My journey as a creative person has been anything but linear– beginning with the first time my crayon touched paper and ending with the thrill of getting accepted to RISD after being turned down for even attending access to art classes in high school. My path as an artist has been full of twists and turns, mirroring the important, yet, diverse non-linear nature of my heritage. "Ng hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay mahigit pa sa mabaho at malansang isda / He who does not love his mother tongue is worse than a rotten fish" is my installation piece that stands as a testament to both my journey and my ancestors' journey. Using clay, I molded and wrote the artwork's title in Baybayin, the indigenous alphabet that was once used in the Philippines. Molding this phrase – describing that someone who doesn’t love their native language, is worse than anything as filthy as rotten fish – is to resurrect the now, completely forgotten art of Baybayin, and as a platform to reestablish my own cultural heritage. The preservation of Filipino cultural history and identity can be aided by acknowledging Baybayin, representing the centuries of indigenous knowledge, practices, and histories that were wiped out during colonization. Growing up in San Francisco, my upbringing tended to overlook the significance of Filipino expression, as my immigrant parents prioritized giving me a new life in America. This absence sparked my determination to bridge cultural gaps through creative expression. My artwork serves as a platform for educating others about Filipino history and culture and reflects my own experience of cultural rediscovery. As a first-generation student, I've embarked on a journey of archival exploration. My goal is to educate and empower communities, fostering a deepened understanding and pride in their heritage. My artistic perspective is based on the idea that art can be used to educate people and effect social change. I wish to help and inspire people who, like me, previously felt lost and unsure of their place in the creative world by sharing my experiences and the cultural diversity ingrained in my work. Through a dialogue between the past and present, my art aims to promote pride in and understanding of Filipino ancestry. In the future, I hope to keep telling tales that uplift and bring people together, making sure that every voice is heard in the core of cultural diversity.

Growing up in Daly City, California, a vibrant community just south of San Francisco, and in the provinces of the Philippines, I witnessed firsthand the power of art in bringing people together and fostering a sense of belonging. As a first-generation student and a daughter of immigrants, two communities that lack the same emphasis for further education for the arts, I realized that I must drive myself to bridge the gap between the art and community realms through graphic design, creating spaces where cultural vibrancy and shared wisdom can flourish.My journey in pursuing a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, at the Rhode Island School of Design, has been shaped by my deep sense of purpose and commitment to use my skills to serve and give back to the communities I belong to. My passion for community engagement and graphic design was realized when I was asked to work with Problem Library, a nonprofit focused on arts and education based in San Francisco. I was honored to contribute to the identity for their Too Much Information (TMI) event series. TMI was established with the understanding that intergenerational relationships play a crucial role in enhancing personal growth, cultural vibrancy, and the exchange of knowledge. Through this initiative, we aimed to create physical spaces where people of different generations could come together, share their stories, and build meaningful relationships surrounding art and design. Working on the TMI project was an incredibly rewarding experience. I collaborated with community members to design materials that resonated with the diverse audience we aimed to reach. This involved not only creating visually appealing graphics but also ensuring that the designs were inclusive and reflective of the community’s cultural heritage. One of the key challenges was to develop a visual identity that could convey the essence of TMI’s mission—nurturing connections based on shared visions and aspirations for individual growth and cultural flourishing. The community's response was very positive. It was encouraging to see how graphic design can act as a link between individuals from many generations and backgrounds, encouraging communication and a sense of community. My faith in the transforming potential of art and design in fostering communal development was strengthened by this encounter. I'm determined to learn further about the relationship between graphic design and community involvement as I pursue my education at the Rhode Island School of Design. The purpose of design is to improve people's lives in addition to producing stunning images, and my objective is to use my expertise to projects that enhance social justice, cultural sensitivity, and community empowerment. Receiving this scholarship would greatly support my educational journey and enable me to continue my work at the intersection of art and community. It would provide me with the resources to help further develop my skills, engage in meaningful projects, and contribute to initiatives that foster cultural vibrancy and social cohesion. As a first-generation student and the daughter of immigrants, I am driven by a deep sense of responsibility to give back to the communities that have shaped my identity and aspirations. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply for this scholarship and for the chance to share my story and vision.