Colors can tell stories too!
Celebrating the vivid harmony of arts and life amid struggles, Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (BAJ) 4-1N students showcase various stories of artistry during the launch of OBRA Magazine at One Corporate Centre, Pasig City on Thursday, February 27.
Composed of different stories and beats from different parts of the Philippines up to the international borders of New York City, OBRA presented articles about how visuals transcended life, work, and limitations.
iCommunicate adviser Prof. John Robert “Jairo” Bolledo commended the magazine for always finding the right touch in pursuing stories, describing it as one of the best examples of journalism in its soft sides.
“I would describe it as the epitome of how journalism should be and should serve soft stories. It exemplifies how journalism can preserve culture, beauty, and artistry. That’s how I describe OBRA as a magazine.”
Bolledo ended his remarks by recognizing OBRA as a “journalism masterpiece.”
An artist within and beyond
The unveiling of OBRA Magazine's inaugural cover was a recognition of an artist that shaped Baguio’s identity through his work. Roland Bay-an, also known as the “undeclared National Artist” from Baguio City, is the magazine’s cover feature.
A former student of National Artist Benedicto “BenCab” Cabrera, Bay-an spent years painting Baguio as he saw it.
Features Editor Sharona Nicole Semilla shared an insight from an interview with Bay-an on how he chose impressionism over realism because it gives him more freedom—allowing his work to take shape gradually, with viewers only fully seeing the image once it is complete.
Over his 72 years, he has created an estimated 2,000 paintings, a body of work that perfectly represents the spirit of OBRA Magazine’s cover page. Aside from painting, Bay-an also carves and sculpts, even putting art as a way for him to cope with his recent hospital dilemma and giving hope to his fellow ill roommates in the hospital ward.
“Hindi niya binabalik ‘yong puri sa sarili niya, lagi niyang sinasabi na produkto siya ng maraming tao. ‘Yon ‘yong na-realize namin d’on na it is okay to gain recognition, na ma-recognize ka for your talents. But when we meet people with the likes of him, we realize that we have our definitions of success, just like [how] we have our definitions of what is beautiful in art,” Semilla remarked.
Transforming visuals into words
When asked about the origin of the magazine’s name, Editor-in-Chief Charles Vincent Nagaño shared that they chose “obra” because it is a common and widely understood word, but powerful enough to evoke emotions.
Nagaño also envisioned OBRA as more than just a magazine. He hoped it would be a canvas where readers could uncover the artist within themselves, drawing inspiration from every page.
“Sana magising ni OBRA yung artist within you kasi ‘yon ‘yong purpose niya talaga. ‘Yon ‘yong belief na pinanghawakan namin noong sinimulan namin siya na mayroong artist within all of us. And I hope, as you flip through the pages of OBRA, magising ‘yon sa sarili mo and nakita mo ‘yong artist sa sarili mo.”
As OBRA Magazine writes another history of journalism fused with artistry, colors, and lines, the pages champion every type of artistic talent and craftsmanship Filipinos have—from capturing the lively blossoms of Panagbenga Festival in Baguio, the old traditional inks of ‘Mambabatoks’, paying tribute in legendary legacies of the deceased artists, to calling for better treatment to the society of artists, and more.
Lyene Marie Darang, Managing Editor of OBRA, describes art as something that takes work and is in need of sympathy and empathy to be understood. Yet for her, despite the challenges posed by pursuing arts and visual arts, only one idea helped them push through it—art is everywhere.
“Ang obra ay madaling mahanap. Kahit saan ay may porma ng artes. Hindi maitatago at hindi maikakaila. I hope art is still within you, something you choose to seek and appreciate. I hope you won’t neglect the side of you that can either make art or what allows someone to continue making art. I hope that you see what visual arts really mean to the Philippines.”
For BAJ 4-1N, OBRA Magazine is more than just pages of a simple magazine, it serves as a paint brush that colors empty canvases into wonderful works of art.
“Nawa sa pamamagitan ng mga kwento ni OBRA, patuloy nating pahalagahan, mahalin at tangkilikin ang sining na sariling atin. Happy National Arts Month! Mabuhay ang sining, mabuhay ang OBRA!”Brian Rubenecia, Lifestyle and Cultures Editor, said.
OBRA Magazine is the 29th volume of iCommunicate, the official magazine of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines - College of Communication (PUP-COC), dedicated to exploring topics and issues that shape the lives and growth of the college.
WORDS: Joanna Martinez and Rica Mae Labbao
GRAPHICS: Jan Mike Cabangin
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