Grace Libero

Metro Exclusive on the "Kwentura" Exhibit

Article (news)

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:700px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751588953000viber_image_2025-07-04_08-28-43-849.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner">Robert Labayen</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p><strong>Robert Labayen</strong>, head of Creative Communication Management at ABS-CBN Corporation, is one of the four artists behind the art exhibit “<strong>Kwentura</strong>,” which is happening at <strong>Ayala Museum</strong> until July 13, 2025. Robert teamed up with three fellow Kapamilyas—<strong></strong><strong>Angelo Rojas</strong>, <strong>Tyron Santos</strong>, and <strong>Ana Maniego</strong>—to mount an exhibit that merges their backgrounds in storytelling with their passion for visual arts.</p><p>Together, the group transformed the gallery space into a celebration of Filipino narratives. Drawing from their experience in writing, producing, and creating for television and media, the four artists explored the theme of &quot;<em>kwento</em>,&quot; or storytelling, expressing it through various styles and techniques. <em>Kwentura</em>, a title that fuses &quot;<em>kwento</em>&quot; and &quot;<em>pintura</em>,&quot; reflects their vision: storytelling through drawing and painting.</p><p>This first-time collaboration was born out of mutual admiration and a desire to create something meaningful. As Robert shared, the group was inspired to pursue the project after discovering each other’s work online and realizing they shared not only a corporate background but a creative spirit as well.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DK0m0wSzeEf/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A294220.3000000119%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="912" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>The artists centered the exhibit on the theme of Filipino heritage, a theme that resonated deeply with all four contributors. Through their works, they paid homage to everyday Filipino life, traditions, values, and the resilience of the working class.</p><p>“We always pay tribute to the Filipino working class,” he said, referencing his work on the station and corporate IDs for ABS-CBN. The same tribute continues in his visual work, where he paints families of jeepney drivers, fishermen, flower vendors, and even ice cream vendors.</p><p>“These are all working-class people <em>na</em> I want to honor for their hard work, their resilience, their faith in God...<em> Para silang</em> people who deserve to be treated with dignity.” True to his signature style, these portraits are painted with color, light, and warmth.</p><p>This warmth, he notes, is something that viewers picked up on. “<em>Karamihan ng tao</em>,<em> ang sinasabi nila</em>,<em> ang mga </em>paintings<em> ko raw nakaka</em>-happy. <em>Merong</em> good vibes, which is exactly <em>daw kung sino ako </em>as a person.” For him, his personality and his art are indistinguishable from each other, both are rooted in joy.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751589268461viber_image_2025-07-04_08-28-43-235.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><p>The “Kwentura” exhibit isn’t just his story, it’s the collective expression of four artists with distinct backgrounds.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751589300864viber_image_2025-07-04_08-28-40-739.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DILRZggTU08/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A744333.3000000119%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>One of them is Ana Maniego, a poet turned painter. She discovered her abstract visual side when someone suggested she paint her poems. She has since held successful solo exhibits.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKzOU6TTpu5/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A769708.5%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Another is Angelo Rojas, who paints deeply personal work reflecting his journey of self-discovery.</p><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLFYDluzW_l/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A883099.1999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="859" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Last but definitely not least is Tyron Santos, who uses whimsical pen-and-ink works to offer sharp, skillful social commentary. It’s as if he draws what a child thinks but according to Robert, he’s technically skilled.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DK14E4MzT4z/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A953056.599999994%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="878" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><p>Together, the four artists offer a diverse but unified experience that celebrates Filipino stories. “<em>Kaya &#x27;yung </em>&#x27;Kwentura,&#x27; <em>&#x27;pag pumunta ka doon, ang ganda</em> <em>kasi iba-ibang </em>art styles <em>ang makikita mo</em>,” Robert shared.