Editor’s Note: Discover the Vibrant Power of Culture and Community in MAKULAY by Gracia Amor (2025)

In an age dominated by fast-paced technology, fleeting trends, mass production, culture, and creativity often feel like they’re taking a back seat. But for Gracia Amor, Editor-in-Chief of MAKULAY Magazine and a proud member of the Makulay Filipino Artist Guild in Kuwait, these two values are essential and life-giving. Her heartfelt editor’s note in the latest issue of the MAKULAY magazine is not just a welcome message but a resounding manifesto for art, community, and cultural pride.

A Letter with Heart and Purpose

Gracia Amor sets the tone from the first line: “In a world that moves quickly and often overlooks the importance of culture and creativity…” She acknowledges the reality many artists and cultural advocates face today—where art is too often undervalued or overshadowed by convenience and speed. Yet, MAKULAY is a defiant burst of color in this gray reality.

 

In her letter, Gracia captures exactly what MAKULAY is all about. She writes with the clarity of a leader and the soul of an artist, giving us a glimpse into how one artistic community succeeds abroad yet remains so firmly anchored in its Filipino roots.

What Is MAKULAY?

As Gracia frames it, MAKULAY—short for Malikhaing Kulturang Layag or “Creative Cultural Voyage”—is not just a group or organization. It is a movement. It is a living, breathing body of creatives, educators, performers, writers, painters, sculptors, and dreamers bound by a shared passion for art and cultural identity.

 

Her words give form to the mission: “This magazine celebrates the spirit of MAKULAY—a spirit that brings together passion, purpose, and playfulness in everything we do.” Whether it’s painting workshops for children, community exhibitions, or advocacy art projects, MAKULAY is a platform for creation and a vehicle for connection and transformation.

The Joy of Shared Creativity

One of the most touching aspects of the editor’s note is Gracia’s reflection on a recent painting workshop held in Kuwait for children. In that moment—through paint-splattered hands, shy smiles, and eager eyes—she saw exactly the purpose of the MAKULAY guild. It wasn’t just about creating technically brilliant art. It was about freedom, joy, expression, and connection.

 

She states, “The fun, the mess, and the meaningful moments that transpired were captured perfectly by what MAKULAY is all about—fun, expression, and connection through art.” This child-like openness and an abiding cultural foundation give the MAKULAY movement its distinctiveness and inclusiveness.

Community, Leadership, and Growth

Gracia is quick to emphasize that MAKULAY’s success is not hers alone. She credits the steady hand of Mr. Romano and Ms. Abet, two visionaries whose passion and vision have taken MAKULAY from a modest group of artists to a cultural phenomenon. Their presence, along with the “certain unwavering support of the MAKULAY community,” has created a space where each artist, amateur and master alike, is noticed and celebrated.

“As a blogger and follower of MAKULAY’s work, I’ve seen firsthand how this inclusiveness gives birth to meaningful collaborations. It creates ripple effects, encouraging more people to join, make, and contribute—whether by picking up a paintbrush, curating an exhibit, or mentoring the next generation of creatives.”

A Call to Create

Gracia’s note doesn’t end with celebration—it ends with a call to action. She encourages readers to take inspiration from the magazine and act: “Pick up a brush, join a cause, or simply view the world around you with more color and imagination.” In that invitation lies the heart of what MAKULAY teaches us: Art belongs to everyone.

 

She continues: “If there’s one thing MAKULAY teaches us, art has the power to unite, empower, and remind us that creativity is for everyone.” These are powerful words, especially for Filipino creatives abroad who may feel disconnected or unsure of how to express themselves in a foreign land.

Gracia Amor’s editor’s note in the MAKULAY magazine invites us to lean in a little closer—to admire art and be part of the movement behind it. It reminds us that even in unfamiliar places, creativity can root, connect, and carry us forward. With each brush stroke, each collective anecdote, and each open workshop, MAKULAY continues to cultivate a space in which Filipino identity and artistic expression flourish together. And with leaders like Gracia steering the course, there is no end to how far this dynamic creative path can extend.

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