2024 in Review: Creativity, Growth, and Success

As the year draws to a close, I take this moment to reflect on the achievements and experiences that have defined my 2024. Creative endeavors and personal growth have been nothing short of transformative. Here’s a look back at the highlights that made 2024 an incredible year:

This year, I was privileged to design event posters for Morong Sayafest 2024, hosted by FReSH FM Philippines. The event featured an incredible lineup, headlined by This Band (1.8 million listeners on Spotify). It celebrated music and community, and it was fulfilling to see my visuals contribute to its vibrant atmosphere. Working on this project allowed me to sharpen my event design skills and connect with an inspiring community.

One of the most rewarding experiences this year was collaborating with Krissane Melchor (KREY) on her tourism campaign video and song for Mutya Ng Dabaw 2024 (watch here), together in production with Kelvin Aguilon (KVELL) and video by Leighton Angcan (Shots by LA). Our entry won Best in Tourism Campaign Video/Song, a testament to the passion and hard work poured into the project. Highlighting Davao’s culture and beauty through this campaign was both a creative challenge and a significant endeavor.

2024 marked a significant chapter in my music career as I led music engineering and collaborative projects at our co-founded imprint Emphasis Production House & Collective Media with seasoned music arranger Ian Avila. Our initial works include Will You Listen (written by Ptr. Ruben Junior Mojar-Hernani, interpreted by Eyricka Avila) and No Pressure (written and sung by Esse.J).

We had the opportunity to perform Will You Listen live at Mango Radio Philippines during Mango Mornings. Bringing a message of faith and hope to a broader audience highlighted the transformative power of music to inspire and connect.

Out of countless submissions, our song Castaways (We're Still the Same) made it to the Top 100 at the Mindanao Popular Music Festival (Minpop) 2024. Together with Kelvin Aguilon (KVELL), Vjay Almonte, and Eyricka Avila, this recognition reaffirmed our commitment to creating music, combining diverse ideas, and putting them to life.

Returning as the events graphic designer for 199X Coffee + Bar was like coming full circle. Formerly playing as a DJ here and working alongside Flumen Studios, I had the privilege of contributing to their event visuals, which has been both exciting and creatively fulfilling. It’s rewarding to see how design can elevate the atmosphere and identity of a brand I’ve grown to love.

Working with Hello Cafe by Cha Tuk Chak Cotabato as a food graphic designer has been a delightful experience. Bringing their delicious offerings to life through visual design has allowed me to combine creativity with storytelling. Seeing my work align with their culinary excellence has been truly gratifying.

Released the Ian Sndrz 2024 Christmas Mashup Pack, showcasing a creative blend of holiday classics and modern beats, spreading festive cheer through innovative music production. Designed the assets (cover art, artist posters, and teaser reel) for this massive pack which consists of tracks from legends and rising stars, such as Laidback Luke, Tungevaag, Skytech, Repiet, and more.

Looking back, 2024 has been a year of immense growth—both professionally and personally. Each project, performance, and collaboration has taught me valuable lessons and pushed me closer to my goals. While there were challenges along the way, they served as stepping stones to greater achievements. This year has reminded me of the importance of resilience, passion, and staying true to my vision.

As I look ahead to 2025, I’m excited to build on this momentum, embrace new opportunities, and continue growing as a creative professional. Here’s to another year of creativity, growth, and success!