Since her self-published comics Nagmamahal Maria Clara, illustrator, zine-maker and all-around artist Marian Hukom has her plate full. She has tabled at conventions, showcasing her comics, polymer charms accessories, postcards, and stickers for wondering eyes and curious patrons.

This busy routine has kept her entertained, admittedly a busybody Virgo.

Despite her stacked schedule, the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde Multimedia Arts alumna has since released the romance Panaginip ng Pag-Ibig, her contribution to Filipino art market organizer Komiket's anthology Kilig.

She is also preoccupied by the release of My Opis Myth, a workplace comedy with Filipino monsters, made possible by the app debut of the online komiks website Penlab in partnership with streaming platform Kumu.

She has even participated in exhibits — that she finally got to visit in-person — such as Politikal Ang Komiks at Gravity Art Space in Quezon City, mounted by the collective Dakila and human rights education institution Active Vista.

To cope with stress, she maintains a healthy work-life balance, which she follows religiously. "On weekends, I go out as well catch some gigs or just hang out."

Let us hear more about the latest projects of this blooming creator:

On 'Panaginip ng Pag-Ibig'
Panaginip ng Pag-Ibig (Love of my Dreams) has always been an idea I wanted to pursue years back. It's loosely based on my high school experience where I was, of course, a teenager with raging emotions and in love with… well, love! Puppy love, rather. Production was enjoyable as well since it is fully colored, so to experiment and use new techniques felt great. Panaginip ng Pag-Ibig is a dear project to me and I'm glad it's finally out in the world in all its fluffy and wacky glory!

On 'My Opis Myth'
My Opis Myth is an ode to my adulthood, specifically being part of the workforce. But my characters are monsters! I created an unconventional group consisting of a manananggal as a freelance graphic artist, a tikbalang as an advertising employee, a diwata as an online seller, a kapre as an outsourced BPO agent, and a duwende who runs sketchy errands. In a world where Philippine mythological creatures harmonically exist alongside us, they bond over their adulting woes as well as they have jobs to do and bills to pay.

On inspiration
I think it's the community I'm part of and work with. The comics scene is thriving and it's so much fun to live it with other creators. It's the people that motivate me, so I'm thankful to have in-person events again.

On favorite comics, books, webtoons
I've always loved reading comics and manga. I have a Winx comics collection when I was in elementary and I'd draw my own stories in my diaries.

I kept this up until high school where I got into anime and it evolved into drawing my own manga.

In college, I got into western cartoons and comics which developed my art style further. Some cartoons that inspired me were Steven Universe and Adventure Time, which had their own comics too. It was around this time that I first went to local comic conventions and discovered indie books that pushed me to publish my own.

On future plans:
So far, I want to focus on my ongoing comics. Panaginip ng Pag-Ibig is a series as well, but it'll be short and I'm treating it as a passion project with no rush
— unless it gets picked up by a platform or deal. (Laughs) I'll probably be attending in more events since I enjoy going to gigs.