Noga Paulino, born Noga Dela Cruz, grew up in a humble family that always strived for a better life. Surrounded by creativity, her mother a gospel singer and her father a musician, art was naturally woven into her everyday world. From an early age, her father involved her in church plays and choir singing, sparking a lifelong love for the arts.
After school, she attended a local art program where she learned to draw, paint, act, read music, and play guitar. She often performed at church on Sundays and participated in numerous art exhibitions and drama presentations, once memorizing 43 parts from a musical score.
At age 14, she faced the challenge of moving to the United States, unsure if art would continue to play a role in her life. Fortunately, her passion followed her—first through her new church community and later in school. She learned to sew, design, paint murals, and even taught the pastor’s daughter to play guitar, forming a trio that sang in harmony. In high school, she created many oil and acrylic paintings, dreaming of attending the Rhode Island School of Design. Although financial limitations prevented that path, she pursued business studies in Boston, where she continued attending art shows and presentations.
After graduation, she worked in the business field until eventually opening her own bridal shop—a success thanks to her design skills. Later, after getting married and raising her children, she shifted into floral design, taking courses that led her to open a flower shop she ran for 14 years. She still continues to work with loyal customers today.
During her time as a florist, a friend encouraged her to entertain children on weekends as a clown. With her artistic background, she traveled back to her home country for specialized training and returned with new techniques and a fresh creative vision. What began as a small idea became another meaningful form of artistic expression—one that opened unexpected doors.
Today, Noga is a facilitator for the ESOL program Creative Pathways, where she combines her artistic spirit with her love for teaching. She continues to learn, create, and inspire, believing deeply that art is essential to life.
