Imagine having the power to tell stories in whatever medium you desire. As a diverse program that combines different media to produce creative work, Benilde’s Multimedia Arts program has been pushing the boundaries of innovation and has continued to redefine how art and design are experienced in this digital age. Celebrating 25 years of trailblazing creativity, the program continues to redefine what it means to be multi-skilled in a world full of imaginative ideas.
Known to bring the idea of “multimedia arts” to the country, Benilde’s Multimedia Arts (MMA) program has become a front-runner in shaping both the local and international creative landscapes. From bringing in several student applicants each year to producing notable graduates entering various industries, the program has cultivated a vibrant community of collaborative artists and designers.
In a series of interviews with The Benildean, some current MMA students, program alumni, and professors shared their experiences being in the program and what it has meant to their personal and professional growth.
Breaking ground in new media
In line with the program’s 25th celebration, a 40-minute documentary highlighting Benilde MMA’s 25th anniversary, titled mma_docu_final(25).mov, was revealed back in July. It recounted the history of Benilde’s MMA program through several archival footage and a series of interviews and conversations with students, alumni, and administrators.
Longtime faculty of Benilde’s MMA program, Ms. Vanessa Puente mentioned the program's early beginnings, stating “1998, short course pa lang siya. Ino-offer lang niya yung Adobe Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, ‘yan. Part ako ng nagtuturo doon.”
Another Multimedia Arts faculty member, Ms. Erika Garalde also said that “Per the first chairperson’s [of Benilde Multimedia Arts] account, Sir Ram Nolasco, he was tasked by the former School of Design and Arts Dean (Rose Marie) Bautista if he could put together a course that would potentially have all media in one course.”
Ms. Puente later added how there was a need for the program and since then, saying “Nakita ni Sir Ram na there’s a need in the industry of the multimedia field.”
With that brief history in mind, Benilde’s MMA program launched into full swing, garnering several developments throughout the years. Ms. Garalde noted three key characteristics of the program’s longevity and success.
“Faculty. Some of the faculty are industry practitioners. The knowledge and technology transfer from industry to education is important in disseminating the latest industry trends to students.”
“Curriculum. Whilst we follow the CHED CMO 20 s2017 (Policies, standards, and guidelines for the Bachelor of Multimedia Arts Program), each course is designed with outcomes-based education (OBE) in mind.”
Then Ms. Garalde highlighted “Equipment & Facilities. The program has invested in the latest industry standards equipment. When they do get into the industry, they will be familiar with what equipment is used there.”
Additionally, Ms. Puente recounted the curriculum changes. “Dati panay tech courses, a bit of business tapos eventually, nagkaroon tayo ng kakulangan sa content, parang wala na tayong laman. Ang ganda ng mga works pero it doesn’t say much. We’re adding more concepts to the curriculum such as design thinking, in-depth history lessons in relation to multimedia, deconstruction of designs, freelance, marketing, and more.”
Charting the rippling waves of festivities
Knowing the rich history of the program, it’s a no-brainer that its 25th-year milestone is to be celebrated with the Benildean community.
Back in July 23 to 25, the College’s MMA program had an anniversary celebration at the 10th and 12th Floors of the Design + Arts (D+A) Campus. Additionally, there was an exhibit that featured pieces highlighting the program throughout the years.
But the celebration didn’t stop there as the official anniversary celebration and homecoming event of the program was held from Sept. 18 to 20. Students, faculty, and even alumni were invited to the event. Besides having a program to celebrate the 25th anniversary, another screening of the documentary was held. Plus, current MMA students also sold their art merchandise and similar artworks in a three-day art market.
Revisiting the artful journey
Benilde’s MMA program seems fairly new in contrast to traditional college programs seen across the country. However, it has been part of the College for 25 years which is a major feat. Some of the alumni, faculty, and students expressed their sentiments upon finding out about this.
Visual artist and ID109 graduate Jer Dee exclaimed, “It’s surprising actually. Like 25 years na pala ito! Now that I think about it, siguro, nasa ‘guinea pig stage’ kami, yung batch naming ID109 below. I’m surprised and happy nag-progress yung MMA in a way that’s different and has adapted to modern times.”
“Nagulat ako na ‘Aba! 25 years na.’ Ang galing ng mga tao behind the program. Mga staff natin sa equipment, the administration, faculty, and students. The entire Benildean community. Anlaki na ng program! [...] I feel proud din. I think we are really doing good sa industry,” Ms. Puente quipped.
