The agency’s first copywriter and most recently Senior Partner & Group Creative Director has decided to pursue a career in another industry after devoting nine years in GIGIL, the award-winning indie agency he helped put up with Badong Abesamis, Herbert Hernandez, Isabel Prollamante and Jake Yrastorza.
Fresh out of college, Jeano Cruz joined Y&R Philippines, then creatively helmed by Badong and Herbert, as a Junior Copywriter in 2016. 10 months later, when the two creative leaders decided to put up GIGIL, they brought Jeano with them.
Founded in 2017, GIGIL only had five employees when it started, including Jeano as its first Senior Copywriter and Junior Partner at just 22 years old. Today, GIGIL is almost 100-people strong
As the agency grew, Jeano took on multiple leadership roles. This included becoming GIGIL’s first Head of Social, and later on becoming one of the agency’s first Creative Directors.
Through his leadership of and creative contributions to campaigns for Unilever, Levi’s, Netflix, KonsultaMD, RC Cola, Mandaue Foam, Comedy Manila, Jollibee, and more, Jeano has helped GIGIL collect trophies across almost every major industry show: Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clio, London International Awards, Spikes Asia, ADFEST, MADSTARS, APAC Effies, and APAC Tambuli Awards.
Most recently, Jeano helmed GIGIL’s tech and innovation arm GIGIL Metama, helping establish it as an award-winning team of creatives & technologists that unlocked the tech space for brands to reach their audiences more creatively.
The tech arm’s works Jollibee “Joy Zone” and Netflix Squid Game 3 “Jump Rope Experience” recently won a Gold and Silver at the 2025 DMAP Boomerang Awards, the country’s premiere innovation awards show, ultimately helping GIGIL secure Agency of the Year honors.
During Jeano’s tenure, GIGIL Metama also produced the viral “Kween Yasmin All-Purpose Font” for GIGIL’s campaign with Canva Pro, which has since won a Silver in Spikes Asia, three Bronzes at ADFEST, and a Silver & Bronze at the New York Festivals this year.
“I owe many of the things I’ve learned in the advertising industry to my mentors-turned-godparents, Badong, Bert and Jake. It’s been a privilege to be part of GIGIL’s first 9 years, and I’m proud to leave it poised to achieve more growth,” Jeano said.
“We started GIGIL in 2017 just jumping around Manila’s coffee shops with our laptops and a dream to put Filipino creativity on the map. 9 years later, the agency has achieved much more than we’ve initially dreamed of: 5 Cannes Lions, 3 D&AD Pencils, 8 APAC Effies, first-ever Asia AdAge Small Agency of the Year from Asia-Pacific, #1 Independent Agency in APAC and #1 Agency in the Philippines in Campaign Brief Asia’s Creative Rankings, 2x Campaign Asia GOLD Philippines Creative Agency of the Year and even ADFEST Independent Agency of the Year. GIGIL is brimming with momentum and I’m sure continued success will come its way. But as for me, I will take on a new role as the agency’s #1 fan cheering for it from the sidelines. I am excited to see GIGIL continue to carry the flag of Filipino creativity across the world.”