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-10" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DLU1uL8zhc-/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A10%2C%22os%22%3A977325.6999999881%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="926" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-10" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>For Robert, art is something he has embraced since childhood. “<em>Talagang</em> talent<em> ko na ‘yung pag</em>-<em>do</em>-drawing <em>at </em><em>pagpe</em>-paint since I was a kid,” he shared. By the late ‘90s, he had two solo exhibits, both at Ayala Museum. Despite his passion, a demanding career in media meant that painting had to take a backseat for many years. Still, his love for the craft found ways to shine through.</p><p>“Before that, in the ‘90s, while in the office at agency, <em>nakikita ng mga</em> boss<em> ko na mahilig akong mag</em>-drawing. One of my bosses, Cid Reyes, made me execute or create the cover art for his coffee table book,” he continued. That opportunity led him to the Ayala Museum, where he was later invited to design postcards and eventually mount a solo exhibit.</p><p>The pandemic gave him time to reconnect with his first love. “So, I thought <em>na</em> I&#x27;ll take up art even more seriously now that I have more time. <em>Kasi</em>, <em>siyempre</em>, work from home <em>na tayo</em>.”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-12" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJLWuq2zWKW/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A12%2C%22os%22%3A1244214.099999994%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="737" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-12" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Even amid the pressures of the art world, he remains true to his style. “<em>Nakikita ko &#x27;yung mga ibang</em> works of art, very modern... And then I realized <em>na hindi ko kailangan magpadala sa</em> pressure because this is what my heart wants to paint,” he said. That includes vibrant landscapes, blooming flowers, and the colorful lives of ordinary Filipinos.</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-14" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKGFCebzb5E/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A14%2C%22os%22%3A1291545%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="792" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-14" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Despite a childhood where he once received a failing mark or a 79 in art (“my work was messy,” he said), he kept creating, encouraged by his father, who gave him the nickname “Imagine.” “I was always imagining myself in a world of my own, <em>lagi akong nag-iisip ng kung ano &#x27;yung i-</em><em>do</em>-drawing <em>ko</em>,” he recalled with a laugh.</p><p>To young Filipino creatives, his advice is simple but profound: keep doing what you love. “Just keep painting. And as you paint, you will discover your voice. And it will improve your technique.”</p><p>Quoting Ed Sheeran, he relates creativity to a rusty faucet: “If we just let the water flow... eventually the water will become clear and clean.”</p><p>He also urges young artists not to lose sight of what’s important amidst life’s responsibilities. He added, “<em>Kung minsan merong mga </em>dream killers in our lives. These are like work,<em> ‘pag meron tayong</em> work, <em>mauubos ng </em>work <em>ang ating oras</em>… So, <em>siguro</em>, one advice <em>rin</em> is <em>bigyan nila ng</em> time <em>&#x27;yung gusto ng puso nila.</em>”</p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-16" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DKinq7bzhNA/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A16%2C%22os%22%3A1322008.5%2C%22ls%22%3A293748.40000000596%2C%22le%22%3A294213.40000000596%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="650" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-16" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>In a world hungry for stories of joy, hope, and beauty, his paintings speak volumes. “I just want to be known as a feel-good painter who admires and appreciates the beauty of the world. And who sees the dignity in common people,” he concluded.</p><div><br/></div><p>Lead photo by <strong>Tricia Matias </strong>and from <strong>@anna_maniego</strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></p>

<p>In a <i>Metro.Style</i> exclusive, ABS-CBN executive and <i>Kwentura</i> art exhibit contributor Robert Labayen talked about his passion for art and the story behind how <i>their group show with friends and colleagues</i> came to life.</p>

In a Metro.Style exclusive, ABS-CBN executive and Kwentura art exhibit contributor Robert Labayen talked about his passion for art and the story behind how their group show with friends and colleagues came to life.

Robert Labayen on the Heart of 'Kwentura'—Storytelling in Color and Canvas

People

Fashion

Beauty

Wellness

Travel

Culture

Living

Food

Weddings

People

Robert Labayen on the Heart of 'Kwentura'—Storytelling in Color and Canvas

Tricia Matias

Published July 08, 2025 11:35 AM PHT

|

Updated July 08, 2025 11:37 AM PHT

Read More:

People

Painting

Kwentura

Robert Labayen

Culture

Art

Ayala Museum

Metro.Style is your go-to destination for all things chic and stylish—featuring the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle, celebrity news, and inspiring stories. It's your curated guide to living your best life.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.