Rica Cabañog’s credo is bold. She counsels herself and all others in her orbit to go big or go home, and she’s lived well by that philosophy. Armed with a sociology degree and a love of ’90s rock (Red Hot Chili Peppers and Smashing Pumpkins are playlist favourites) Rica left university in the Philippines to spend almost 14 years winding her way meticulously through the ranks of Nestle’s marketing department. Realizing that her career wasn’t fulfilling her creative spirit, Rica boldly vowed to conquer Canada; in 2022, she left home, family, and comfort zone in a speedy six month odyssey that landed her in a new home in Seneca’s Creative Advertising program. She now spreads those “sociological smarts” as a copywriting intern at the Per Se Brand Experience.

Rica has already been lauded in her Canadian career with a win at the Canadian Colleges Marketing Competition and with the Ad Club Scholarship for her superpowers as course connector. She attributes the CCMC win to the strength and preparedness of her team and the positive influence of Seneca professors, Jason Dojc and Anthony Kalamut while the Ad Club Scholarship came as a result of her natural affinity for mentoring and bringing people together. She’s grateful for being rewarded and recognized for those innate qualities and counsels other new Canadians to similarly immerse themselves in Canada’s culture, food, and outdoor sport. There are plenty of YouTube videos dedicated to debunking the perception that it’s easy to get a job and a home in Canada but Rica would rather live largely, tenaciously, and with grit and purpose to succeed.

Rica is a visual soul with a vision board that speaks to her big purpose. The board is populated with images to support her goals to become a copywriter, Canadian resident, and eventual Creative Director. She’s already done some delicious work in textually distilling the meaty goodness that is Slim Jim sticks and jerky, and continues to move boldly and unabashedly through this big Canadian land!