CJ de Silva
{{Short description|Filipino artist (1987–2024)}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=June 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = CJ de Silva-Ong
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Christiana Jade de Silva
| birth_date = {{birth date|1987|8|1}}
| birth_place = Manila, Philippines
| death_date = {{death date and age|2024|06|18|1987|8|1}}
| death_place = Philippines
| occupation = Painter, graphic designer
| spouse = Wincy Aquino Ong
({{abbr|m.|Married}} 2013)
}}
Christiana Jade de Silva-Ong (August 1, 1987 – June 18, 2024) was a Filipino art director, painter, illustrator, and graphic designer.{{cite web|url=http://cjdesilva.com/ |title=CJ de Silva |publisher=CJ de Silva |date= |accessdate=2014-02-17}} She was known as a "Gifted Child" and a "Promil Kid", being featured in an infant formula ad in 1998.{{cite web|last=Santos |first=Carina |url=http://www.philstar.com/young-star/720184/manila-art |title=Manila, this is art | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2011-08-26 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/317668/lifestyle/peopleandevents/the-grown-up-palette-of-cj-de-silva |title=The grown-up palette of CJ de Silva | Lifestyle | GMA News Online |publisher=Gmanetwork.com |date=2013-07-16 |accessdate=2014-02-17}} She had staged three major solo-artist exhibitions and worked as a senior art director.
Background
De Silva was born in Manila and was raised in Malabon, just north of the capital city. She attended the St. Scholastica's College Manila and in 2008 graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Fine Arts, with a degree in Visual Communication.{{Cite web |last=Tonelada |first=Rachelle |date=June 20, 2024 |title=36-Year-Old CJ De Silva-Ong, Painter and Promil Gifted Child, Passes Away |url=https://www.cosmo.ph/health/promil-gifted-child-cj-ong-passed-away-a6906-20240620?s=p1uihg858n0mbu5t6bnqjsv8nq |access-date=2025-02-11 |website=COSMO.PH |language=en-ph}}
Work
=Exhibitions=
De Silva staged three major solo-artist exhibitions and participated in many joint art shows throughout the years.
- CJ de Silva: The First Solo Exhibit (1998) - The Ayala Museum, Makati
- CJ de Silva: The Year After (1999) - The Ayala Museum, Makati
- Gift for the Gifted (2003) - Philam Life Theater Lobby, Manila City
- stART with Mio (2009), A Benefit Exhibit - Gallery 7, Eastwood{{cite web |url=http://www.miofightscancer.com/2009/12/counting-our-blessings.html |title=Counting Our Blessings |publisher=MioFightsCancer.com |date=2009-12-26 |accessdate=2014-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223163909/http://www.miofightscancer.com/2009/12/counting-our-blessings.html# |archive-date=2014-02-23 |url-status=dead }}
- 8 Clinique: You Are a Work of Art (2012) - Whitespace Gallery, Makati {{cite web|url=http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/35731/new-colors-light-up-beauty-scene |title=New colors light up beauty scene | Inquirer Lifestyle |publisher=Lifestyle.inquirer.net |date=2012-02-22 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/778086/clinique-celebrates-art-and-beauty |title=Clinique celebrates art and beauty | Entertainment, News, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2012-02-17 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}
- 16x16 Young Star Philippines' 16th Anniversary Exhibit (2012) - Rockwell Powerplant Mall, Makati{{cite web|last=Bolilia |first=Karen |url=http://www.philstar.com/young-star/798317/scene-herd-sixteen-and-young-art |title=Scene + Herd: Sixteen and young at art | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2012-04-20 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spot.ph/newsfeatures/50929/young-star-turns-sweet-16-with-em16x16em-uploading |title=Top up-and-coming artists and photogs featured in Young Star's "16x16" exhibit | News+Features | What's New | SPOT.ph: Your One-Stop Urban Lifestyle Guide to the Best of Manila |publisher=SPOT.ph |date=2012-05-01 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|last=Ang |first=Raymond |url=http://www.philstar.com/young-star/796140/young-stars-super-sweet-16 |title=Young Star's super sweet 16 | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2012-04-13 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}
- Bloom Arts Festival (2012) - Cubao X, Cubao, Quezon City{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/young-star/2012-09-28/853562/art-blooms-all-over-cubao-x-again |title=Art blooms all over Cubao X again | Young Star, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2012-09-28 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}
