- YouTube NextUp welcomed the Class 2018 winners.
- The 12 winners went on a one-week training.
- Gold buttons were awarded to two YouTube channels for reaching a million subscribers.
YouTube NextUp Manila introduced the Class of 2018 composed of 12 YouTubers who were chosen through a contest. These 12 YouTubers have shown talent and potential through their respective YouTube channels, producing unique and quality content for their audience.
- Carlyn Ocampo – song and dance covers
- Jam Raquion (jam-packed) – dance covers, makeup tutorials, and vlogs
- Melissa Ricks – vlogs
- Elle Uy (Elle Uy Decor) – room decorating/interior design
- Benedict Cua – vlogs
- Janine Teñoso – song covers and originals
- Joel Minas – cosplay, figure skating
- Amy Talaboc – beauty vlogs
- Beverly Cumla – spoken word poetry
- Kithara – music
- Alicia Litonjua (Lesha) – electropop
- Stephen Flores (InReelLife) – musical skits, reviews, comedy
These 12 deserving winners of YouTube NextUp have undergone a week of intensive production classes and filming opportunities at YouTube Spaces or also known as the YouTube NextUp creator camp. This year’s NextUp Manila YouTube Spaces was held at the Maybank Performing Arts Theatre, where they are trained and provided with higher-end sets, equipment and even crew for a week. Speaking of equipment, the winners were also awarded P100,00 worth of voucher for production gear. The Class of 2018 also had special mentorship from hand-picked advanced creators, including NextUp alumni.
During the media launch of the 2018 YouTube NextUp, the 12 winners got to share about their stories and experiences as YouTubers, their expectations towards the one-week training, and they also shared about their dream collaborations with other YouTubers in the country.
Coinciding with the launch of this year’s NextUp was the awarding of gold buttons to two YouTube channels, LiveLoveParty.TV and Ja Mill. LiveLoveParty.TV is a group of dance instructors on YouTube who dance their way to health and fitness. Meanwhile, Ja Mill is run by real-life couple Jayzam Manabat and Camille Trinidad.
APAC Scaled Spaces Program Manager, YouTube Spaces Moe Inaki, who has worked in the YouTube Space team for 5 years, stated how excited they were to meet and train the 12 winners of 2018 YouTube NextUp during the one-week camp. This was echoed by YouTube’s Creator and Artist Development Lead for South East Asia, Chris Klapwijk. Chris highlighted that the Philippines is one of the countries that have the highest and fastest growing YouTube community in the world.
