Wilcon Depot’s 'Regions of the Philippines' notebooks: A salute to Philippine art and culture

In its more than 7,000 islands, the Filipinos are a “fiesta” people. This cultural trait manifests not only in its elaborate celebrations but also in its art. Wilcon Depot, in its 48 years of existence, has always prioritized the Filipino heart, soul, and aspirations. This year, it celebrates heritage by releasing its limited notebook collection, aptly called “Regions of the Philippines.”

The collection showcases four designs mirroring scenes and images depicting the islands of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the National Capital Region or Metro Manila. Each artwork on the covers not only exudes the vibrance of the islands and its many festivals but also shows how Wilcon has mindfully and strategically manifested its presence in the lives of Filipinos from one end of the country to the other.

As Ms. Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon, said, “While Wilcon embraces innovation and sustainability, we also take pride in celebrating our country's beauty through creativity.” The collection’s release is opportune as the country celebrates National Arts Month in February.

However, the production and design of these notebooks didn’t happen overnight. It took a lot of brainstorming, work hours, and aesthetic skills of Wilcon’s creative team, headed by Alvin Capistrano, to churn out the collection.

Take the NCR notebook design by Kaya Libre. Portraying the urban landscape and the Filipino worker were the obvious inspirations, yet Kaya decided to soften the metropolis vibe by using watercolor as her medium. The artist included landmarks like the Luneta Park, the Makati skyline, the Balintawak monument, and the first flagship stores of Wilcon Depot in the cities of NCR. Of course, the Filipino jeepney will always be present when you think of Metro Manila. Because of the artist’s rendition of the NCR, the urban jungle was given a soft and poignant rendition that is unique and refreshing.

It was an entirely different albeit engaging story for the “Luzon” notebook. Bethjoven Velitario used oil on canvas to design his assigned notebook. Instead of urban landmarks, the artist used animals and natural scenery to complete his visual road trip. One will notice the turtles of Palawan, the whale that symbolizes the beaches of La Union, the flowers of Baguio’s Panagbenga festival, the succulent mangoes, and even the world-renowned rice terraces of the North. Bethjoven also highlighted the recognizable Wilcon structures to emphasize his message that wherever you are in Luzon, there is a Wilcon Depot store to help you express your individuality.

The yearlong slew of Filipino festivals is the primary element in Erika Panaligan’s “Visayas” notebook design. From Cebu’s Sinulog to Bacolod’s Masskara, from the palo sebo game to strong currents of religiosity of the islands as seen in the gamut of churches in the region, Erika’s artwork makes Visayan festivals come alive through her skill at digital painting.

A youthful graphic artist, Erika weighs the challenges of both digital and traditional art. She admits that digital art made her “Visayas” design easier to execute. But that didn’t take away her delight when she first saw her work rendered on the Wilcon Notebook collection. Even at a relatively young age of 27, she is happy to share her art with many people. Best of all, she showcased how Wilcon Depot continues to be a part of many Filipino celebrations.

For many, Mindanao is an enigma, and Christian Roces expressed this sentiment in his “Mindanao” design in the Wilcon notebook series. Creative head Alvin Capistrano gave him explicit instructions: capture the rich culture of Mindanao. Using digital art, Shan, as his colleagues call him, did just that and more. He dove into intensive research to discover what was “beautiful” in the South. Born and bred in the northern part of the Philippines, he realized that contrary to misconceptions, Mindanao can be a tranquil place reeking of art, festivals, and unique culture. Instead of guns, he focused on the vibrant vintas of Zamboanga.

Instead of strife and gloom, he worked on a background of blue to depict peace and tranquility. Instead of poverty, he showed abundant seas teeming with tuna in Mindanao’s waters and the province’s succulent lanzones, coconut, and durian fruit. Instead of drought, he put in the color green to promote sustainability, which is also the thrust of Wilcon.

The task to design the “Mindanao” notebook became an eye-opener of sorts for this artist who has lived most of his life in the north, moving him to say that “Mindanao is calm.” This statement echoes one of the reasons why Wilcon Depot has chosen to make its presence felt in this part of the country. Mindanao is indeed both a mystery and a promise.

These four notebooks showcase the allure and soul of over 7,000 islands, and these four designs bring out the reason why Wilcon Depot now has 100 stores strewn across the country. Wilcon Depot’s “Regions of the Philippines” notebook collection is a toast to Filipino artistry and an accolade to the culture of a great nation. As Ms. Lorraine Belo-Cincohan, CEO & president of Wilcon, asserts, “Our 'Regions of the Philippines' collection reflects the richness of Filipino heritage, celebrating diverse narratives and traditions. Across Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and the metro, Wilcon stands strong. With this definitive material, we were able to showcase the beauty of the Philippines' identity in a creative form. More than that, these reflect the creative prowess of our in-house creative teams. Kudos to Wilcon’s artists.“

Customers can take home Wilcon Depot’s limited edition “Region of the Philippines” notebook series when they shop at any Wilcon Depot branch nationwide with a minimum single receipt purchase of P15,000. These are available through the Wilcon Festival Promotions offered by each Wilcon branch (promo duration varies depending on the local festivity per area).

Availability varies per area, so stay tuned to Wilcon’s social media pages for updates and announcements.

For more information about Wilcon, visit www.wilcon.com.ph or follow their social media accounts on Instagram and TikTok. Or subscribe and connect with them on Viber Community, LinkedIn, and YouTube. You may contact the Wilcon Depot Hotline at 88-WILCON (88-945266) for inquiries.

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Editor’s Note: This article was provided by Wilcon Depot.