From Bloemen Hall’s humble walls to New York’s city streets, this story is one of courage, creativity, and community—painting not just walls, but stories that inspire.
When he first stepped into De La Salle University as a Legal Management student, Jappy Agoncillo never imagined that years later, he would be painting murals across the world—including the bustling streets of New York City.
“I actually got into DLSU by accident,” Jappy laughs. “I went to UST for Fine Arts, but after two years, I got burnt out. My sister was studying at La Salle, and my best friends were there. I wanted to pursue my second career option—law. So I took up Legal Management, and that’s what I finished in 2017.”
But Jappy’s creative calling had other plans. In 2015, while still a student, he painted his very first mural—on the walls of DLSU’s Bloemen Hall. “That mural changed my life,” he recalls. “After I posted it on Facebook and Instagram, people started asking me to paint for them—classmates, org mates, even small business owners. It grew organically from there.”
Soon, his days were filled with paint cans and ladders instead of parties. “I never became a ‘Happy Thursday’ kind of guy,” he jokes. “I was either in class or in Piso Print at EGI, answering client emails because I didn’t even have a laptop back then.”
Crafting a Career, One Wall at a Time
By graduation, Jappy had already built a name as one of Manila’s emerging muralists. But instead of heading to law school—despite completing all the requirements—he took a leap of faith.
“Art was always my first love,” he admits. “I told myself, law school will always be there. But let me try doing this full-time and see how far I can go.”
Applying his business education, Jappy treated his art like a start-up. “I made a plan,” he explains. “Every month, I tracked my income, savings, marketing—everything. My College of Business training really came into play. I approached my art career as if I were running a small company.”
That smart, grounded approach led to collaborations with Adidas, Marvel, PlayStation, IKEA, and Warner Bros., among others. His pop-culture-inspired murals—vibrant, youthful, and filled with storytelling—now decorate walls from Bonifacio Global City to New York.
At the heart of his work is a deep sense of community—something he credits to his Lasallian formation.
“One of the most important things I learned in DLSU is the value of community and camaraderie,” Jappy shares. “When you create art, you always have to think about how it affects others, and how your community responds to your work. So it’s not just feeding your ego, but you’re also, especially when you’re doing public work and street art, you have to think about how it affects the community around.”
He recounts painting a wall in his hometown in Pasig, where a local sari-sari store stood nearby. “I asked the store owner what her store’s name was—Carmen Store—and I painted it into the mural. She didn’t expect it, but that’s what I wanted: for people to feel part of what I create. It’s building community.”
For Jappy, murals are a form of public escapism. “Life in Manila can be tough—traffic, heat, stress. I want my art to make people stop for a few seconds, smile, and forget their worries.”
A Smart Leap of Faith
When asked for advice on choosing between a practical career path and following one’s passion, Jappy emphasizes the importance of balance and strategy.
“You can romanticize following your dreams—and that’s fine,” he says. “But you also have to be practical about it. I approached it in the smartest, most effective way possible.”
He shares how he set personal goals early in his career: “Every month, I told myself I needed at least three projects. I had to earn as much as I would in an entry-level job. I needed to save every month, post on Facebook or Instagram regularly, and constantly look for new clients. I even checked emails twice a day!”
His advice to young creatives is clear and grounded:
“You can chase your dreams all you want, but don’t forget to approach it smartly and practically. That’s the only way it’s really going to come true. As much as it feels magical, it still needs strategy, discipline, and consistency.”
Crossing Continents, Carrying Colors
In 2021, Jappy was granted an O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability, which enabled him to live and work as an artist in the United States. It was a milestone that represented both hard work and heart.
“I saved up from my projects, compiled every article written about me, got letters from clients, and made it happen,” he says proudly. “Now, I paint in New York, and I think that’s my proudest achievement: to prove that a Filipino creative can thrive globally.”
Despite the distance, his values remain deeply rooted in his Lasallian foundation—faith, zeal for service, and communion in mission.
“Being a full-time artist is not easy,” he admits. “There are rejections, criticism, and months with no projects. But you just have to keep going. If you quit, you’ll never know how good it could have become.”
Jappy’s creative journey is also guided by a simple philosophy he learned from the book Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday:
“Whenever I feel jealous, frustrated, or tired, I just ask myself—‘What’s important to you?’ It keeps me centered and reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.”
Today, aside from his art, Jappy supports educational charities in the Philippines. “Education is the most important thing,” he says. “Even if I wasn’t the best student, I now see how valuable it is. I auction my old paintings to fund programs that help kids in rural areas go to school.”
When asked what kind of mural he’d paint to represent his Lasallian journey, Jappy doesn’t hesitate. “I’ve always thought of painting an archer, not just because it’s our school’s symbol—but because it represents the trajectory of my career. It relates a lot to my story: someone who is fearless, someone who is precise, and someone who will do what it takes.”
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