About
Foliage Filipino began as a creative outlet—an experiment in weaving together two passions: caring for houseplants and exploring Filipino heritage. What started as a hobby on Instagram soon grew into something deeper: a space for conversations about identity, belonging, and the stories we carry.
Over time, that personal exploration evolved into a professional practice. Today, Foliage Filipino is a consulting company dedicated to helping organizations and communities share their stories with authenticity, creativity, and cultural grounding.
Maycko Macapugas is the founder of Foliage Filipino, a platform rooted in the belief that plants can help us reconnect with culture, identity and community. What started as a personal journey to better understand his Filipino heritage has grown into a thriving community that explores the stories, traditions and lived experiences connected to plants across the Filipino diaspora. Through storytelling, education and conversation, Foliage Filipino creates space for people to reflect on where they come from and where they belong.
Born in the Philippines and raised in British Columbia, Maycko discovered that many of the plants in his home carried stories that connected him to family, culture and generations before him. That realization became the foundation of Foliage Filipino and continues to shape its mission today: using plants as a bridge to identity, wellness, heritage and human connection.
Beyond Foliage Filipino, Maycko is a communications leader, speaker and community builder. He currently supports the BC Health Workday Program, helping lead communications and engagement for one of Canada's largest health-care transformation initiatives. He has also served as President of IABC/BC, spoken at both the IABC Asia Pacific Fusion Conference and IABC Canada Conference, and previously led communications and engagement initiatives at Simon Fraser University's Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Maycko is also the creator of the Pamana Award, which supports students from under-represented communities pursuing communications-related careers. His work has been featured by CBC News and Cold Tea Collective, and he was recognized as a Top 75 finalist for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.
At the heart of everything he does is a simple belief: stories help people feel seen, plants help people feel grounded and community helps people grow.
Benjamin Chavarria believes meaningful relationships are built through understanding, creativity, and genuine human connection. Driven by a desire to help others, he finds purpose in creating positive experiences and making people feel seen, heard, and valued.
With a professional background in client services and health care, Benji developed a strong foundation in empathy, communication, and building trust. Working with diverse communities taught him the importance of listening first and understanding different perspectives.
At a time when he was looking for a new challenge, Benji joined Foliage Filipino. What began as an opportunity to support a growing communications boutique quickly became a journey of personal and professional growth. Along the way, he discovered a passion for graphic design, digital storytelling, social media, and creative communications.
Today, Benji supports Foliage Filipino's marketing and communications initiatives, helping bring stories to life through thoughtful content and creative design. He is proud to contribute to a team that celebrates culture, fosters meaningful connections, and helps communities grow through storytelling.
For Benji, growth means staying curious, embracing new opportunities, and continuing to learn alongside the people and communities around him. He believes that, much like the strongest plants, meaningful relationships flourish when nurtured with care, authenticity, and a genuine desire to help others grow.
Reina Castaneda believes communication is more than just talking. It’s storytelling. Stories build trust, spark connections, and drive action. In a world with several messages, Reina believes that the stories that stick are the ones that feel true, personal, and genuine. That belief shapes everything she does.
With Reina’s educational background in marketing and information systems, she built a foundation that blends communication with analytic insights, showing how audiences behave and messages travel.
She served as the Co-President SFU Student Marketing Association where she won the IABC/BC Sail Award 2026, and has since built communication strategies for non-profit and healthcare organizations.
As a daughter to two immigrant parents from the Philippines, Reina grew up watching how culture and story create safe spaces where people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their knowledge, and learning without judgement. This understanding drew her to Foliage Filipino, a communications boutique where she identifies and works with businesses who could benefit from their services, helping them build those same safe spaces for their communities.
For Reina, every story doesn’t have to be big; it can be the seed of an idea, a new conversation, or a moment of trust. She understands those seeds grow into something meaningful with patience and care, and she sees how to help with that: plant the right message and give it room to take room and grow.
Trusted Partners
Marzia Sager is strategic communications innovator. She is passionate about creative pursuits, advocacy, and social impact. Marzia graduated from Simon Fraser University’s School of Communication with a Minor in Print and Digital Publishing and Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Marzia also serves as the current past president of IABC/BC. Marzia is the winner of the 2022 Making Waves Award, which is given to an outstanding new communicator in her field. She was also chosen to take part in BC Business’ 30 under 30 list for 2023.
values
Rooted in Culture
Communication is most powerful when it reflects the identity, heritage, and communities it serves—grounding every message in meaning and relevance.
Authenticity
Honest, transparent storytelling builds credibility, strengthens trust, and creates deeper connections with audiences.
Creativity with Purpose
Fresh, imaginative approaches make messages stand out—while staying focused on creating measurable impact and advancing organizational goals.
Collaboration
Strong communication is never one-way. We work alongside clients and stakeholders to co-create strategies that grow shared understanding and success.
Sustainability
Like thriving ecosystems, communications need consistent care and attention. We help organizations build systems and habits that ensure messages stay clear, relevant, and lasting.