The Meaning of Whimsy
Written by Vi-Linh Nguyen | October 2, 2026
When youths get put into boxes as a means to success instead of encouraging their own paths, it can stifle them. Some creative souls have managed to overcome this stifling through the pursuit of their artistic dreams. Cecile Vergara, also known as @s.s.idapa online, has found a niche for herself, creating and building a community of likeminded whimsical people right here in San Antonio Texas.
There was a period of time when Vergara was working overnight, twelve-hour shifts in engineering. She was laid off from her engineering job the same week as an upcoming convention, something she considered a sign to dive into her creative pursuits. But she needed a name. As a Filipina American and a lover of manga, these two details inspired the name s.s.idapa. To further trace the influences in her name; first was Sailor Moon, the beginning of a deep love of pop culture and a symbol of both feminine empowerment and whimsy. Second was the Visayan God of death and fate. This name would connect Vergara as an artist to her heritage. Thus, @s.s.idapa was born.
The artistic inspiration behind Vergara’s work is often whatever she’s fond of. With the interconnected nature of the internet these days, there is a niche for everyone under the sun. For Vergara, following trends created too much pressure, she thought it best to simply make what she likes, her audience would find her eventually. And they did. Vergara’s community built up slowly but the community is a solid one, full of creatives who seek a bit more whimsical magic in their day to day lives.
What advice would Vergara have for artists new to selling at physical spaces or those who want to get into it? She started her brand with hard work and determination, and managed to find an audience for herself. To answer, she would tell people that there’s always a way to get better and to always look for the next big thing. In laymen’s terms, every step forward is a step towards improvement. It’s okay to just start and get the ball rolling. The first step is always the hardest in any endeavor, so whether there’s a plan or not, start the project. It worked out for Vergara after all.
Like many artists who make and sell their products, the dream of selling at a physical store continuously pushes the creation of better things with each iteration. There’s typically two paths that artists tend to follow: first it’s selling wholesale to existing stores, second is having their own store to sell their wares with total creative control. Both approaches are similar, but the second path is a long term goal compared to selling wholesale at existing stores. Both approaches could still be feasible though, Vergara thinks so. The first stepping stone is wholesale. Many existing small business stores buy and sell independent artists to encourage the local artistic scene already, so there’s no need yet to build from the ground up. But that’s for the future of s.s.idapa, Vergara says. It’s still hard to say where the artistic pursuit will take her.
Speaking of the future of s.s.idapa, Vergara is looking forward to the opportunity to bring her artistic brand to new venues. Whether it’s out of state events, or artistic events closer to her family in the Philippines, traveling with the s.s.idapa brand would mean her name as an artist could reach new people. Vergara is a demonstration of the growing artistic community of San Antonio, Texas.
Vergara proves that creative dreams can survive more than expected. Whimsy may be a word that feels like it’s lost its meaning, but artists like Vergara prove that its true meaning is very much alive. By creating her own area of the internet, Vergara shows that the creative pursuit still has value. Finding community through art and whimsy can be the new way people find success. When traditional markers of success feel more unreachable by the day, the arts remain a consistent reassurance because it continues to value human touch.
Follow the Artist:
Instagram: @s.s.idapa
