NAME :
Jacob Mariano.
OCCUPATION :
Freelance model & content creator and Barista at NightJar in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai.
WHERE WERE YOU BORN :
In the Philippines.
WHERE DO YOU CURRENTLY LIVE :
In Dubai.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS :
Cool, funny and sometimes serious.
WHAT’S YOUR GO TO COFFEE :
I love drinking espresso before I start my day. I don’t have any particular preference as long as it’s smooth and balanced. So far Ethiopian beans are my favorite.
COFFEE PODS, GOOD OR BAD :
If convenience is your priority, pods are great. But if we’re talking about sustainability, cost, and taste are more important, traditional brewing methods might be better for me.
YOUR GO TO CLOTHING BRANDS :
I like a lot of brands, Armani, Nike, Jordan and The Giving Movement. I’m also a plain shirt guy.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT :
One of my greatest achievements is when I got featured on Sun and Sand and got the billboard in Sheikh Zayed Road and the whole GCC country. Not sure if I’m the first Filipino who got a billboard in Dubai, that’s why I’m so proud of it. And way, Also back in 2022 I won the best Barista in Dubai.
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE A S A KID :
I’m a 90s kid, I’d probably have been that curious, talkative one always asking why about everything.
YOUR MOST TREASURED OBJECT :
My watch, for me, time is the most valuable thing in life, and my shoe collection. I’m a sneakerhead. I love my shoes more than anything else.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE :
Chris Brown.
IF YOU COULD CHOOSE A SUPERPOWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE :
Jumper (I wanna jump to every city in the world).
WHAT IS YOUR WORST TRAIT :
I can be too eager to provide answers, sometimes jumping straight into logic when a conversation might call for more nuance or just listening.
WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT :
Coffee, sometimes it hits me hard! I drink 5 or 6 each day.
DO YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS :
To be honest no.
WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE :
If I could have a guilty pleasure, it’d probably be getting way too into human drama, like reading internet arguments, deep-diving into conspiracy theories, not believing them, just analyzing them.
YOU ARE HEADING TO THE ISS (INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FOR A MONTH, WHO WOULD YOU TAKE :
I don’t know, honestly, maybe 4 random people.
WHAT DOES YOUR PERFECT DAY LOOK LIKE :
A mix of deep thinking, problem solving, and just vibing with people around me.
IF YOU COULD BE FRIENDS WITH ANY FICTIONAL CHARACTER WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE :
Iron Man Tech genius, sarcastic, and always pushing boundaries. We’d have some wild discussions about the future.
WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF BEAUTY :
Beauty to me is anything that sparks a sense of wonder, connection or appreciation. It’s not just about appearances. it’s in the way someone expresses themselves.
WHAT’S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR JOB :
Having a conversation with random people about coffee.
WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE SOMEONE :
A Bunch of flowers.
WHAT MOTIVATES YOU :
I think what motivates me is that my words might help someone see a problem differently, spark a new idea, or even just make their day a little better. The thought that I could be part of someone’s learning process or a meaningful conversation. That would be pretty rewarding.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION :
If we’re talking about a place, probably Hawaii. I’m from the Philippines, we’re a tropical country, for me, Hawaii would be perfect for me to settle.
WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST :
Skydiving and visiting Amsterdam, Japan and Hawaii.
DO YOU LIKE BEING INTERVIEWED :
Yeah sometimes.
WHAT’S THE CLOSEST YOU HAVE COME TO DEATH :
Drag racing way back home in the Philippines. My friends decided to do a friendly drag race with our motorbikes. Then I almost got hit by a truck, luckily I stepped on the brake. I can consider it as my second chance in life.
IF YOU HAD A BOAT, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED :
Boatswagen.
YOUR MESSAGE :
“There will be hard days, but they won’t last.”
