While most students see their class projects confined to laptops, classroom walls, or hidden in portfolios, Lauren Kerby Obaldo’s latest creation is setting out on a notable expedition. Crossing borders and finding its way into the hands of people worldwide.
A second-year Multimedia Arts student at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), Obaldo claimed the grand prize in the UPS Express Envelope Design Competition. Soon, the artwork will travel the globe on official UPS Express Envelopes. Transforming everyday logistics into a colorful showcase of Filipino culture.
The piece, “Haraya sa Kalsada,” exudes vibrant Filipino imagery. Inspired by the iconic jeepney, the lively spirit of street festivals, and Clark’s rise as a busy transit hub. Obaldo’s design turns ordinary packaging into a vivid story of movement, identity, and connection across the world.
A Creative Journey Beyond the Classroom
Obaldo’s artwork shone among nearly 400 entries from Multimedia Arts students after the competition opened in June. The challenge invited young creatives to reimagine the familiar UPS envelope through three powerful themes. Filipino resilience and heritage, worldwide connectivity, and Clark’s growing role as Asia’s gateway.
For Obaldo, the jeepney became the guiding symbol. A treasured icon of daily life that flawlessly captures the heart of community, determination, and progress.
Seeing their ideas move from the classroom into the real world is incredibly meaningful,” shared Angelo Marco Lacson, Vice Chancellor for Academics at DLS-CSB.
He noted that industry partnerships provide emerging talent with a genuine global platform. Showing students that their vision resonates far beyond campus walls.
The timing adds special significance. The competition coincides with UPS’s soon-to-open hub in Clark, set to strengthen trade routes across Asia and beyond. As shipments journey along these new paths, “Haraya sa Kalsada” will accompany them. Delivering a piece of Filipino student creativity to faraway destinations.
Three Themes, Many Filipino Stories
Before taking the overall grand prize, Obaldo was among three top artists recognized across individual competition categories:
- Roots of Progress: Aleana Szobelle P. Lallamant, “Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here!”
- Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo: Jana Lois D. Oliveros, “Reach for the Waves”
- Clark Rising: Asia’s Center, Philippines’ Pride: Lauren Kerby Obaldo, “Haraya sa Kalsada”
After public voting, nine finalists advanced to the final round. A panel of acclaimed contemporary artists evaluated the entries to choose the category winners and the overall champion. To honor the wealth of talent, the top 30 works were showcased in a public exhibition at the Ayala Museum.
A Small Envelope, a Much Bigger Story
There is something poetic about turning a shipping container into a canvas for art. Envelopes are made to connect people, carrying contracts, heartfelt notes, and life’s milestones across cities and oceans. Managing Director Russell Reed reflected on the initiative. Commending the students’ flawless expression of patriotic pride and ambition through their design. For Reed, supporting local talent means offering them a stage that spans international borders.
As Clark gears up to broaden the nation’s logistical horizons, Obaldo’s artwork acts as a lively ambassador of Filipino creativity. What started as a student’s trace of imagination on a screen is now stamped, sealed, and sent out into the world. Showing that sometimes, an artist’s journey starts with a package ready to travel.
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