This 24-year-old artist from Quezon City proves that there is money in art!
Angelou Urbano from Quezon City recently went viral on TikTok after sharing a bad experience while commissioning walls. Netizens were shocked at how much she could earn in a week.
She said that despite several people disregarding their job, she worked hard to provide for her family.
“One-time kasi sa isang client gumawa kami ng mural, [‘yung] kasambahay po nila, nagkukwento siya about sa anak niya na parang ‘Ah yung anak ko kasi sa office nagtatrabaho, sana nag-call center na lang kayo, sana nagtrabaho na lang kayo sa office, bakit di kayo nag-aral?’ Sa isip-isip ko, kung may chance ka naman mag-aral, why not? Pero kasi hindi naman lahat ng tao may opportunity na mag-aral kahit gusto mo,” Angelou shared with the Philippine STAR during an interview.
“Sa mga scenario na ganoon, sanay na ako. Umaagree na ang ako pero minsan gusto mong I-explain ‘yung trabaho mo, anong kinikita mo, na parang hindi lang naman madali ‘yung ginagawa mo, mahirap din naman ‘yung trabaho mo,” she added.
In a now viral video, Angelou revealed that despite several criticisms on her chosen field, she can actually earn P100,000 a week.
“‘Yung client namin na ‘yon sa resto na yon ay 75k. Tinapos lang namin ng three days. After noon, may next kaming project na 35k. Tinapos lang din namin ng three days. In that week, kumita kami ng 100k. So alam mo ‘yun, trinabaho mo lang siya ng ilang araw malaking pera na iyon, kumpara doon sa dati kong sinasahod,” she recalled.
Angelou admitted that for some time, she allowed other people to belittle her word and her art. Until she realized that they do not matter as long as she is happy on what she is doing and can sustain her family’s everyday needs.
“Para iwas negativity, hindi mo na lang papansinin. Hindi mo sila papakinggan kasi alam mo sa sarili mo na maganda ang trabaho mo, masaya ka sa trabaho mo,” she stressed.
Angelou took up BS Information Technology but decided to halt her studies to help her family.
In 2020, she worked as an accounting head in a company but she eventually resigned to pursue her passion.
“Before, nung nagttrabaho ako sa company, lalo na nung nagpandemic, hindi ka talaga makalabas as in pag may trabaho ka, andun ka na lang eh unlike ngayon na nagresign ako sa work ko at pinursue ‘yung pagiging muralist, hawak mo kasi talaga yung oras mo,” she said.
From a P20,000 salary as an employee, Angelou can now earn six digits depending on the influx of clients. Usually, she can entertain around 10-15 clients per month.
“Kapag freelancer ka, pwede ka mag-hustle. Pwede ka mag-work 24 hours. ‘Yung kinikita mo, nagma-matter siya kung gaano ka kasipag,” she stressed.
“Hanggang ngayon, hindi ako makapaniwala na parang tingin ko kasi sa sarili ko na parang hindi ko pa siya makita na successful ka na pero ang layo mo na eh doon sa parang dati na hindi mo kayang gawin, parang nafjufrustrate ka pa sa mga buhay. Parang ang layo mo pa, pero malayo ka na,” she added.
Angelou said that she was touched by the comments of netizens as they uplift artists through their kind words.
“Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na maraming sumusuporta sa iyo. Maraming nakakaappreciate kahit na minsan nararamdaman mo na “worth it pa ba ‘yung ginagawa mo?” pero nakikita mo ‘yung ibang tao na sinusuportahan ka parang “Ah ok” pakiramdam mo tama naman,” Angelou said.
