Daily TribuneI found out that DJing really opened up a new world for me. I met so many people and made new friends. And now I’m into food. So the wisdom there is, if you’re creative, there are so many paths you can take and try. You can enjoy all of it and you can grow. But know your limits.
CECILE Zamora aka Chuvaness
Beginnings
After getting my degree in Journalism, my first job was as fashion writer and columnist at Daily Globe. Then I went to Parsons School of Design in New York. I worked as a fashion designer in Manila from 1995 to 2000. I got married and had kids. Then in 2001, I became interested in blogging, which became my new creative outlet. I also got back to writing and becoming a section editor for the Philippine Star. My blog became popular and I became a full-time blogger.
I stopped blogging in 2017 when I felt that the medium was dying. Instagram killed blogging, followed by YouTube and TikTok, which are not my mediums. In 2018 I became a DJ at XXXX, which was the best club in Manila. It closed during the pandemic.
Challenges
When I was younger, I thought that I had to keep doing what I studied for, meaning writing or fashion design, because my dad spent so sending me abroad.
But I met someone who told me it was OK to change careers — because she changed her career every three years.
So, I would go back and forth between writing and fashion. Until I really enjoyed blogging. I gave up making clothes and became more of a fashion consumer. There were just too many talented designers around that I couldn’t keep up.
Where I am now
In 2019, I took over the food business and became the CEO of Pepper Lunch, which currently has 80 stores all over the Philippines. In 2025, we opened the first Hamburg Yoshi restaurant and had our second branch this year.
Wisdom
I found out that DJing really opened up a new world for me. I met so many people and made new friends. And now I’m into food. So the wisdom there is, if you’re creative, there are so many paths you can take and try. You can enjoy all of it and you can grow. But know your limits. You don’t have to join every bandwagon. For example, if your’e not made for vlogging, you don’t have to.
During the pandemic, I got into fitness, which I never thought I could do. More recently I joined an online Rosary group at 9 PM and made new friends. It’s never too late to pick up a new skill and make new friends.
Having new connections and working out keep you young, sharp and updated.
