Cover Starbucks Philippines officials and the artists featured at this year’s #StrongLikeCoffee notecards campaign (Photo: Starbucks Philippines)
Starbucks Philippines officials and the artists featured at this year’s #StrongLikeCoffee notecards campaign (Photo: Starbucks Philippines)
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Pursuing its commitment to empowering communities and education, Starbucks Philippines released its 2025 set of notecards designed by Filipino artists it has worked with in the past, namely Anina Rubio, Tara Soriano, Alab Pagarigan, and Aze Ong
Blending coffee, art, and empowerment, Starbucks Philippines hosted a panel discussion on February 28 at the Starbucks Abad Santos Community Store in Tondo, Manila. The event featured Filipino artists who have previously collaborated with the renowned café to bring to life some of its iconic artworks.
Multi-disciplinary visual artist Anina Rubio; contemporary artist specialising in fibre art Aze Ong; multimedia artist with a background in architecture Tara Soriano; and brass sculptor Alab Pagarigan welcomed members of the press, Starbucks Philippines partners, and young scholars from the Young Focus Foundation, AHA! Learning Center, and Mano Amiga to an engaging discussion showcasing their artistic journeys and the keys to success in this highly competitive society. This forms part of Starbucks Philippines’ #StrongLikeCoffee Conversations, an initiative designed to inspire the company’s stakeholders, particularly its nonprofit partners.
Read more: Starbucks community store: Making a difference with one coffee at a time
Multi-disciplinary visual artist, yoga teacher, and environmental advocate known for her vibrant murals and intricate “cajas”, Anina Rubio created a striking flora and fauna mural at Starbucks Abad Santos Tondo Community Store
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Alongside the discussion, a special set of #StrongLikeCoffee notecards featuring the designs of each artist mentioned above was launched. These notecards will be sold exclusively at Starbucks Abad Santos Tondo and Starbucks Maysilo Circle Community Stores. A portion of the proceeds will support the scholars' education.
“This International Women’s Month, we celebrate those who uplift and inspire,” says Jamie Silva, senior marketing manager at Starbucks Philippines. “By bringing together talented Filipino artists and youth from our Community Store nonprofit partners, we’ve created a space for dialogue and empowerment. We believe that art, like coffee, connects us, sparks creativity, and inspires positive change.”
Read more: Anina Rubio incorporates nature and the self through art like no other
Anina Rubio’s flora and fauna mural at Starbucks Abad Santos Tondo Community Store
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The #StrongLikeCoffee Conversations will continue through youth art workshops, reflecting Starbucks Philippines’ enduring commitment to supporting youth education and empowering communities.
The success that artists like Rubio, Soriano, Pagarigan, and Ong reap today was not achieved without hard work and dedication. Their career paths are brimming with inspiring stories for the young learners during the #StrongLikeCoffee Conversation held at Starbucks Abad Santos Tondo Community Store.
Read more: Art Fair 2022: Featured artist Aze Ong on weaving the threads of life
Above Anina Rubio’s ‘Flourish with Grace’ notecard design
Above Aze Ong’s ‘Light of Beings’ notecard design
Anina Rubio’s ‘Flourish with Grace’ notecard design
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Above Alab Pagarigan’s ‘Roots’ notecard design
Above Tara Soriano’s ‘Peacock’s Paradise’ notecard design
Alab Pagarigan’s ‘Roots’ notecard design
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Ong’s childhood revolved around fibres and fabrics as her mum started her garment business in their home’s garage. She knew how to sew shirts at the age of four. When she was growing up, Ong didn’t realise that art would lead her to crocheting, a technique primarily used in making clothes, bags, cover-alls, and whatnot using yarn. She didn’t even realise then that what she was doing was art as it would typically fall under crafts, a category that most institutions in the art scene before find as a low form of artmaking.
“When galleries didn’t see it as art, it was then that I began to realise and see ‘no, I’m making art’. I finally believed in myself and everything just fell into place,” Ong shares.
On the contrary, Soriano felt very inclined to do art from the beginning. She would take scraps of paper and doodle as much as she could when she was young. Her family’s exposure to the arts scene and their generous support kept her soul inspired to pursue it as a career, besides taking up interior architecture and gemology.
“My advice to aspiring artists is to stay curious, connect with people, and look at workshops where you can learn more. It’s not just all about you but about the relationships you build with everybody. The more you connect, the more you understand what speaks to your soul and makes you feel inspiring for other people. Find a balance and discover where you want to take yourself,” Soriano shares.
Above Artists Anina Rubio, Tara Soriano, Alab Pagarigan, and Aze Ong share their inspiring journeys in the field of arts and the stories behind their iconic works displayed at various Starbucks locations
Artists Anina Rubio, Tara Soriano, Alab Pagarigan, and Aze Ong share their inspiring journeys in the field of arts and the stories behind their iconic works displayed at various Starbucks locations
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Pagarigan, whose body of work consists of using brass and copper wires to create sculptural forms and scenes, finds art as a tool for healing.
“[With my work] I want to showcase negative emotions, bad experiences, angst, and whatnot translated into hope. Art should not just be good to look at but should also talk to the viewers visually,” Pagarigan says.
Art comes in many forms for Rubio, who admitted that she first wanted to become a scientist growing up. She pursued a different career in the corporate industry, and when she realised that she was starting to forget the sense of play, she pivoted and reconnected with herself.
“I’m very inspired by human connection and nature. Nature is part of us,” she shares the connecting thread to her profound body of work. “Art makes me continue to play, imagine, be creative and curious. With every piece that I put out there, it’s really about bringing people back and closer to nature and themselves.”
Rubio advises aspiring artists to FAIL—fail forward as growth happens in the discomfort, allow yourself to be a beginner and create without the pressure of perfectionism, look inward to tell what resonates with you authentically, and learn. “Creativity is an endless journey,” she says.
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About
Before assuming the Art and Culture Editor position, Franz has always had a penchant for visual and performing arts. He is passionate about exploring and writing about the local cultural scene and rediscovering the country’s storied past and rich heritage. Besides working on this luxury lifestyle magazine, Franz is an avid book reader, local traveller, museum-goer, chorister, and community theatre playwright.
Work
Franz earned a degree in Journalism from the University of Santo Tomas. He writes about local visual and performing artists and their craft; drinks wines, liquors, and spirits and talks about the creativity of their respective winemakers and master blenders; tries to learn more about business and investments; respects the tradition and artistry that go behind the making of watches and jewellery; and appreciates the genius of architecture and creative design.
As head of Tatler Philippines’ pool of writers, he helps them bring impactful and socially relevant stories to light.
For any leads, you may reach him through @franzsorillaiv on Instagram or franz@tatlerphilippines.com via email.
