Jasmine Garrido: WIP 

September is National Self-Improvement Month, a time dedicated to celebrating personal growth and transformation. And because of that, it’s the perfect month to reflect on the journey of those who embraced change and continuously strive to be better. 

One example is that of Jasmine Garrido, a Multimedia Artist in Brand Republic (BR), whose story is like a perfect blend of inspiration and real-life grit. Yes, it’s giving Ang Probinsiyano because may action scene ito (IYKYK). It might sound cliché but her humble beginnings and early setbacks led to this artist’s wonderful journey towards growth. Jasmine has turned challenges into stepping stones into who she is today. 

Base IMG: 2020

Jasmine joined BR in 2020 as a Multimedia Artist under the mentorship of the company’s Chief Creative Officer – Markus Dayot. This wasn’t her first job, but of course, there was still that anxious feeling inside of her brought by the idea of starting a new relationship with other people. Kasi totoo naman na you’ll never know kung ano ang magiging impression nila sayo. 

The first account she handled was a cake brand and she admits that looking back at it, her work then didn’t quite meet the standards she aspires now. May slight cringe pa nga daw up to this day. But she still views that experience as a crucial stepping stone, one that gave her invaluable lessons and growth. She might be embarrassed when she looks at her previous works but her own dedication to her craft significantly elevated her skills. 

50% Opacity: 2021

In 2021, Jasmine’s role grew as she experimented with different aesthetics. This year was characterized by a search for the right visual style as she tried on brands with different looks and personalities. One industry that she had some troubles with were her food brands. She had difficulty making her contents look appetizing. Yes, the artworks looked good as Jas has a knack for making any material look aesthetically pleasing. But at that time, it needed that extra oomph that she was still trying to learn. And she surely got that covered now. Kaya naman deserve niya ang pagiging estetik kween today! 

As with any career, the initial stages are usually intended for personal growth and development. Jas was honest about prioritizing her own needs over focusing on making her artworks look more impressive than they actually were. 

For her, it was the time when she prioritized learning from experiences and getting the expertise she needed to advance in her field. 

A Wake-Up Call: 2022

2022 brought a significant turning point as Jasmine faced a major setback in her life. The event, now humorously referred to as the semplang incident was somehow a result of her personal challenges. And, yes, it included love troubles and a period of heavy drinking, which she’s not embarrassed to admit. Afterall, it was a part of her past and these helped her be who she is today. 

“The accident had to happen.”

There was a time that she was actually reconsidering her career and personal direction. But despite contemplating resignation, a supportive guidance from her team leader and an option to work from home so that she can fully recover from her injuries helped her think more. But it was also beyond just the physical matters, as the event also helped her realize so many things, such as taking more value of herself. 

Career-wise, 2022 was surely marked by a sense of being left behind in skill development compared to the other artists in Brand Republic. It’s still different when you’re working onsite and seeing how everyone is fairing. There were definitely some issues when it came to feedback and revision delays because of the unavoidable struggle of online communication. 

The biggest challenge in BR has been overcoming that fear of getting left behind in terms of skills improvement. But with these challenges, she learned to appreciate feedback and not shy away from growth opportunities. After all, she even managed to exceed standards (just kween things if you tell me). 

She admitted that it was more of a personal struggle for her because she wanted to be a good artist but sometimes, being alone was weighing on her. Although, this brought about more opportunities for her to improve as she made sure that her output were always on point. It might look like she was over-compensating for something but that was her way of making herself feel better. 

This period of self-improvement also included her doing some freelance work and advanced studies in motion graphics and visual effects. It might be just a way to focus on other things but these “distractions” actually helped her be a better artist and person. 

Editable File: 2023

By 2023, Jasmine worked fully at home. She was going to the office from time to time, but it was just for a few days. And being physically present was still a big part of being a Brand Republic employee. 

It wasn’t just her expertise that was put into question, she also had some trouble strengthening her relationships with her coworkers. But Jasmine fought this silent battle and tried to engage with others even if it was just visible online. When asked how she adjusted to meeting new workers of the company…

“Makapal naman mukha ko.”

It’s definitely about just adapting and adjusting to a new environment and to the new people around. And, yes, true naman to her answer, she was able to connect with the other people here in BR kahit na she only communicated with them via chat or video call. 

Jasmine_Garrido_V3_REVISED_TMed: 2024

Jasmine finally got back to the office in 2024 and took on the role of a probationary team leader. This brought a combination of excitement and challenges for her. When asked what kind of leadership style she has, she described it as reminiscent of Amy Santiago from Brooklyn Nine-Nine — uptight and stern, yet striving to balance firmness with empathy.

She acknowledges her struggle with being overly strict but with the firm commitment to listening and actually understanding her team. And true enough, her approach has proven to be effective as seen in her team’s success. TJCD FTW! 

Aside from her own growth, she’s now diversified to training others and molding them to be better artists and people. And from this writer’s perspective, Jasmine shows satisfaction in mentoring other people and leaving a positive impact on their lives. That’s because she has also experienced difficulties during her career and she wants to show a mentoring approach wherein she not just imparts skills but also builds other people’s confidence and inspires their growth. 

She might have learned these skills through the guidance of her mentors here at BR, or may she developed them on her own over time. Either way, she is now generously sharing this knowledge with others and she is more than committed to nurturing them to make their future brighter. 

Rendering… 

To those who look up to Jasmine, she has these valuable advices to offer:

1. Never settle and continuously seek growth. 
2. Don’t take feedback personally and always listen to respected mentors. 
3. Give yourself grace and don’t push yourself too hard.

Every experience has shaped Jasmine to be where she is and with a sense of optimism, she reflects on the past with pride and a strong conviction that she is more than ready to face more challenges in the future. 

Jasmine Garrido’s journey definitely showcases a path of perseverance, growth, and self-discovery. It’s a true testament of how strong she is as a woman who is willing to embrace challenges, seek continuous improvement, and support others along the way.