How might we transform an ordinary office staple into something that inspires you to wake up every morning?

During the first half of 2023, we had the opportunity to present a creative and innovative idea to the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the company renowned for constructing and managing some of the Philippines' pioneering tollways, such as NLEX, SCTEX, SLEX, CALAX, CAVITEX, and CCLEX, among others. The task was seemingly straightforward: to pitch an idea for the 2024 Groupwide Calendar, emphasizing MPTC's collective contributions. It was simple or was it? Was there a way to transform an ordinary office staple into a lasting memento of legacy?

Included in people's daily routines is travel. With 60% of the country's population engaged in work, the majority of them commute to their workplaces, whether within the province or in the Metro. Daily transportation of goods occurs, with local produce flowing in and out of the city from various provinces. What unifies these elements are the roads used to reach specific points, making MPTC woven into the fabric of Filipinos' lives. 

Since MPTC has been present, it has contributed to many progress in different forms. Provinces have witnessed rapid development through economic centers, factories, and establishments, with efficient toll road systems. Motorists and commuters experience safer and smoother travels on well-paved roads. The efficient flow of goods and services is facilitated, contributing to the expansion of economic growth and the promotion of tourism. One of MPTC's core purposes is to serve the people and contribute to their advancement, transcending its role as a tollway corporation.

Yet, progress varies for each individual; it may signify economic prosperity, enhanced safety, or quicker travel times. Recognizing this diversity, we acknowledge the necessity to cater to these distinct facets of progress, aiming to be an all-encompassing corporation that values individuality while prioritizing collectivity.  This is where the messaging of multi-faceted layers of progress comes in. That — there is no one single face to progress because people experience advancement differently. 

Talking about progress is more powerful and impactful when real people testify to it, constituting one-third of the calendar's key elements. It needs humans, emotions, and experience. As storytellers, there is no greater honor than to feature people and talk about their lived experiences. 

Additionally, it's essential to emphasize places, as they are the backdrop where motion unfolds. Every living thing in nature is a witness to every event that happens therewith — this completes two-thirds of the puzzle.

The missing piece is the execution that seamlessly binds these ideas, doing justice to the stories of progress. 

Two standout execution ideas emerged: double exposure and paper art. Both have their merits and drawbacks but represent the team's ambitious vision. Double exposure delves into a subject and a situation, while the paper art piece offers a more intricate approach to narrating progress stories. 

With the vision of closely capturing people's lived experiences, Paper Art emerged as the most fitting medium for representation. Through this artistic approach, we intricately speak of places, people, and their experiences — mirroring how MPTC crafts its services layer by layer, tailored to the people's needs. Hence, the selected concept, "Layers of Progress," with paper art as the design execution, encapsulates the chosen theme for the calendar. 

Just as we meticulously crafted the layers of progress in the calendar, the team also navigated through layers of challenges in the design execution. Considering the calendar's objective to represent the entire MPTC, the presence of each subsidiary was imperative. Hence, every story in their respective locations required thoughtful representation. To achieve this, the team consistently circled back to the core idea that the calendar is not solely for MPTC but also for the people. Hence, people’s stories are also thoughtfully reflected on every page.

The process of creation encompasses two key aspects: vector layout and paper art creation. After completing the design, the team collaborated with Elaine Samonte of Kwentong Papel (@kwentongpapel), an exceptional artist to bring to life the envisioned idea, concept, and layout.  Each month was assigned a theme representing a subsidiary, and this had to be translated into a detailed paper art piece. Subsequently, the artwork is to be photographed and reorganized into a calendar format for mass production. 

At some point in the process,  the team embodied the concept of layering progress. As this story unfolds, recounting our creative process, one can discern that it mirrors our journey through layers of progress — from the initial pitch to securing the project, navigating conceptualization, and finally, executing the calendar. In between, there were numerous setbacks, whether personal or as a team, but the essence of our narrative consistently brought us back to our WHYs. 

While this project serves MPTC, it is also an opportunity to tell the untold stories of the people from the provinces. They will see this creation every morning throughout 2024, offering a daily reminder of tales of hope.

At HQ, we have our calendars set up at our desks. Each time we glance at them, we are reminded of why we do what we do. This brings us back to the fundamental question: What could transform an item into something that motivates you every morning? The answer lies in reflecting the reality of others, narrating their stories, and reassuring them that, even if progress might not always be visible, it is happening.

This is our layer of progress. What's yours?

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