Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb), art by Rustans.com
Dressed for The Tropics
Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
In the summer of 2015, Julia Pacleb was a college student in UP Diliman, contemplating a student abroad program that would take her to Europe for two months. Though her parents were adamant about the opportunity, she was determined. In the months that followed, she found a way to secure her slot, and by June 2015, she was on a flight to Milan for an internship and a planned side trip to Paris.
There’s no mistaking that Julia is a born adventurer with a taste for travel and new experiences. After flying back to Manila, she finished her degree and took on a job in real estate with a few travels here and there. It wasn’t until the tail end of 2019, after a girls' trip to Siargao, that she found a new adventure calling her.
Two months later, she relocated to the island to manage a hostel. Since then, she has split her time between Manila and the surfing capital. Living the ultimate tropical lifestyle: connecting with the island’s beloved community, discovering new opportunities that she never thought of exploring, and spending her days in bikinis and brass jewelry.
This summer, we talk to Julia—the bronzed tropical adventurer, digital illustrator, and sometimes hotel manager and sometimes model—about life on the island, her ideal summer days, and what she’s packing for long days by the beach.
Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapcreates)
More about Julia
You have an eclectic background in content creation and hospitality. What got you into your line of work?
There is never a straight answer to this one. I mean, I graduated with a degree in Sports Science, and then I tried out real estate right after college. After that, I found myself working in the hospitality industry in Siargao.
It was completely unexpected, unplanned, and short-lived when I got hired to open Hang Loose Hostel as their manager because the pandemic hit just after three months of opening. With domestic flights canceled, I was stuck on the island. And to kill time, I tried doing digital illustrations purely for fun. Once I felt more confident to share my work with others, I started joining some online design competitions, which gave me more confidence in putting my work out there.
Fast forward to 2021, when a good friend and mentor hired me to manage Arka Hayahay Beach and Surf Resort, and I found myself back on the island. Everything else followed. And I feel very lucky to have a few creative projects lined up right now.
You also modeled for different brands while you were on the island. How did you get into modeling and what was it like working with creatives from Siargao?
It all came unexpectantly. I never thought that kind of opportunity would come, but one brand after another just started reaching out to me. Eventually, photographers wanted to work together and collaborate on creating content.
And that's one thing that I always loved about the community in Siargao. Everyone is just so excited and happy to work together (creatively) and help each other build their creative brands and gain more experiences. What mattered more was always the exchange of ideas and creative philosophies. If anything, I owe a lot to those brands and creatives that helped me get out there and find my confidence in modeling. Each experience was unique and different and inspiring. I'm so grateful for that.
In the summer of 2015, Julia Pacleb was a college student in UP Diliman, contemplating a student abroad program that would take her to Europe for two months. Though her parents were adamant about the opportunity, she was determined. In the months that followed, she found a way to secure her slot, and by June 2015, she was on a flight to Milan for an internship and a planned side trip to Paris.
There’s no mistaking that Julia is a born adventurer with a taste for travel and new experiences. After flying back to Manila, she finished her degree and took on a job in real estate with a few travels here and there. It wasn’t until the tail end of 2019, after a girls' trip to Siargao, that she found a new adventure calling her.
Two months later, she relocated to the island to manage a hostel. Since then, she has split her time between Manila and the surfing capital. Living the ultimate tropical lifestyle: connecting with the island’s beloved community, discovering new opportunities that she never thought of exploring, and spending her days in bikinis and brass jewelry.
This summer, we talk to Julia—the bronzed tropical adventurer, digital illustrator, and sometimes hotel manager and sometimes model—about life on the island, her ideal summer days, and what she’s packing for long days by the beach.
Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapcreates)
More about Julia
You have an eclectic background in content creation and hospitality. What got you into your line of work?
There is never a straight answer to this one. I mean, I graduated with a degree in Sports Science, and then I tried out real estate right after college. After that, I found myself working in the hospitality industry in Siargao.
