Homegrown stylist banks on Cebu’s upbeat market

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano beauty and fashion stylist Jessie Glova is capitalizing on the dynamic market for beauty and fashion in Cebu, expanding both his make-up studio and beauty parlor chain along with his other related businesses.

While this kind of industry in Cebu is still not professionalized, Glova is going to pioneer to institutionalize specifically his make-up studio, noting strong interest from the younger generation today.

“I would like to expand my Make-Up Artistry school. I have been operating this for years,” said Glova in an interview.

Glova, who has been one of the most popular fashion and make-up artists in Cebu, said that he is sharing his expertise and wide experience in the beauty and fashion styling to Cebuanos, believing the good knack of Cebuanos’ creativity.

Establishing its holding company called Chameleon, Glova has set up different services in the beauty and fashion styling. Aside from the Glova Make-Up Studio and Jessie Glova Parlor, he has also a company that manages events, among others.

A Business Administration graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, Glova never considered doing make-up as a profession for him until later in life.

“I was into art, I sing, I dance and joined Glee clubs in school. I paint, I draw. I’m a very artistic person. I sing in clubs to earn money. I was a working student because I thought I should be earning my own income so that my mom would not nag me whenever I come home late at night,” he said.

After his experiences as beauty and fashion stylist in different countries, Glova decided to settle in Cebu and opened his Jessie Glova Style Salon in 2007. Three years later, Glova ventured into make-up and style studio business.

Glova is now well known for his good make-up skills and for his application airbrush make-up which he recommends to his customers because “it would result in a more flawless appearance to the skin.”

His clientele grew that he even was hired to do makeup for personalities and showbiz celebrities.

Expressing his belief on Cebu’s creative sector, Glova joined other artists in different field calling the government to provide support for this particular sector.

The fashion industry, which Cebu is known for worldwide, should be given extra support from the government, as it has great potential for both local and international markets, he said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry-Cebu Provincial Office (DTI-CPO) is now trying to organize the database of all creative players in Cebu, including the fashion designers, stylists, among others in order to provide support for the players.

In a separate interview with DTI-CPO director Nelia F. Navarro, she said that the government has different support programs for the creative sector, but players must reach out to the government through registering themselves in organizations like the Creative Cebu Council Inc.

“We are trying to organize the players in the creative sector in Cebu,” Navarro said, adding that a lot of programs in the government, including international cooperation grants are available for the industry, but “they have to express their interest of getting help.” /JMD (FREEMAN)