This teenager from Masbate impressed netizens after he uploaded a video of him while working as a freelance interior decorator.
19-year-old John Ryan Yusi Bona went to Manila in 2021 to study architecture in college. Unfortunately, he didn’t get into his dream university.
“’Yung sister ko may friend siya na contractor, kinuha po ako nila as videographer nung mga project na interior. Nung nagwowork na ako as videographer, ‘yung boss ko dun sa work na ‘yun parang na notice niya po na may alam ako sa interior design. Ginawa niya akong freelance na interior decorator,” Ryan told The Philippine STAR.
Eventually, he accepted direct clients, earning six figures per project. At first, he was also shocked on the trust that was given to him despite his age.
“Pinagkakatiwalaan nila ako sa ganung project sa edad ko. Kasi pwede naman sila kumuha ng mas may edad na o kasi mas marunong ngayon. Siguro ‘yung talent ko na lang ‘yung pinaniwalaan nila. Wala na ‘yung parang edad, background. Siguro ‘yung experience mo na lang,” he noted.
“Sobrang sarap sa feeling na ‘yung imagination ko magiging reality siya. Hindi ko naman talaga ‘to parang inisip. Ang gusto ko naman talaga mag-aral kaya ako pumunta sa Manila,” he added.
Ryan’s father works as a contractor in their province. Growing up, he learned everything about wood crafting through his father.
“Nagsimula siya sa parang passion-passion lang. Kasi bata pa lang ako baklang-bakla na mahilig magdrawing, lahat ng kaartehan sa buhay. Sobrang curious ko, nagpapaturo na ako kay Papa kung pano gamitin ang lagare, paano mag-martilyo,” he recalled.
“’Yung room ko, ako nagdecorate-decorate. Gumagawa ng mga mini table. Nagsimula din ako katulad ng mga normal na bata sa minecraft. Mga games, interior decorate games. Parang inapply ko siya hanggang lumaki ako,” he added.
After his TikTok went viral on social media with more than 1.2M views, many individuals reached out to him. Each project may take two to four weeks depending on the design.
“Napa wow ako sa result, legit!” a netizen commented.
“Go get the license! Your talent is such a gift,” another netizen said.
Next semester, Ryan plans to enroll to college to fulfill his promise to his father.
“May deal kami ni Papa na one year lang ako na magpapahinga. Ngayon, iba pa din eh. Iba pa din ‘yung alam mong licensed ka. Ako, natupad ko na ‘yung pangarap ko na maging interior decorator, gawin ‘yung gantong bagay. Pero mas gusto ko pang tuparin ‘yung pangarap ni Papa na magkaroon siya ng anak na architect,” he shared.
With the sudden shift in his career, Ryan has a message to individuals going through something in life.
“If hindi man siguro tumapat ‘yung plano mo sa panahon, kung Hindi man exactly mangyari ‘yung gusto mong mangyari, Laban lang. Parang try lang kasi alam mo naman na that moment na ginawa mo ‘yun binigay mo ‘yung best mo. It’s okay to fail. Papano mo mas ma-appreciate ‘yung tagumpay kung simpleng failure pa lang suko ka na,” he stressed.
“Siguro ang message ko sa younger self ko is malayo ka pa, pero malayo ka na,” he added.
