Creativity Without Borders: A Theresian Dream
From a Theresian student with a dream of becoming a performer to a professional Production Designer and Creative Designer bringing stories, spaces, and ideas to life.
A Journey That Began at St. Therese
Every creative journey begins somewhere.
For Ezar Co, that beginning was at St. Therese, a school that became more than just a place of education. It became part of his childhood, his formative years, and ultimately, the foundation of the creative career he continues to pursue today.
Featured by St. Therese School of Arts and Science (STCAS) as part of its “Proud Theresians: Inspiring Stories of Alumni — THEN & NOW” series, Ezar's story reflects how passion, creativity, and the experiences we encounter early in life can shape the path we eventually take.
From his early fascination with performing and the arts to working professionally across production design, theater, fashion, advertising, entertainment, and creative design, his journey is a testament to the lasting influence of a creative education.
Ezar Co featured in STCAS’ “Proud Theresians: Inspiring Stories of Alumni — THEN & NOW” series.
Where It All Began
Long before the production sets, theater stages, commercial campaigns, and creative projects, Ezar was a student discovering the things that made him feel most alive.
His years at St. Therese became an important part of that discovery.
“Being a student at St. Therese, back when it was still called St. Therese of the Child Jesus Learning Center, played a significant role in shaping who I am today.”
Over the years, Ezar witnessed the school grow and evolve—from St. Therese of the Child Jesus Learning Center, to St. Therese of the Child Jesus Academy, and eventually to St. Therese School of Arts and Science.
Through all those changes, one thing remained constant: its significance in his life.
The school became a place where he developed his skills, discovered his talents, and found the inspiration that would eventually lead him toward a career in the creative arts.
Ezar during his years as a student at St. Therese.
The Boy Who Wanted to Perform
Before becoming a designer, Ezar dreamed of becoming a performer.
Inspired by his mother, he actively participated in school activities, particularly dancing and acting. Performing allowed him to experience the excitement of being part of something bigger than himself.
But his creativity was not limited to the stage.
Inside the classroom, he discovered a natural interest in painting, drawing, and especially crafting. He would even decorate classrooms for different events and occasions.
These seemingly simple childhood experiences became early expressions of the creativity that would later define his career.
They taught him to look at ordinary materials and imagine what they could become.
They encouraged him to experiment.
And most importantly, they gave him a space to express himself.
Early experience that helped shape Ezar’s artistic interests.
Discovering the Magic Behind the Stage
Ezar knew early on that his heart belonged to the creative arts.
Logical and analytical subjects never captured his attention in quite the same way that visual creativity did. He was fascinated by the world of performance and everything that existed behind it.
The stage was not simply a place where performers stood.
To Ezar, it was an entire world.
He was fascinated by stage design, lighting, costumes, props, and the countless details that came together to tell a story.
The applause of an audience was exciting, but so was witnessing the transformation that happened behind the scenes.
A blank stage could become a completely different world.
A costume could transform an actor into a character.
A simple prop could become an important part of a story.
A carefully designed environment could change the way an audience felt.
It was this fascination with the magic of production that gradually planted the seeds for his future career.
Snow White, Bathalang Laor, and the Beginning of a Passion
Among Ezar's most memorable experiences as a student were his involvement in the school's productions of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and “Bathalang Laor.”
These productions gave him the opportunity to experience firsthand the collaborative nature of theater and the creative work that happens behind a performance.
They deepened his appreciation for storytelling through design, performance, craftsmanship, and production.
More importantly, these experiences helped him realize that his fascination with the world behind the stage could become something more than a childhood interest.
It could become a career.
One of Ezar’s memorable experiences in school productions.
From Curiosity to a Career in Production Design
Looking back, Ezar's years as a Theresian became the foundation of the artistic journey he continues to pursue today.
The curiosity he developed while observing stage designs, costumes, props, lighting, and production details eventually led him toward Production Design.
Production design gave him the opportunity to combine many of the things he had loved since childhood.
It allowed him to create environments, develop visual concepts, work with materials, design objects and spaces, and contribute to the storytelling process.
What once fascinated him as a young student eventually became the work he does professionally.
Ezar Co working as a Production Designer.
From Dream to Reality
Perhaps the most meaningful part of Ezar's story is the distance between the dream he once shared as a student and the reality he lives today.
A decade and a half after sharing his ambition during his commencement ceremony, he can now look back and say that the dream came true.
He became an artist.
He became a designer.
And he continues to build a career around the very things that fascinated him as a child.
Today, Ezar has the opportunity to create immersive spaces and bring creative concepts to life through set design, props, costumes, and visual storytelling.
Every project is another opportunity to create something that did not exist before.
And with every project, there is a connection to that young Theresian who once stood in awe of the magic behind a stage.
From a young Theresian with a dream to a professional designer living that dream.
Designing Across Creative Industries
Ezar's professional journey has since expanded far beyond the school stage.
As a Production Designer and Creative Designer, he has worked across various creative fields, including fashion, theater, entertainment, advertising, events, and commercial production.
His work has also included designing for recognized personalities and influencers in the Philippines, including Zeinab Harake.
Working with personalities requires an understanding of individuality, aesthetics, personality, and visual identity. A designer must be able to take a client's ideas and translate them into a visual expression that feels authentic and compelling.
Ezar’s creative work for Zeinab Harake.
Bringing Characters to Life
Ezar's creative practice has also brought him back to one of the environments that first inspired him: theater.
He served as the official Costume Designer for “Under the Sink Musical: Costumed Reading,” contributing designs that helped establish the visual identity of its characters and the world of the production.
For Ezar, costume design is another form of storytelling.
