Among the Philippines’ many beautiful features, our rich natural environment deserves greater attention. We are one of the most biologically diverse countries in the world, with half of our 8,346 native plant species unique to our soil. The need for its broader appreciation motivates this project of mine: an ongoing study of my homeland’s endemic flowering plants.

This series originated with a 24-page zine that catalogs the appearance, location, and descriptions of ten endemic flora. I partnered with Bad Student, a local Risograph press, to create prints for the Tokyo Art Book Fair in 2019. The momentum from my research led to an illustrated distribution map of Rafflesiaceae in the Philippines, which I made freely available online for educators and fellow enthusiasts. Through careful study, I noted the relative sizes of each flower and illustrated them to scale. By paying attention to these details, I hope to commit to my responsibility as a designer to present information in thoughtful ways. I continue to expand on this series with more illustrated maps.

Working on this series led to the beginning of a collaboration with the Philippine Taxonomic Initiative (PTI). PTI is an independent NGO that is focused on advancing the discovery and description of plants and animals in the Philippines. I painted the Begonia beijnenii, one of the endemic species they have described. This painting will be auctioned off and limited printed copies will be sold to aid in the funding of their future expeditions.

What began as a personal project has evolved into a real effort to aid the hard work being done by groups like PTI. In turn, I’m able to expose myself to valuable research and find opportunities to bring the Philippines’ natural heritage to a broader audience.

Professional or Personal
Personal / Unpublished

Creative Discipline
Graphic Design
Illustration

Role in Project
I illustrated and designed the endemic zine and the distribution maps. I painted the Begonia beijnenii using acrylic gouache.