When Creativity Meets Culture: "Our PFPL Visual Project"

PFPL — "Ang Pagsulat sa Filipino sa Piling Larangan" — is not just another subject for us. It’s a course that lets us explore who we are as Filipinos, how we think, how we communicate, and how we understand the world around us. So when we were tasked to create a visual output, we knew we didn’t want to settle for something plain or forgettable (and of course, we were told that creativity is part of the criteria 😅). We wanted to make something that would truly represent the heart of our message. And we did.

At first, we weren’t sure what direction to take. We had lots of ideas (especially that we have our own ideas) but what made it work was the way we collaborated. Everyone contributed. We brainstormed, sketched, and revised. And our goal is to create an output that is meaningful. I was the one who lead the visual making since I am a calligrapher and so I know what design suits well in the given topics.

So what we ended up with was more than just an eye-catching design. It was a representation of what we had learned including our interpretation of Filipino values, language, literature, or maybe even culture in action. (And of course it was tiring.)

Afterwards, I've learned that in a world where visuals are everywhere, creating something with depth is a challenge but that’s what made this experience so rewarding. It’s not just about making something that looks nice. It’s about making something that says something. Something with cultural relevance (depending on the topic provided). Something that reflects our identity as students, creators, and Filipinos.