It was completely unexpected, unplanned, and short-lived when I got hired to open Hang Loose Hostel as their manager because the pandemic hit just after three months of opening. With domestic flights canceled, I was stuck on the island. And to kill time, I tried doing digital illustrations purely for fun. Once I felt more confident to share my work with others, I started joining some online design competitions, which gave me more confidence in putting my work out there.
Fast forward to 2021, when a good friend and mentor hired me to manage Arka Hayahay Beach and Surf Resort, and I found myself back on the island. Everything else followed. And I feel very lucky to have a few creative projects lined up right now.
You also modeled for different brands while you were on the island. How did you get into modeling and what was it like working with creatives from Siargao?
It all came unexpectantly. I never thought that kind of opportunity would come, but one brand after another just started reaching out to me. Eventually, photographers wanted to work together and collaborate on creating content.
And that's one thing that I always loved about the community in Siargao. Everyone is just so excited and happy to work together (creatively) and help each other build their creative brands and gain more experiences. What mattered more was always the exchange of ideas and creative philosophies. If anything, I owe a lot to those brands and creatives that helped me get out there and find my confidence in modeling. Each experience was unique and different and inspiring. I'm so grateful for that.
Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
Photo courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
"Long sun-filled days, slow mornings, spontaneous adventures exploring with my moped, sunset cruises with my girlfriends, wine nights, and a lot of dancing. That’s my ideal summer."
Photo by Jayce Chase, courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
Have you always loved the beach? What’s your ideal summer like?
I really have. Though I’m not going to lie. When I’m surfing, I still feel completely terrified of what’s underneath the ocean. (Laughs)
Long sun-filled days, slow mornings, spontaneous adventures exploring with my moped, sunset cruises with my girlfriends, wine nights, and a lot of dancing. That’s my ideal summer.
You’ve lived in Siargao periodically since 2019. What made you fall in love with the place?
The first time I was in Siargao was in October 2019. I stayed there for ten days, hopping from different Airbnbs and hostels with my friends. We rented a boat and motorbikes, and we did the entire tri-island and land tours ourselves. And the rest of our time on the island was spent hanging out with the new people we met along the way. The moment I stepped out of the plane, I just knew it was going to be an adventure, and I could feel that same energy and travel high with every single person I met.
I don't think I've ever been in one place and met so many people from so many different countries. It was a blast! And it's always the people you meet and the Siargao community that makes it amazing. And it will you keep wanting to come back. Which, for me, was two weeks after my first visit. Everything and everyone was just so upbeat and friendly, and there was always something to do for all kinds of travelers.
Was there an eye-opening experience from your time on the island? Do you have any advice for anyone that’s planning to move to an island community?
What I realized the most about living on the island, is that you don't need much to be happy and content in life. And that solitude in nature does heal you. I will always be grateful for all the moments I spent alone just sitting by the ocean. It was a different kind of bliss. And being away from the city made me appreciate all the things and people I have in my life so much more.
If you are planning to move to the island, remember to always respect the locals because the island is their home. Learn to get to know them and learn to give back—genuinely. They are the true nurturers of the island.
Photo by Jayce Chase, courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
Have you always loved the beach? What’s your ideal summer like?
I really have. Though I’m not going to lie. When I’m surfing, I still feel completely terrified of what’s underneath the ocean. (Laughs)
Long sun-filled days, slow mornings, spontaneous adventures exploring with my moped, sunset cruises with my girlfriends, wine nights, and a lot of dancing. That’s my ideal summer.
You’ve lived in Siargao periodically since 2019. What made you fall in love with the place?
The first time I was in Siargao was in October 2019. I stayed there for ten days, hopping from different Airbnbs and hostels with my friends. We rented a boat and motorbikes, and we did the entire tri-island and land tours ourselves. And the rest of our time on the island was spent hanging out with the new people we met along the way. The moment I stepped out of the plane, I just knew it was going to be an adventure, and I could feel that same energy and travel high with every single person I met.