Similarly, ID121 student, Rya Suarez conveyed their pride in being part of the program and witnessing its 25th anniversary. “It really just occurred to me that ‘Wow, this course has been here for 25 years!’ There are so many people that came from it. I found a lot of things to be proud of too when I initially thought that I didn’t belong here. I have a clearer idea of what I want to do with my career now.”
Another graduate, Dre Agar of ID114 who currently works as a Senior Graphic Designer for Canva, looked back on the long history of the program. “I’m honestly quite surprised. Halos kasing-tanda ko yung field. It feels such as long industry. They’ll still ask ‘What’s that?’ [referring to what the degree is about.] We’re not equipped to answer that in one to two sentences. Obviously, it’s still young. I’m generally hopeful people will understand it more.”
Turning pixels into points
As part of its curriculum, the MMA program, in general, covers a lot of skills, fields, and values students can learn during their time studying. Whether it may be illustration, graphic design, photography, film, animation, web development, or other similar fields, the program gives students a taste of everything creative-media-related in both theoretical and practical aspects.
Upon being asked what makes Benilde’s MMA program unique, Ms. Garalde asserted, “We place a strong emphasis on a clearly defined, interconnected framework of expectations for our students. This framework outlines not only the specific knowledge they must acquire but also the skills they need to develop by the time they graduate from MMA and Benilde. Our goal is to ensure that when students leave, they possess both the theoretical understanding and practical abilities required to succeed in their future endeavors.”
Ms. Katrina Juane, current MMA Program Chairperson also placed weight on the holistic aspects of the program. “We are pioneers, we know what to do already, kung baga, kabisado na natin. We have the state of the art facilities, we have faculty members who are practitioners who share their skills and knowledge with our students. But above all that, it's the community. Our students love the community that we have in MMA. We allow our students to be creative, and be themselves, and we allow students to learn from each other.”
This “jack-of-all-trades” program has its advantages. Kitty Jardenil, an ID117 alumna and former Creative Director of the Benildean Press Corps shined a light on this, saying “Because we were able to tackle various media in the program, I can say I have at least basic knowledge on fields I’m not necessarily adept with. This came in handy in collaborations with experts of other fields, as I’m able to articulate ideas and even keep up with the energy of these projects.”
Suarez also mentioned how they discovered more of their interests, besides illustration, during their time in the program. “I gained an interest in photography and short film from a lot of the activities I was doing in my senior high school projects. [...] When I learned about my other interests, I thought ‘I want to discover and explore a lot.’ Kaya napadpad ako sa MMA, it’s because I wanted to discover different sides of my artistry and creativity without boxing myself in,” they narrated.
While it’s fun to go on a self-discovery journey with the program, it still comes with its hardships. ID120 student, Jan Jurell Alix imparted how his focus in the multimedia arts is photography. Despite the challenge of diving into unfamiliar subjects, he continued to push on to hone his skills.
“Pinasok ko ang programang ito bit-bit ang isang talento o kakayahang alam kong mayroon ako. ‘Yun ay ang pagkuha ng litrato. [...] Kahinaan ko ang pagguhit—kahit isang diretsong linya ay hindi pa rin makamit, walang ideya sa kung paano o ano ang coding sa paggawa ng mga 2D at 3D game. [...] Ngunit hindi pagsuko ang sagot sa kahit anong kapaguran. Pinanghawakan ko ang lakas ng loob, naniwala at nanindigan sa kakayahan at talentong unti-unting nabubuo,” he recalled.
ID121 student, Mario Louise Poblete also admitted that his experiences asked him to open up more to the different fields of the program. “It’s hard because Multimedia Arts is a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ course. So while finding your specialization, you need to also be open to other mediums that it has in store for students.”
Crafting inspiring environments and collaborative communities
Furthermore, the program cultivates an environment that’s both collaborative and innovative. Students get to not only learn but also establish both professional and friendly connections with their peers and mentors.
In terms of one’s approach to creativity and innovation in line with the program, Agar detailed how MMA can turn people into “big-picture thinkers” because of how the program taught students to see the interconnected relationships across various media. He asserted that “Knowledge from different fields helps. I can communicate effectively. [...] Coming from MMA, it made me fairly a good big-picture thinker. I would say MMA graduates can make great creative directors.”
Jardenil believes that the program doubles as a warm community, stating “Multimedia arts is a place where community grows, because it’s a place where different kinds of creatives can come together and collaborate, inspire, and just root for each other. My time in the MMA program was a testament to this; I was surrounded with people who loved creating things, and while they didn’t know it then who they’d become, they’ve now flourished.