- Bloom Arts Festival (2013) - The Collective, Makati{{cite web|last=Arsua |first=Koji |url=http://www.philstar.com/supreme/2013/12/14/1267707/supreme-picks |title=Supreme picks | Supreme, Lifestyle Features, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2013-12-14 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}
=Illustration and Graphic Design=
CJ de Silva illustrated the 2006 First Prize awardee in the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature, Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin, written by Bernadette Villanueva Neri.{{cite web |url=http://www.palancaawards.com.ph/2006Ang%20Ikaklit%20sa%20Aming%20Hardin%20by%20Bernadette%20Neri%201st%20prize.php |title=Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature |publisher=Palancaawards.com.ph |accessdate=2014-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223023723/http://www.palancaawards.com.ph/2006Ang%20Ikaklit%20sa%20Aming%20Hardin%20by%20Bernadette%20Neri%201st%20prize.php# |archive-date=2014-02-23 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17376219-ang-ikaklit-sa-aming-hardin |title=Ang Ikaklit Sa Aming Hardin by Bernadette Villanueva Neri — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists |publisher=Goodreads.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.juice.ph/blogs/buhaypinoy/ang-ikaklit-sa-aming-hardin |title=Ang Ikaklit sa Aming Hardin | Blogs @ |publisher=Juice.ph |date= |accessdate=2014-02-17}} She also designed and illustrated the album art of itchyworms' fifth studio album After All This Time.{{cite web|url=http://radiorepublic.ph/itchyworms-releases-new-album-after-all-this-time/ |title=Welcome to Radio Republic |publisher=Radiorepublic.ph |date= |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web |url=http://www.kristn.com/index.php/music-events/article/1762/time-out-with-the-itchyworms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709232919/http://www.kristn.com/index.php/music-events/article/1762/time-out-with-the-itchyworms |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-07-09 |title=Time out with the Itchyworms |publisher=Kristn.com |date=2013-07-05 |accessdate=2014-02-17 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2013/07/04/961300/itchyworms-busier-ever |title=The Itchyworms busier than ever | Entertainment, News, The Philippine Star |publisher=philstar.com |date=2013-07-04 |accessdate=2014-02-17}} De Silva also illustrated some fictional gig posters as part of the marketing campaign for [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1271987/?ref_=tt_ov_dr Quark Henares]' film [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1849052/ Rakenrol]. CJ de Silva's illustrations were also featured in Esquire Philippines. She was also known for painting and illustrating on sneakers and became one of Keds Philippines ambassadors.{{cite web|url=http://statusmagonline.com/status-x-keds-october-issue/ |title=Sole-Mates | STATUS Magazine |publisher=Statusmagonline.com |date=2011-10-19 |accessdate=2014-02-17}}{{cite web|url=http://statusmagonline.com/keds-x-status-earthly-delights/ |title=Keds Presents STATUS Earthly Delights | STATUS Magazine |publisher=Statusmagonline.com |date= |accessdate=2014-02-17}}
=Advertising=
Right after graduating from college, de Silva started working in TBWA\Santiago Mangada Puno. Being part of the Creative team, she won a few advertising awards. She was part of the team that won the Philippines' first Webby Award for the internet film entitled "A Toy Love Story That Will Make You Cry".{{cite web |url=http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/individual/online-commercials/gift-of-life |title=Online Commercials | 2013 | The Webby Awards Gallery + Archive |publisher=Winners.webbyawards.com |accessdate=2014-02-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222153053/http://winners.webbyawards.com/2013/interactive-advertising-media/individual/online-commercials/gift-of-life |archive-date=2014-02-22 |url-status=dead }} She was most recently the Executive Creative Director of the agency.
Personal life and death
In 2013, de Silva married director Wincy Aquino Ong.{{cite web | url=http://www.bridalbook.ph/wedding-articles/featured-wedding-cj-wincy | title=Bridalbook.ph - bridalbook Resources and Information }} They have a podcast called Telebabad Tapes.{{Cite web |title=Spotify |url=https://open.spotify.com/show/0EBTF3STgGv4qrAQ7agbSt?si=a9d69c49cbf84da1 |access-date=2024-06-27 |website=open.spotify.com}}
De Silva died of two strokes and an aneurysm on June 18, 2024, at the age of 36. Her death was confirmed a day later by her husband, Wincy Ong.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/arts-culture/cj-de-silva-ong-dies/|title=Ex-Promil Kid CJ de Silva-Ong dies at 36|publisher=Rappler|date=June 19, 2024|access-date=June 21, 2024}}