Filipinos are inherently gifted. The Philippines is recognized as one of the leading design centers in Asia with its craftsmanship and fashion designers renowned all over the world. As entertainers, Filipinos are everywhere too, from luxury cruise ships to productions in Broadway, West End, and even Hollywood.

Experts believe that the diverse pool of local talents in the Philippines has enough potential to improve the country’s image and competitive edge globally. The government has acknowledged such potential, paving the way for the “Creative Industry Bills.” The series of bills support the rights of people working in the fields of advertising, animation, architecture, broadcast arts, crafts, culinary arts, cultural or heritage activities, design, film, literature, music, new media, performing arts, publishing, and visual art, among others. The Philippine creative industry is, arguably, on the rise.

In the 2018 Creative Economy Outlook, a study published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), it is estimated that the creative businesses in the Philippines account for $3.23 million in exports and $915 million in services. With a gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of seven percent, the creative sector in the country still falls behind those of other ASEAN nations.

In mid-September, on Sept. 17, to be exact, which in numerals is 917, signifying Globe’s original prefix, National G Day took place. This year, the annual event orchestrated by the telecommunications company focused on the creative sector, particularly in music and digital content production.

A pioneering event organized on the special weekend of National G Day this year, the “G Creator Con” aims to encourage Filipinos to tap into their creative potential. The affair was hosted at The Globe Tower, BGC Amphitheater, as well as the Globe Creator House, a cutting-edge studio for content creators made for the occasion.

Bonifacio GlobalCity was transformed into an art and tech haven. Staged were talks, booths, and programs designed to unlock and nourish Pinoy creativity in the fields of music, content creation, design, and technology. Esteemed professionals and personalities from diverse backgrounds served as panelists and speakers, sharing their personal experiences as creators. Among the topics touched on were insights into creative processes, content production, mentorship, marketing, and authenticity.

Creator Talks had industry experts, namely Meta Philippines client solutions and video lead Issang Ceballos, Nabu country lead Mauro Daez, and YouTube Philippines country lead Pablo Mendoza, discuss essential aspects of content creation, helpful for aspiring content creators.

Creative thought leaders and personalities also participated in the panel discussions. Miss Trans Global 2020 Mela Habijan delved into diversity and inclusivity within the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, emphasizing the talent and diversity of the clique in various fields. “We [members of the LGBTQIA+] can be whoever we want to be. We can be in politics, we can be in engineering, we can be in tech. We can be anywhere. All we need to have are opportunities,” she said.

Meanwhile, Pio Dumayas, lead vocalist of Lola Amour, gave tips on how to overcome mental block with personal methods he came up with working as a video producer under Vice Asia.

Actress and multifaceted creator Nadine Lustre, who recently won the best actress award at the FAMAS 2023, went through the importance of authenticity as a content producer along with Cinemalaya 2023 best actress Pat Tingjuy and visual artist and content creator Raco Ruiz.

The “President,” as Nadine is fondly called by her fans, encouraged aspiring creators not to give up on their dreams, pointing out the significance of proper timing. “Don’t give up on your dreams because it’s all about timing. I almost gave up on mine,” she intimates. “If it’s not the time for you yet, it only means you’re not yet ready for what you’re about to receive.”

Other creative industry leaders are representatives from JobStreet by SEEK, DTI DesignCenter, MYX, Social Media Marketing PH, and Bitskwela. Drag Race Philippines Season 1 contestant Eva Le Queen and Miss Grand International 5th Runner-up Roberta Tamondong also served as panel.

The affair concluded with musical performances by GNY, Carissa, and Clara Benin at the BGC Amphitheater.

Before Sept. 17, G Music Fest highlighted the incredible talents of local artists, both established and emerging, on a night filled with music and enjoyment.

On its fourth year, the music and creator festival drew an impressive crowd of more than 11,000 at the Circuit Grounds in Makati for a night of outstanding performances by Filipino artists.

People of all ages were treated to a dose of original Pinoy music (OPM) from seasoned and up-and-coming acts, which included Urbandub, The Itchyworms, Mayonnaise, Syd Hartha, December Avenue, Lola Amour, Dilaw, PLAYERTWO, Paul Pablo, Sugarcane, Ace Banzuelo, Joem, Nobita, Munimuni, I Belong To The Zoo, BINI, and the queens from Drag Race PH Season 2.

In honor of creativity and artistry, the music extravaganza featured the Creator Hub, which encouraged self-expression, learning, and creativity through various activities, such as live mural painting with Drip Splash and Paint It Fun, fostering a sense of community and artistic expression.

Among the night’s standout moments was the performance of Fritzy, a 12-year-old drumming sensation from Quezon. She gained fame on TikTok and traveled from her hometown to attend the festival. Backstage, Fritzy had the thrilling opportunity to meet her musical idols and even joined December Avenue on stage to showcase her remarkable drumming skills.

“Sharing the stage with December Avenue was a dream come true! I’ve always looked up to them, and tonight felt like magic. This is one of the best nights of my life!” says Fritzy, overwhelmed by the experience.

“Music has the incredible power to connect us all. I and December Avenue had the privilege to share the stage with a young fan, Fritzy. To see the joy, excitement, and her passion reminded me of why I do what I do,” explains December Avenue’s lead vocalist Zel Bautista. “Every artist starts as a fan, with a dream. I am deeply humbled to have played a small part in her musical journey. When talking about passion, always remember why you started in the first place. Be patient.”

Aside from the music, attendees also had a variety of food options from handpicked food concessionaires, Better than Ice Cream (BTIC), Kurimu, Pancake House, Yellow Cab, Sizzlin’ Steak, Shakey’s, Potato Corner, and Army Navy. For those seeking refreshments, Jamba Juice, PICKUP COFFEE, R&B Milk Tea, Pocofino, and San Miguel Brewery provided a selection of beverages.

The event was made possible by Coca-Cola, Ayala Malls Zing, Klean Kanteen, KonsultaMD, Parlon, Klook, PetPal, HBO GO, Barangay Nestle, and KitKat.