Publication & Featured On
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Location: New York, USA
Publisher: Artells Magazine - Vol 3194
Date Published: May 14, 2025
Artist's Featured Piece
Titles: Filipino Folklore
Type: Digital Art
Size: 2550 x 3300 pixels
Year: 2025
Description: IJWBAA, a Filipino digital artist, reinterprets Filipino mythology through minimalist digital art, using bold colors and geometric forms to portray iconic figures such as the Malakas at Maganda, Tikbalang, Bathala, Sarimanok, Manananggal, Aswang, Kapre, Duende, and Tiyanak. Each artwork merges traditional folklore with contemporary design, employing symbolism and striking palettes to give ancient myths a fresh, modern voice.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Locations: NYC, USA
Publisher: 6X Media - Fine Arts | Vol 119
Date Published: May 1, 2025
Artist's Entry Piece
Title: What Makes a Filipino?
Media: digital art
Sizes: 1400 x 1400 pixels
Year: 2025
Description: This vibrant digital art collection by IJWBAA captures the essence of Filipino culture, heritage, and traditions. Featuring powerful visuals of Barong Tagalog, Baro’t Saya, Fiesta, Street Foods, Tsinelas, Pamilya, Filipino Time, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, each artwork reflects the deep-rooted values, resilience, and colorful spirit of the Filipino people. Dive into this visual journey celebrating identity, history, and the everyday life that defines the Philippines.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Publisher: 365 Art + Magazine
Title of Publication: Case 76 - All About Art-3 vs The Year of Snake. Snake Art (Digital and Print)
Date Published: March 15, 2025
Artist's Featured Pieces
Title: Filipino Folklore
Media: Digital Art
Size: 8.5 x 11 inches
Description: In his latest series, Filipino digital artist IJWBAA reimagines Filipino mythology through three captivating artworks. The Aswang is brought to life with shadowy hues, emphasizing its sinister allure, while the Sarimanok comes alive with swirling feathers in dynamic motion, symbolizing vitality and freedom. The Manananggal is portrayed with ethereal grace, suspended between horror and beauty, creating a striking balance of captivating terror. Through these works, IJWBAA blends minimalist compositions and rich symbolism to transform ancient figures into modern visual narratives.
Type: Publication (art magazine - print/digital)
Location: Tbilisi, Georgia
Publisher: Collect Artwork Org
Title of Publication: Men Art - Special Edition Vol 61
Publication Date: March 13, 2025
Artist's Entry Piece
Title: Filipino Folklore
Media: digital art
Year: 2025
Interview (part of): Filipino mythology plays a significant role in your art. What inspired you to reimagine these legendary beings, and how do you balance historical authenticity with contemporary aesthetics? "I grew up fascinated by Filipino mythology, and I see it as a vast, untapped realm for storytelling. By modernizing these beings through digital art, I preserve their essence while making them relevant to contemporary audiences, ensuring they evolve rather than fade into obscurity."
Type: Publication (website and catalogue)
Location: London, United Kingdom
Publisher: Cista Arts
Date Published: March 3, 2025
Description: Cista Arts presents "Self-Portrait", an online exhibition exploring self-representation in contemporary art through painting, photography, digital art, sculpture, and performance. Among the featured international artists, IJWBAA showcases "Tech Guy", a minimalist digital self-portrait symbolizing his journey as a digital artist. Composed of simple geometric shapes in muted gray and white tones, the figure reflects modernity and efficiency, with a stark black computer mouse as a central element—both a literal tool and a metaphor for his creative evolution. The glasses and upright posture suggest focus and clarity, while the clean composition mirrors his intentional artistic approach. This piece encapsulates the fusion of identity, technology, and creativity in an era shaped by cultural hybridity and digital presence.
Type: Featured On
Location: Hong Kong, China
Website: IG and FB of Art Future Club
Date Featured: January 25, 2025
Artist's Entry Piece
Title: Filipino Folklore
Media: digital art
Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels
Year: 2025
Description: IJWBAA reimagines Filipino mythology through minimalist digital artworks, blending vibrant color palettes, geometric shapes, and layered symbolism. From the sinister allure of the *Aswang* and the ethereal grace of the *Manananggal* to the divine presence of *Bathala* and the duality of *Malakas at Maganda*, each piece captures the essence of these myths with modernist elegance. The *Tikbalang* stands tall amidst mystical blues and greens, embodying its forested roots. The *Duende*, small yet powerful, is reinterpreted through intricate patterns, embodying its mischievous yet protective nature. The towering *Kapre*, with its towering form and deep, earthy tones, resonates with a sense of ancient strength. The vibrant feathers of the *Sarimanok* swirl in dynamic motion, representing the fusion of nature and myth. Meanwhile, the *Tiyanak*, cloaked in shadows and red hues, evokes the chilling, otherworldly aspect of folklore. IJWBAA's work breathes new life into these diverse beings, fusing cultural narratives with contemporary digital aesthetics to create timeless, thought-provoking compositions.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Location: Milan, Italy
Publisher: Quadro Magazine - Fantasy December (Vol 785)
Date Published: Dec 16, 2024
Artist's Featured Piece
Title: Horizons of Humanity
Media: Digital Art
Size: 2646 x 3780 px
Year: 2024
