Kristine: Hi ate Blanche!

Blanche Alys: Hello po

Kristine: We really appreciate having you in this interview. So before anything else, would you like to
introduce yourself to our lovely viewers?

Blanche: Sure. As I said, I’m Blanche Alys. I graduated from San Carlos, University of San Carlos here in
Cebu. I am here right now. My bachelor degree is advertising arts. I started out as a graphic designer and
I got promoted to creative director. And right now, I am just doing freelance graphic design and
illustration.

Kristine: For the next question po, as freshman students, we can’t deny the fact na there will be times na
magiging unmotivated kami. We would just like to know what pushed you to keep moving forward or
how do you keep yourself motivated back in the days when you were college a student?

Blanche: Tulog *laughters* Sleep or rest that’s one thing you should always remember. Please don’t
forget to rest or to sleep. You should take care of yourself first before anything else ‘cause. You don’t
want to make a habit of it. You know, if as early as college you’re putting your work first and you’re
ignoring your basic needs. That’s not good. Just remember that these habits, the habits you are doing
right now in college, you carry it even after college. Para na siyang practice when you work. So it’s
always better to put yourself first before accepting like any big project. Especially when you are stressed
our burnt out. Just know when to stop and to take a rest kase it always affect your output kapag tired
ka. So ayan, tulog and rest talaga. ‘Yan ang secret ko. Priority number one ‘yan.

Kristine: Yes, health comes first. Thank you po for that tip. We will surely keep that in mind

Blanche: Yeah, remember ha

Kristine: Okay for the next one…

Kristine: We would just like to ask po kung kumusta po kayo. How are you doing amidst the pandemic?
You know, kasi po alam po naming na may naexperience din kayo na mga ups and downs.

Blanche: So far, okay lang rin naman, Kasi [nung] nag start ang pandemic, I was still employed. I was still
a creative director in RGC, Republic Group Company here in Cebu. But I actually went home to Tacloban,
taga Tacloban kasi ako. And I work from home for like a year siguro. And then, that’swhen I realized na it
was a perfect time for me to do freelance kase I’m at home, accessible na lahat ngayon online. That’s
when I decided to resign as a creative director last September siguro. And then so far, I think I made the
right decision with freelance kasi ngayon lahat online. And hindi naman lahat tayo nakakalabas masyado
or nakakatravel masyado so for me, I’m good right now. I really enjoy freelance [inaudible sounds]. For
me okay lang, I’m fine now.

Kristine: It’s good to know naman po na you’re not majorly affected by the pandemic

Blanche: Oo, for now at least. I’m actually really privileged na hindi ako ganyan kaffected pero ayan, it
still medyo mahirap pa rin. Especially when you have like older parents like I have. I have older parents
in Tacloban so I had to go home to be with them na muna. Pero workwise, I am actually pretty good with
where I am now.
Kristine: Welcome back ate Blanche. So ayun, we’re done talking about your college experience and now
we will go now about your career. As you know, we have seen your artworks posted in your Instagram,
facebook, and tiktok. From these artworks, can you please show to us or choose one that represents
your favorite piece and tell us the reason why you chose it.

Blanche: I tried choosing talaga pero I have a hard time to choose one. But for me, the artwork that I
value most siguro are the one that I know people appreciate or yung mga pieces ko na people relate to.
When I make an illustrations with yung mga random motivational quotes or lyrics, I feel like it’s a way of
communicating what I feel to the rest of the world. And actually for me , the best part is seeing people
feel what I feel so parang nakakarelate sila. And that’s the best part of what I do is seeing how much
people appreciate yung mga little motivations, yung mga ganitong quotes and feelings that I share and I
actually get to connect with them in a whole different level. If makita mo yung mga illustrations na may
mga quotes ganyan, those are the illustrations I actually value the most even though it’s not paid, even
though it’s not sponsored, something like that. ‘Cause overall, college dream ko talaga is to make an
impact with my artworks or my illustrations. Even if it’s one person at that time. And for me, I’m happy
na I get to do that. Right now, I’m slowly doing that with my illustrations. So, for me, the best works that
I have right now are the ones na I feel like it’s communicating my feelings to other people and like
parang it’s like sharing feeling kase with artworks and I think ang ganda talaga ng feeling if you know
other people take interests in what you do or what you feel. And it’s also a good feeling na you make
people feel better about themselves with your artworks. So ganyan, parang you feel important or you
feel empowered ganyan. Sorry hindi ako makapili

Kristine: okay lang po, It’s very inspiring naman po na napaka meaningful ng purpose nyo when you are
making your artworks.

I have a question po pala befor ewe go to the next topic. As you have said earlier po na you started
being a traditional artist, pano po kayo natuto gumamit ng mga digital [softwares for drawing] sa mga
digital works nyo po. Pano po kayo natuto like nag take po ba kayo ng seminars or is it just self-taught

If we’re talking about design, yung photoshop ganyan, uh school, College talaga. Sila yung nagintroduce,
pero the fact is, yung tinuturo nila is just the basics so introduction lang. So once you have a grip na of
the basics, it’s up to you na talaga to develop you skill. I guess it’s like both school and self-taught. Kase
my course was advertising, it does not really mean that I have to work in advertising. They just
introduced a lot of branches in the creative industry. They introduced photoshop and illustrator to us,
like one class lang, and after that, wala na. You just have to know kung ano yung gusto mo talagang ma-
learn and then just work with it. Work on your own. You can just search sa youtube, ayun maraming
tutorials sa youtube or you can join classes or short courses ganyan

Kristine: Ayun, thank you for that enlightenment po So we can go now to next question.

Kristine: Have a life rewind button or have a life pause button

Blanche: Rewind

Kristine: Bonus question po ate blanche, Love life or career?

Blanche: career talaga yan [inaudible]

Adam: mahirap pa ngayon, mahirap pa ngayon pandemic pa.

Blanche: oonga so, career talaga kase ngayon wala talaga e. ‘Wag na muna ‘yon, career lang talaga

We would like to thank you po sa pag attend, pag join sa aming interview [and] for helping us to
complete this project and for the time and giving us motivations and advice po

Blanche: thank you, thank you talaga for choosing me

Blanche: thank you guys for having me, nakakatouch kase pinili ako

Kristine: Nakakatouch din po kse tinanggap nyo kami

Blanche: thank you talaga guys, nakakahappy na I’m here.

Kristine: Baka po gusto nyong I plug yung socmed accs nyo, kase napapanood po tayo ng buong mundo

Blanche: ‘Yun lang, blanchealys kahit saan, yun lang talaga blanchealys

Kristine: okay po

Krstine: yun po ba talaga yung name nyo?

Blanche: First and second name ko yon, yung whole name ko is Blanche Alys Hipako (?)

Adam: ang unique kase

Blanche: ang hirap kase ng tatlong pangalan so yan, blanche alys na lang