself. You should be comfortable, you should be having fun with your life, you should be doing things that you love and if this is how you want to express yourself, then fine, it’s okay. I can give you a little tip na parang, “Artehan mo lang.” Like, you just have to be you; that’s what I would tell them. And if it gets hard, then that means it’s worth it.
So what are you most looking forward to now?
The business I talked about earlier, Sacred Space, so that’s what keeps me excited at the moment. It is going to be part of a huge community building within the [Los Baños] community; we want artists to collaborate, we want them to have networks, we want them to be able to express themselves fully, we want them to dream without bounds because we are there for them, and this space would be—I think what we are doing right now, the world needs it. Especially right now during a pandemic where people just want to express, I feel like our space is going to be a very huge change for them. And also, [it’s exciting] how the people that I’m looking for are finding me at the moment. That’s what I’m really excited about because I am looking at the stars and I’m just head on, full on, full-force towards my dreams and my goals and I will never stop.
Follow Kishan Garcia on Instagram at @kishaning.
If there’s one thing to take away from the stories of these three awesome women is that who you are is enough, who you are is worthy. And who deals out the medals for worthiness? Who decides if you’re good enough? Why, it’s you of course. So give yourself that medal, give yourself a hug, and get out there—you’re doing great. And remember:
Everyday is International Women’s Day.
Some of the answers from this interview have been edited for brevity and clarity.
If there’s one thing to take away from the stories of these three awesome women is that who you are is enough, who you are is worthy. And who deals out the medals for worthiness? Who decides if you’re good enough? Why, it’s you of course. So give yourself that medal, give yourself a hug, and get out there—you’re doing great. And remember:
Everyday is International Women’s Day.
Some of the answers from this interview have been edited for brevity and clarity.