^{Noel Cruz with one of his masterpieces, a doll-replica of Orlando Bloom.}

Noel Cruz is like the normal Filipino… he loves art.  Art has been his life-long passion. He was born as well as raised in the Philippines - grew up in Mandaluyong and eventually moved to Muntinlupa City. He is the third of 6 boys (that's right - all boys!), so growing up was a bit chaotic for him. “My other siblings also possess natural artistic talents. It's rather sad, however that none of them nourished and pursued quite the way I did.” Noel said.

Being raised in a relatively poor family in the Philippines, he grew up without the comfort of material things. He found relaxation and satisfaction from immersing himself in imagination. At the onset of his adolescence, he discovered that he had a particular fondness for drawing. At first, he would try to draw everything from landscapes to still life and people. But not for long, he gravitated more towards drawing faces, specifically beautiful faces. “Just like most people, my ideals of what's beautiful were formed from images that surrounded me: books, magazines, tv, advertisements, etc. From this point on, I would only draw faces. Faces have always intrigued and fascinated me and I know that this will always be the crux of my artistic existence.” Noel disclosed.

Early on in his craft, he had developed a desire for realism - pencil portraits that looked like black and white photographs. According to Noel, there were a couple of art studios close to his school, and he would frequent those places and watch the artists in action. He was completely stunned and mesmerized by how one can achieve such realism with just the use of a pencil.  This inspired him to pursue the craft. He saved up his allowances - skipped a lot of meals in school and sometimes would just skip a ride part of the way to and from school, so he could have money to buy charcoal pencils and art board/paper. Soon, his drawings were evolving and this was the beginning of what has now become his personal style which is one of realism.

His portraits are mostly based on popular figures.  “Whether these portraits are done on paper or on a doll's face, my inspirations are celebrities or famous people who I believe have made a substantial impact in our society. It could be a particular actor portraying a very famous character or a legendary celebrity such as the Hollywood stars of the 1940s and 1950s.

It's been a long and often tumultuous journey before he got to where he is now. There were times that many events in his life have somehow distanced him from his artistic road, but in the end, he had always managed to get back on that track.

Migrating to the U.S. twenty years ago has given a new dimension to his artistic quest. It wasn't immediate - in fact it took him years of self-learning before he gained the confidence he has now. “Becoming an immigrant in a foreign land has forged a more keen sense of awareness on my part of my ethnic and cultural roots as a Filipino. Living in the U.S. is very much like a racial salad bowl where different races and cultures mix, but somehow still manage to hold and maintain their individual flavors. I became more mindful of this as a Communications student at the California State University.” says Noel.

^{Noel's one of a kind doll masterpieces are in demand specially on ebay where collectors bid to own these unique creations.}

With the emergence of the internet, he discovered a new love - repainting doll faces. With online trading, a new hobby was formed - collecting one of a kind repainted dolls. The collectors of these dolls are mostly high-end collectors who desire realistically-painted doll faces. The concept of repainting basically means taking an existing doll and completely removing its original factory facial paint. With the face now blank, this then becomes the artist's canvas. The concept is essentially the same as painting on a flat canvas. The only difference is that with a doll's face, you have a three-dimensional canvas and some of the techniques involved in producing a portrait are different.  Noel said, “Whether I'm creating a portrait on paper or on a doll's face, my personal style is unmistakably realism-inspired.”

When asked on what makes a great crafted creation, he said “A great crafted creation is one that is not only visually appealing, but one that inspires the imagination as well as communicates to the viewer.  In my case, I strive for my portraits to convey a sense of emotion and aesthetic appeal either through the subject's expression and/or composition. The mood being created is also very crucial to an artwork. If necessary, it also should tell a story. You can be technically superior with your piece, but if it doesn't communicate or convey anything, then it is not as effective and will most likely be easily forgettable.”

We asked Noel for some tips that he could share to other Pinoy artists out there.  He was very gracious enough to oblige.

“There are a few tips I can share. The first is to hold on to your dream. Never give up and never let go. I know this from experience. It's when you let go that you stop growing as an artist. I believe that as an artist, you never stop growing and evolving.

Second, keep pushing yourself. Don't keep yourself confined in a box. Art has so many possibilities.

Third, find your own style. Never copy another artist's exact style. Let other artist serve an inspiration, but in the end, you have to come to your own and establish a style that will uniquely identify you as an artist.”

Being a Filipino, especially in another country has given him the special opportunity to "raise our flag" in his chosen field, which is that of art. He had always believed that Filipinos excel in many fields, and art is no exception. Having gained the recognition and validation for his artistic one-of-a-kind hand-painted dolls, is further testament to the brilliance of the Filipino people in the field of art.

About being a "World-Class Filipino", this is what Noel has to share:  "Being a world-class Filipino starts with being a world-class individual. When you are able to respect yourself as a person and recognize the importance and value of your culture and roots, then you are able to find your place in any society in the world. And you further enrich yourself as you nurture and share your God-given skills and abilities. With all these in place, you will inevitably place yourself in a position where you inspire other fellow Filipinos to take national and individual pride. That, I think is what being world-class Filipino is all about.

“To be considered a World-Class Filipino is an honor and privilege I share with my fellow countrymen, which I hope to be able to continue doing for as long as God allows me to.”  Noel Cruz - an ever-evolving Filipino artist... world-class.

World Class Filipino came to existence because of the solid belief of the people behind this project on its subject … the Filipino and most especially because God has allowed this to happen.

We are first hand witnesses on how competent Filipinos are in any trade or profession, in any country and against any nationality as most of us are currently occupying job positions which could have been easily occupied by another race had we not been capable.

The idea of setting up this website first came up at a time when we were always being asked by foreign employers if we know of a Filipino who would like to work with them.  When asked why they prefer Filipinos… they site Filipino qualities such as the following: honest, loyal, friendly, fun-loving, honors commitments, good communicator, hardworking, creative and among others.  If you just happen to have the privilege of hearing these adjectives from people other than your “kababayan”… you would probably ask yourself why these people believe in us and why can't we?  Why other nationalities are appreciating us while we ourselves, at times, are still downgrading our capacities? 

As Filipinos working abroad, we believe we are representatives of our country.  Our performances today will have a direct effect on others who will choose to follow this route and to the image of Filipinos in general.  That's why we are always asking God for guidance at work and in everything we do.  That we may continue to do His will for His greater glory and thereby preserve the legacy of the Filipinos who came before us. In relation to this, please allow us to use this space to salute them.  They made lasting impressions internationally which practically paved the way and have opened up windows of opportunities for millions of Filipinos.

And lastly, we believe that everything we have, were just given.  Our strength, beauty, intelligence… everything.  We should therefore not be boastful and proud.  Instead, we should be thankful to the one who made you and me and share these gifts to everyone.   We may be small as people, we may be under-developed as a country and we are not perfect. But we are perfectly us… just the way God had designed us to be. 

Love.  Care.  Share.

Love God above all.  Care for others.  Share ourselves.