HEREDIA’s ‘United Stasi of America’ which depicts whistle-blower Edward Snowden. (Photo Credit: Gulf News)
The works of two newspaper cartoonists from Cebu were among those selected from among thousands of entries worldwide in the ongoing 10th World Press Cartoon competition.
The cartoon and caricature creations of Niño Jose Heredia and Dwynn Ronald Trazo, both of Dubai-based broadsheet Gulf News, were selected by a jury of visual journalists to be featured in the annual hardcover WPC compilation.
World Press Cartoon is held every year to give recognition to cartoonists from around the world.
“We are happy that most of us got two (out of) three categories. To my surprise, I found out that my illustration under editorial was chosen for another Honorable Mention. Last year was under caricature. It’s been an honour to be part of WPC Top 25,” Heredia, who hails from Danao City, was quoted as saying by his paper.
A 1997 Fine Arts graduate of University of San Carlos, Heredia spent four years designing for apparel brands Penshoppe and Oxygen in Cebu before packing his bags for the Middle East where he has been based for the last 13 years.
Interviewed online by Cebu Daily News, Heredia said he finds inspiration from his experiences at home.
“Good laughs mixed with bad memories. When you are inspired by good people – family and friends – back home, it gives you the drive to be more creative,” he said.
Trazo, who graduated cum laude from the USC College of Architecture and Fine Arts in 2001, has been consistently recognized by WPC for seven straight years.
The Lapu-Lapu City native started his career as a graphic artist at Creatron then moved on to become creative supervisor at Bigfoot Global Solutions, Inc. maintaining various websites while briefly immersing himself in 3D projects.
In 2006, he moved to Dubai and joined Gulf News as an infographic designer.
Trazo has received 42 international awards from the Society for News Design, the WAN-IFRA Asia Media Awards and Malofiej infographic summit.
“Cebu is abundant in talent. That alone inspires me to this day. To learn more, be more creative and win more. To keep representing Cebu in the world stage is one big thing that drives me,” he said. /APG