Description: In this dynamic digital artwork, IJWBAA celebrates Filipino identity through a collective of stylized human figures embodying various professions essential to the nation’s progress, including healthcare workers, construction professionals, and law enforcement officers. Clad in their iconic uniforms rendered in vibrant, symbolic colors, these figures are crafted with minimalist shapes to underscore unity and diversity within Philippine society. Set against a simplified city skyline in hues of blue and purple, the composition evokes the bayanihan spirit—a testament to the strength, resilience, and interdependence of communities working together. The artwork serves as a poignant homage to the shared purpose that fuels the Filipino urban landscape.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Location: Milan, Italy
Publisher: Art Up Mi Digital | Issue 18
Date Published: Dec 1, 2024
Artist's Featured Piece
Title: Aeta
Media: Digital Art
Size: varies
Year: 2024 and 2023
Description: IJWBAA presents a powerful digital artwork celebrating the Aeta, one of the Philippines' earliest indigenous groups. The piece highlights themes of talaba (family), magkasintahan (lovers), babaylan (woman), and lalaki (man), represented by bold black figures symbolizing unity and strength. Yellow geometric accents and vibrant patterns reflect traditional adornments and weaving. This art honors the Aetas' resilience and deep connection to nature, while addressing challenges like displacement and the Mount Pinatubo eruption, blending ancestral traditions with modern digital techniques to celebrate their enduring cultural legacy.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Location: New York, USA
Publisher: Marika Magazine Fine-Art & AI (Issue 5344 - November)
Date Published: November 16, 2024
Artist's Featured Piece
Title: The Red Thread
Media: Digital Art - 3D
Size: 5100 x 3300 pixels
Year: 2024
Description: This artwork powerfully conveys the feeling of being different within a crowd, represented by a single red figure standing out among uniformly colored, neutral-toned figures. The red figure symbolizes individuality and the emotions that come with being distinct, such as alienation or discomfort. Its stark contrast to the others evokes the internal struggle of those who feel out of place in a conforming society. Through minimalist forms and a bold use of color, the piece captures the tension between uniqueness and the often overwhelming pressure to blend in, inviting viewers to reflect on the emotional complexities of standing apart.
Type: Featured On
Website: Artists Archive
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Publisher: Currently Arts Society
Date Featured: October 25, 2024
Artist's Featured Piece
Titles: Aeta, Family, Pamilya
Media: Digital Art
Sizes: varies
Year: 2024
Description: IJWBAA’s artworks Aeta, Family, and Pamilya reflect a deep reverence for Filipino identity, kinship, and cultural roots. Aeta pays homage to the indigenous people of the Philippines, highlighting their resilience and vibrant heritage through bold, textured strokes. Family captures the warmth and strength of familial bonds, while Pamilya bridges traditional and contemporary Filipino life, celebrating unity and shared history. Each piece is a visual narrative blending emotion, ancestry, and social commentary.
Type: Publication (art magazine)
Magazine: Issue 9 - Citizen of the World
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine
Publisher: Artwork Gallery
Date Published: September 26, 2024
Artist's Featured Piece
Titles: United as One
Media: Digital Art
Size: 1400 x 1400 pixels
Year: 2024
Description: I present a rich and varied collection of figures, paying tribute to a wide range of cultural symbols. This composition serves as a dynamic and multifaceted celebration of culture and ethnicity, celebrating the vibrant diversity of our world.
Type: Featured on
Locations: Lancaster, Georgia
Publisher: Porridge Magazine
Date Published: coming soon
Artist's Entry Piece
Title: Family
Media: digital art
Sizes: 1400 x 1400 pixels
Year: 2024
Description: "Family" by IJWBAA is a heartfelt tribute to the Filipino concept of family, portraying it as the foundation of cultural identity rooted in unity, respect, and unconditional support. The minimalist design captures the purity of familial bonds, with larger figures symbolizing revered elders and smaller ones representing children as bearers of hope and continuity. Warm gradient tones of yellow and red evoke the joy, resilience, and loving spirit of Filipino households, while the earthy brown background anchors the piece in heritage and tradition. Subtle red accents hint at the individuality within each family member, emphasizing the Filipino value of personal identity within collective unity. As a visual metaphor for bayanihan—the spirit of communal effort and solidarity—the artwork reflects the deep emotional and cultural significance of kinship in Filipino life.
Type: Publication (magazine)
Location: 5th Avenue New York, USA
Publisher: DOLOR XII - Beauty Is Not Still
Date Published: June 18, 2025
Artist's Featured Pieces
Title: Digital Divinities: Reimagining Filipino Deities Through Contemporary Minimalism
Media: Digital Art
Size: 1500 x 1500 pixels
Description: IJWBAA, the artistic name of Filipino digital artist Paul “Pao” Hafalla, created a series of digital artworks depicting key deities from precolonial Philippine mythology, including Tala, the goddess of the morning and evening star; Mayan, the god of the moon and war; Apolaki, the god of the sun and war; Lihangin, the god of the wind; Magwayen, the goddess of the sea and the afterlife; Aluduyog, the god of rain; Anitun Tabu, the goddess of wind and rain; and Bathala, the supreme god. Known for his minimalist, emotionally resonant style influenced by indigenous forms, classical aesthetics, and digital abstraction, IJWBAA integrates cultural memory with contemporary visual strategies. His works serve not only as artistic interpretations but also as meditative reconstructions of Filipino ancestral consciousness, using digital media to hybridize myth and modernity in a manner that reclaims and recontextualizes national identity.