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

Robert Labayen

Robert Labayen, head of Creative Communication Management at ABS-CBN Corporation, is one of the four artists behind the art exhibit “Kwentura,” which is happening at Ayala Museum until July 13, 2025. Robert teamed up with three fellow Kapamilyas—Angelo Rojas, Tyron Santos, and Ana Maniego—to mount an exhibit that merges their backgrounds in storytelling with their passion for visual arts.

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 "kwento," or storytelling, expressing it through various styles and techniques. Kwentura, a title that fuses "kwento" and "pintura," reflects their vision: storytelling through drawing and painting.

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.

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.

“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.

“These are all working-class people na I want to honor for their hard work, their resilience, their faith in God... Para silang people who deserve to be treated with dignity.” True to his signature style, these portraits are painted with color, light, and warmth.

This warmth, he notes, is something that viewers picked up on. “Karamihan ng tao, ang sinasabi nila, ang mga paintings ko raw nakaka-happy. Merong good vibes, which is exactly daw kung sino ako as a person.” For him, his personality and his art are indistinguishable from each other, both are rooted in joy.

The “Kwentura” exhibit isn’t just his story, it’s the collective expression of four artists with distinct backgrounds.

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.

Another is Angelo Rojas, who paints deeply personal work reflecting his journey of self-discovery.

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.

Together, the four artists offer a diverse but unified experience that celebrates Filipino stories. “Kaya 'yung 'Kwentura,' 'pag pumunta ka doon, ang ganda kasi iba-ibang art styles ang makikita mo,” Robert shared.

For Robert, art is something he has embraced since childhood. “Talagang talent ko na ‘yung pag-do-drawing at pagpe-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.

“Before that, in the ‘90s, while in the office at agency, nakikita ng mga boss ko na mahilig akong mag-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.

The pandemic gave him time to reconnect with his first love. “So, I thought na I'll take up art even more seriously now that I have more time. Kasi, siyempre, work from home na tayo.”

Even amid the pressures of the art world, he remains true to his style. “Nakikita ko 'yung mga ibang works of art, very modern... And then I realized na hindi ko kailangan magpadala sa 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.

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, lagi akong nag-iisip ng kung ano 'yung i-do-drawing ko,” he recalled with a laugh.

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.”

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.”

He also urges young artists not to lose sight of what’s important amidst life’s responsibilities. He added, “Kung minsan merong mga dream killers in our lives. These are like work, ‘pag meron tayong work, mauubos ng work ang ating oras… So, siguro, one advice rin is bigyan nila ng time 'yung gusto ng puso nila.”

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.

Lead photo by Tricia Matias and from @anna_maniego