Village Connect
A young Filipino artist will soon see her creativity travel across borders after her winning artwork was selected to appear on official UPS Express Envelopes used for international shipments around the world.
Lauren Kerby Obaldo, a second-year Multimedia Arts student at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB), earned the grand prize in the UPS Express Envelope Design Competition for her work, “Haraya sa Kalsada.”
Obaldo’s entry emerged from nearly 400 submissions created by Multimedia Arts students for the competition, which was launched in June through a partnership between UPS and DLS-CSB. Her award was presented by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during a ceremony at Ayala Museum.
Drawing inspiration from the iconic Filipino jeepney, colorful local festivals, and Clark’s expanding role as a transportation and logistics center, “Haraya sa Kalsada” combines elements of Philippine culture with a vision of global connectivity. As the overall winning entry, the design will be reproduced on UPS Express Envelopes, allowing the student’s artwork to reach customers and destinations beyond the Philippines.
Students participating in the competition were challenged to develop original designs based on three themes.
“Roots of Progress” focused on Filipino resilience, heritage, values, and the ability to adapt and move forward. “Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo” explored connectivity and how stronger networks can open opportunities globally. The third theme, “Clark Rising: Asia’s Center, Philippines’ Pride,” highlighted innovation, infrastructure, and Clark’s growing position within Asia’s international network.
After several rounds of judging and public voting, nine finalists advanced to the final selection. Contemporary Filipino artists Jigger Cruz, Demi Padua, Olivia d’Aboville, and Lisa Ongpin-Periquet evaluated the finalists and determined the leading works in each category, as well as the overall grand prize winner.
Aleana Szobelle P. Lallamant won first place under “Roots of Progress” for “Started From the Bottom Now We’re Here!” Jana Lois D. Oliveros topped “Galaw ng Bayan, Abot ang Mundo” with “Reach for the Waves,” while Obaldo’s “Haraya sa Kalsada” led the “Clark Rising” category before being named the competition’s grand prize winner.
The top 30 entries were also presented in a public exhibition at Ayala Museum, giving visitors an opportunity to see how young Filipino creatives interpreted resilience, connectivity, progress, and national identity.
DLS-CSB Vice Chancellor for Academics Angelo Marco Lacson said collaborations with companies such as UPS provide students with opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world projects. He noted that having their work reach a wider audience demonstrates the possibilities available to young creatives beyond the academic environment.
UPS Philippines Managing Director Russell Reed likewise praised the students for expressing Filipino identity, ambition, and pride through their designs. He said supporting local talent complements UPS’s role in connecting people, businesses, and opportunities internationally.
The design competition also forms part of activities surrounding UPS’s upcoming Clark hub, scheduled to open later in 2026. The facility is expected to strengthen connectivity for Philippine businesses and improve access to markets across Asia and other international destinations.
For Obaldo, that global connection will become particularly tangible: every UPS envelope carrying her design will also carry a piece of Filipino creativity to the world.
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