A costume can reveal who a character is before they even speak. It can communicate personality, background, emotion, relationships, and transformation.
It is a visual language—and one that connects directly to the fascination he developed as a student watching costumes and production elements come together on stage.
Ezar’s costume design work for “Under the Sink Musical: Costumed Reading.”
Behind the Scenes of Commercial Production
Beyond theater and fashion, Ezar has also contributed his creative expertise as a Production Designer for commercial productions involving recognized brands such as Dove and Breeze, among others.
Commercial production requires the ability to balance artistic vision with practical execution.
Every project begins with a brief, a concept, and a visual objective. The production designer then works to translate those ideas into a physical environment that supports the story and communicates the intended message.
This requires creativity, organization, collaboration, attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to work within real-world production limitations.
While audiences may only see the final commercial for a few seconds, countless creative decisions happen behind the scenes.
Ezar is among the creatives helping turn those ideas into visual realities.
Behind the scenes of Ezar’s commercial production work.
Ezar’s Reflection
A Personal Statement
Beyond the achievements and professional projects, the heart of Ezar's story can be found in his own reflection on the place where his journey began.
“St. Therese Was More Than Just a School to Me”
“Being a student at St. Therese, back when it was still called St. Therese of the Child Jesus Learning Center, played a significant role in shaping who I am today. The school became a huge part of my childhood. I grew up there, witnessed many of its changes over the years, and even saw it evolve through different names, from St. Therese of the Child Jesus Learning Center, to St. Therese of the Child Jesus Academy, and now St. Therese School of Arts and Science. Because of that, it will always hold a special place in my heart. The school helped me develop my skills, discover my talents, and inspired me to pursue creative work.”
“When I was younger, my dream was to become a performer. Inspired by my mom, I actively joined school activities such as dancing and acting. Inside the classroom, I found myself drawn to the arts, including painting, drawing, and especially crafting. I used to decorate the room for every event or occasion we celebrated. These experiences nurtured my creativity, helped me refine my talents, and encouraged me to express myself in unique ways.”
“To be honest, I was never really interested in logical or analytical subjects. I was always more passionate about visual arts and creative expression. Performing on stage fascinated me. I loved the feeling of hearing the audience’s applause, and witnessing the magic of every production, from the stage design and lighting to the costumes and props that brought each story to life.”
“One of my most memorable experiences was being part of our school’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Bathalang Laor. Those experiences deepened my appreciation for the creative arts and strengthened my passion for storytelling through design, performance, and craftsmanship.”
“Looking back, my years as a Theresian became the foundation of the creativity, passion, and artistic journey that I continue to pursue today. The curiosity I developed while admiring stage designs, costumes, props, and the overall production eventually led me to pursue a career as a production designer.”
“A decade and a half after I shared my ambition during my commencement ceremony, I can proudly say that my dream of becoming an artist and designer has come true. Today, I have the opportunity to create immersive spaces and bring creative concepts to life through set design, props, costumes, and visual storytelling. Every project I work on reminds me of where my passion first began.”
“St. Therese was more than just a school to me. It was where I discovered my talents, built my confidence, and found the inspiration that continues to shape me, both as a person and as a production designer.”
STCAS Post Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BJMGdtJU5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Creativity Without Borders
STCAS described Ezar's journey with a simple but powerful message:
“Creativity Without Borders, Excellence Without Limits.”
For Ezar, those words reflect a career that continues to cross creative boundaries.
From childhood crafts to school productions, from the stage to professional production sets, the thread connecting everything has always been the same: the desire to create.
His story shows that creativity can take many forms.
It can become a costume.
A set.
A prop.
A commercial environment.
A fashion concept.
A visual identity.
Or an entire world built for an audience to experience.
A Theresian Beyond the Classroom
Ezar's journey is a reminder that education does not end when a student leaves the classroom.
The experiences, lessons, friendships, challenges, and opportunities encountered during those formative years can continue to influence a person long after graduation.
For Ezar, STCAS became the environment where he first discovered his creative identity.
It was where he learned to express himself.
Where he developed confidence.
Where he discovered his talents.
And where a childhood fascination with the magic of performance slowly became a professional calling.
The Journey Continues
Being recognized as one of STCAS' Proud Theresians is not the conclusion of Ezar's creative journey.
It is another chapter.
There are still stories waiting to be told, productions waiting to be designed, concepts waiting to be developed, and new creative possibilities waiting to be explored.
The young student who once dreamed of becoming a performer eventually discovered another way to become part of the magic.
Instead of only standing on the stage, he learned how to help build the world around it.
And perhaps that is what makes his journey so meaningful.
The dream did not disappear.
It evolved.
Ezar Henry Co — Production Designer & Creative Designer.
Once a Theresian, Always a Theresian
A journey from THEN to NOW is never simply about accomplishments.
It is about remembering where the dream began.
For Ezar, that beginning was St. Therese.
A place that witnessed his childhood.
A place where he discovered his talents.
A place where he first became fascinated by the creative arts.
And a place that continues to hold a special place in his heart.
Today, that childhood fascination has become a profession—and the dream he once shared during his commencement ceremony has become a reality.
From the halls of St. Therese to theater stages, fashion projects, commercial productions, and professional production sets, Ezar continues to create, design, and bring imagination into reality.
His story is proof that sometimes, the dreams we have as children are not meant to be left behind.
Sometimes, they are simply waiting for us to grow into them.
Create with purpose.
Design with intention.
Dream without limits.
Once a Theresian, always a Theresian.
STCAS Post Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BJMGdtJU5/?mibextid=wwXIfr
.png){kind=logo}
Comments