I don't think I've ever been in one place and met so many people from so many different countries. It was a blast! And it's always the people you meet and the Siargao community that makes it amazing. And it will you keep wanting to come back. Which, for me, was two weeks after my first visit. Everything and everyone was just so upbeat and friendly, and there was always something to do for all kinds of travelers.
Was there an eye-opening experience from your time on the island? Do you have any advice for anyone that’s planning to move to an island community?
What I realized the most about living on the island, is that you don't need much to be happy and content in life. And that solitude in nature does heal you. I will always be grateful for all the moments I spent alone just sitting by the ocean. It was a different kind of bliss. And being away from the city made me appreciate all the things and people I have in my life so much more.
If you are planning to move to the island, remember to always respect the locals because the island is their home. Learn to get to know them and learn to give back—genuinely. They are the true nurturers of the island.
"It’s important for me to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing because it helps me feel more confident."
Photo by Daniel Alngog, courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
Can you share with us what your day is like in Siargao? How do you start your day and how do you wind down?
I like to have slow mornings before work. I wake up, play mellow tunes, make my coffee, and sit out on the porch. I message friends to ask which cafe or beachfront restaurant we’ll be working from for the day. Get dressed, pack my laptop, bikini, tanning oil, get on my bike, and leave. If we’re working in a beachfront restaurant or a cafe with a pool and lunch breaks are spent getting wet and tanning for a few minutes. And whether it’s a stressful workday or an easy one, cocktails during happy hour or convenience store beers are never to be missed so we can unwind.
What does your tropical wardrobe look like? Do you have any beach-side essentials that you would never leave out of your closet?
I like to keep it simple but always have one statement piece, like funky wide-leg pants or a low-back bodysuit, and of course, jewelry. It’s important to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing because it helps me feel more confident. The best thing about dressing up is that you create your own rules, and your style will keep evolving as you continually experiment through the years.
My tropical wardrobe has a lot of neutral-colored clothes and some bright and printed ones for a pop of color every now and then. Oversized shirts for lazy days, overalls for when I feel like having an adventure and going to the beach after, denim jeans and relaxed trousers, and a couple of statement pieces for special occasions. And, of course, a lot of bikinis, bucket hats, beach wraps, and your most trusted raincoat!
Can you share with us what your day is like in Siargao? How do you start your day and how do you wind down?
I like to have slow mornings before work. I wake up, play mellow tunes, make my coffee, and sit out on the porch. I message friends to ask which cafe or beachfront restaurant we’ll be working from for the day. Get dressed, pack my laptop, bikini, tanning oil, get on my bike, and leave. If we’re working in a beachfront restaurant or a cafe with a pool and lunch breaks are spent getting wet and tanning for a few minutes. And whether it’s a stressful workday or an easy one, cocktails during happy hour or convenience store beers are never to be missed so we can unwind.
What does your tropical wardrobe look like? Do you have any beach-side essentials that you would never leave out of your closet?
I like to keep it simple but always have one statement piece, like funky wide-leg pants or a low-back bodysuit, and of course, jewelry. It’s important for me to feel comfortable in what I’m wearing because it helps me feel more confident. The best thing about dressing up is that you create your own rules, and your style will keep evolving as you continually experiment through the years.
My tropical wardrobe has a lot of neutral-colored clothes and some bright and printed ones for a pop of color every now and then. Oversized shirts for lazy days, overalls for when I feel like having an adventure and going to the beach after, denim jeans and relaxed trousers, and a couple of statement pieces for special occasions. And, of course, a lot of bikinis, bucket hats, beach wraps, and your most trusted raincoat!
Photo by Daniel Alngog, courtesy of Julia Pacleb (@juliapacleb)
Discover how Julia dresses
for the island life...
This interview was edited and condensed for publishing.
Interview and produced by Timothy Diao
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