Ms. Puente also didn’t expect she’d stay long as a faculty member for the program itself. “Ang plano ko kasi before, after five years [of working in Benilde] plano ko na mag-resign. Tas mamaya 10 years na, ‘tas inabot na ako ng 25 years. [...] Tinanggap ko na prof talaga ako nung 20th year ko na. Siguro I stayed dahil iba-iba yung students every term. [...] Ang sarap kasi ng feeling mag-teach ng people. Like you teach them and learn something from them as well.”
Likewise, Ms. Juane emphasized the warm community the program has created. “It's my home. The students are very inspiring. It's amazing to witness how students can be very talented. Another thing is the colleagues. We have formed a family in the MMA program.”
Designing a better tomorrow for multimedia artists
With an environment that thrives on collaboration, graduates aren’t just prepared– they’re primed to be multi-skilled in a lot of aspects. But that doesn’t mean that the multi-faceted idea of the program allows others to take advantage of those taking Multimedia Arts. Agar also stressed that in the program, “We can be a generalist but most people won’t be. It’s not for companies to see as one paycheck.”
Jardenil voiced out as well the idea of specialized courses for the program, wondering “I sometimes can’t help but wonder what would have been different if there were more options on more specialized fields. [...] Because while it’s definitely a superpower to be a jack-of-all-trades, there’s also definitely a superpower in focusing on just one thing and getting better at it.”
For Ms. Puente, there are some things she highlighted that she hopes students will take away from their time in the program. “Time management. Prioritizing tasks and siyempre prioritizing health. Kami kasi, we learned it the hard way. Sana students find that balance. [...] Work well din with others. There are always people who will help you. [...] Look at works din with fresh eyes. Kasi kala natin, when working on a project for so long, after, kala natin okay na.”
Ms. Juane also hopes that future MMA students learn how “To be able to use their skills to help solve societal problems, as visual communicators. Of course, we don't expect students to solve real-world problems on their own. But really, for them to realize that multimedia designers can be heroes too in their own ways, and they can use their talents to contribute to our society.
Catching up with the tides of art and design
Looking to the future, Benilde’s MMA program will only move forward and become more dynamic. Jer Dee noticed different changes within the field and its students, especially with the rise of more accessible technologies.
“Andami ngayon who use the iPad and Apple Pencil. Inggit ako kasi walang ganon nung time ko. Pahirapan dati. You have to rent a graphic tablet, yung Cintiq [display tablet] sa SDA (referring to the D+A Campus’ old name—School of Design and Arts). [...] Another is AI. If you know how to ideate, if galing sa utak mo, AI can only replicate that. Watch out for AI but don’t be threatened by it. It won’t replace you.”
Poblete also touched on how important it is for future students to learn about short-form content such as reels and TikTok videos. “I would recommend [as early as now] studying any short-form content to be implemented in advertising and marketing. [...] This allows students to better understand the current trends that will get attention from the public, especially in such a media-heavy field,” he weighed in.
Moreover, Agar is optimistic about the future of the program, hoping it develops further. He remarked, “I’m generally optimistic about the future of MMA. It still needs a little bit more polishing. It needs more polishing to market it to brands and graduates. There’s a lack of understanding that for MMA that you can do anything. It’s helpful to have options in college. Generally, we’re creative people but not really guided on what specific niche we want.”
On a similar note, Ms. Puente envisioned more opportunities for the program. “You know what, ang saya nito kapag yung MMA can connect with other people abroad and share our stories with them and they share their stories with us. We can add din sa discussions natin in class.”
Heading into a more multi-dimensional future
The Multimedia Arts program of Benilde has both a long yet short history. As a pioneer course in the country that has stood the test of time for 25 years, it has made more people appreciative of the creative arts.
For Alix, the program gives him new ways to tell different stories, stating “Ang MMA sa Benilde ay isang programang magbibigay ng pagbabago at makabuluhang paraan upang magpahayag ng mga istorya sa pamamagitan ng iba’t ibang uri ng midya na para sa masa at para sa lahat. Ito ay tunay na kakaiba, tunay tayong may galing at kakayahan sa kanya kanya natin’ paraan.”
With each student, graduate, and professor, the program leaves a mark on the creative industry, reminding the Benildean community that multimedia arts is not only about creating things with multiple skills. It’s about using converging media in creative ways to tell stories that resonate with diverse audiences and spark meaningful connections.
