Many Filipinos leave parts of themselves behind when they go abroad. But not Cebuano Joshua Atok. When he moved to Canada to work, he held on to his art and gave it the value it always deserved.
A graduate of Hospitality Management from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, he never imagined that one day, his sketches would leap from paper to packaging and not just any packaging, but McDonald’s takeout bags served across the country.
One of the world’s most famous fast food chains is now carrying a piece of Filipino soul, drawn and conceptualized by an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) from Compostela, Cebu.
“I’ve loved to draw ever since I was a kid,” Joshua shared. “My dad in heaven was my first art teacher. I owe him all my art successes.” But it was in the halls of his university publication where he first learned to bridge traditional sketches with the digital world. Reaching the international spotlight wasn’t part of the plan, but the dream was always there.
The opportunity came through the fast food giant’s campaign “Made at McDonald’s,” a creative competition for crew members across McDonald’s Canada. The challenge was to capture what they loved most about the brand. For Joshua, who was given a good life in a foreign country, his answer was clear and it’s about diversity.
“Canada is a land of migrants,” he explained. “I wanted to portray people from different cultures and beliefs coming together with the same love for McDonald’s.” His artwork, now printed on thousands of medium-sized takeout bags, is a heartwarming tribute to the everyday joy of a burger and fries.
Working at McDonald’s, Joshua said, taught him to embrace the beauty of imperfection. In an age where artificial intelligence pushes polished perfection, he found purpose in the human touch, the messiness, the emotion, the flaws. “It’s what I needed to hear as an artist,” he said.
Along with being featured on takeout bags, Joshua’s art will also appear in coloring books, billboards and social media campaigns. Out of thousands of entries, he was one of only 17 artists chosen to appear in a national McDonald’s commercial.
But beyond this creative milestone, Joshua carries a deeper message for fellow Filipinos. “Being an OFW is not easy. You fight a lot of unseen battles. But we are not just workers. We’re talented, too. We can conquer the world if we put our hearts into it.”
He remembers growing up hearing things like, “You won’t find a job with that drawing,” or “There’s no money in that.” Now, every bag that carries his design gives him more reason to believe in himself.
There’s also something unmistakably Cebuano in his art, What he calls “the extra mile” of hospitality. It’s how Cebuanos make guests feel at home, in their own kitchens or halfway across the world in a fast food restaurant.
From Compostela to Quebec, from a sketchpad to a billboard, Joshua’s journey is about believing that if you hold on to your art, it can feed more than just your soul. Sometimes, it can wrap a burger, too.