Hi, I’m Isai!

I took up advertising in college to avoid math subjects. Make me sing or dance, but never ask me to deal with numbers. Fortunately, that decision has led me to greater things these past eight years.

I started my career in BBDO Guerrero a week after my graduation. I made stuff for sanitary pads, and weekly newspaper ads for a pizza chain. I moved on to making banking ads (not my favorite), dog food ads, alcohol ads, baby powder ads, instant oatmeal ads, and eventually started working on my favorite: tourism ads.

It was where I got my first Cannes Lion, and probably the first and last place where I get to make a book out of elephant dung. I stayed for five years before finally moving on.

In 2017, I moved to Jakarta to start anew with BBDO Indonesia. Here, I led an awesome team to make more instant oatmeal ads, alcohol ads, and milk ads. It was fun to work in a land with a different language, super spicy food, and GoJeks.

I returned to Manila in 2018 to continue my career as a creative consultant. I collaborated with Mullenlowe Philippines, J. Walter Thompson, NuWorks Interactive Labs, and other small but cool brands (like a local surf hostel and a eco-friendly bamboo toothbrush company).

In 2019, I found a home in Wunderman Thompson Manila, a place where I get to work on more ads, with the country’s best creatives.

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My work has been recognized at major award shows like Cannes Lion, Spikes, AdFest, AdStars, New York Festivals, Webby, etc. and has been featured in Lürzer's Archive, Ad Age, Adweek, Campaign Brief’s The Work, Best Ads TV, among others. 

I’ve been ranked as high as the 5th best art director in the Philippines, and have represented the country twice at the Adfest Young Lotus Creative Competition.

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When I’m not making ads, you can find me surfing at the beach
, cooking or baking
, trying to be fit
, out drinking in a hipster bar,
 or ogling at art works in museums.

Shiny
Things

Grand Jury Member (2020)
New York Festivals Advertising Awards

#5 top art director in the Philippines
Adobo Magazine Creative Rankings 

AdFest Young Lotus Philippine Representative
AdFest 2015, AdFest 2017

Globe “A Star Wars Experience for All” (2019)
Webby Honoree
New York Festivals Finalist - Viral
Gold, Tangrams

Johnson’s Baby “28 Prayers” (2017)
Gold Effectiveness, WARC
Smart Spender Award, WARC

NUJP “Fakeblok” Fake News Blocker (2017)
first ever Good Boomerang
Gold Effectiveness, Boomerang
Silver Integrated Campaign, Boomerang
Crystal Interactive, Ad Stars
Social Shortlist, Ad Stars
Silver Responsible Citizenship, Tambuli
Bronze Advocacy, Tambuli

Esquire Beatles Quotes Posters (2016)
The Work 2016
Bronze Publication & Media, Kidlat
Shortlist Best Art Direction, Kidlat
Shortlist Craft, Kidlat
Print Campaign of the Year, Tinta Awards
Silver Art Direction, Tinta Awards
Silver Typography, Tinta Awards

It’s More Fun in The Philippines, Siargao “Cloud” (2015)
Silver Film, Kidlat Awards
Silver Sound, Kidlat Awards

Palawan “Sing” (2015)
Bronze Use of Music, Kidlat Awards

Pantene Labels Against Women (2014)
Recognized by United Nations
Bronze Cyber Lion, Cannes Lion
Shortlist in Mobile, Cannes Lion
Grande Effectiveness Lotus, Adfest
Bronze Film Lotus, Adfest
Gold Digital Film, Kidlat Awards
Bronze PR, Kidlat Awards
Bronze Digital Campaign, Kidlat Awards
Bronze Integrated Campaign, Kidlat Awards
Bronze Interactive, Ad Stars
Gold, Appies
Film Shortlist, Spikes
Integrated Shortlist, Spikes

also…

Manila Surfers Association Novice Competition
First place

Flotsam & Jetsam Beer Drinking Contest
Champion