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| Photo by Ranch M. Ramas |
February is not just a month of hearts but also a month to celebrate the flourishing of individuals’ creativity. Outbox (OBX) Labs, founded by Ranch M. Ramas, is celebrating its first-year anniversary this month. The anniversary is a month-long commemoration of OBX's growth, innovation, and arduous work that led the network to where it is today.
The Mind Behind OBX
Ranch M. Ramas is a 3rd-year communication arts student at UST. He is also the founder and current executive director of Outbox Labs. Outside of the network, he ventures into various undertakings—serving as the incumbent VP for External Affairs at UST CASA, Relations Executive Head at UST Tiger TV, and a Creatives Staff Member at UST-CASA Chronicle. For a multi-passionate individual like Ranch, the journey continues. And the founding of Outbox Labs preludes another chapter to both their personal and professional life—as a student, an all-around creative, and a student leader with constant aspirations and big dreams (and projects).
When asked about the main purpose of Outbox Labs, given the network's relative freshness to the scene, Ranch answers:
Ang una kong sinasagot is a lot. We do a lot of things, we produce shows—we commission people, we connect people to clients, we also produce articles, we also produce videos, marami talaga. The number 1 thing here is we support you. Gusto ko iparating sa mga audiences na there would be someone sa likod mo, patting your back, saying you did a very good job. ‘Yon kasi ang parang nawalang essence nowadays.
Indeed, his statement addresses the current predicament faced by many creatives today. The importance of the arts is oftentimes underestimated in the industry and it also becomes difficult when creatives face invalidation and are undervalued by people.
The Commencement of the Organization
Outbox Labs was established on February 8, 2022 as a multimedia organization dedicated to individuals who desire to exercise their passion and capabilities in the fields of art, media, production, writing, and communication. Its purpose is to train and hone the skills of creatives and encourage them to think outside the box, which will equip them in the future with key skills into becoming competent, outstanding, and unique individuals.
When asked about the reason for designing the organization, Ranch responded:
I started OBX out of passion—for the art. May mga katulad ko kasi na nag-cocommission, gustong may makuhang kliyente, pero nahihirapan. Or kaya naman, nagpoproduce ako ng mga sarili kong art series, art comics pero walang nagsusuporta. So with that, I’m opening my doors, my arms to those individuals na gusto ring magkaroon ng recognition, hindi lang dahil nagpoproduce sila [art commissions], but because they’re very talented people.
Reminiscing the humble beginnings of Outbox Labs, they elaborated on how they came up with the purposes, systems, and plans for building an organization. Their idea started during senior high school in 2018 with their co-proponent and a close friend, Noriel Beltran—a fourth-year student from the College of Education who was then the president of the UST-SHS HUMSS Society.
Ranch also recalled how his motivations intensified when former Vice President Atty. Leni Robredo sparked hope in him and helped strengthen his capabilities during her campaign period. To resonate with the organization’s aims, the launching coincided with the height of former VP Robredo's campaign. The reason behind this was to endorse her candidacy to people limited in their scope by releasing campaign materials, which reached 12,000 people, with more or less 1,000 downloads for all the materials.
The success of OBX went like a snowball effect. Their skills in leading Outbox Labs stem from his past and present experiences as a student leader at UST CASA. He began honing his aptitude in marketing and social media by being the former public relations officer last academic year along with socialization and partnerships with other organizations by being the external vice president of UST CASA.
The Creativity of OBX
Although it has only been a year since the multimedia network was launched to the public, OBX provides diverse and competent opportunities for its members; this success is due in no small part to the determination and merging of knowledge of the people administering the system. "Ang innate naming count and demographic talaga for the members are students—specifically and particularly those with creative minds.” Ranch specified.
Despite the lack of manpower, they stated that he’s impressed with how their strategies are being made through diverse brainstorming on their part. He also expressed his hopes for the upcoming recruitment fair this month. They note, "Siguro ngayon na may mare-recruit na kaming mga members, siguro, magiging compact na, but right now, it’s very used, very dynamic, papago-bago siya; and generally, I’m really proud sa mga outputs ng mga members."
The recruitment to be part of the #OBXTRA Team begins today, February 18 until February 25, 2023. Positions that will be available during the recruitment are as follows:
Executive Director
Central Secretariat Office
Central Finance
Operations 1 (Communications Department, Co-Learning Division)
Operations 2 (Human Resource Department, Production and Programming Department)
KAHON - The Corporate Social Responsibility Arm Innovation of OBX (Sectoral Initiative, Social Innovation Arm)
A curriculum vitae will not be required, only the basic information of the applicant. The deliberation for the accepted applicants will take place on February 25, 2023.
A Sneak Peek of OBX's Upcoming Projects
#ClassicsOBX: A media coverage wherein the members of the organization go to different places of their partners and they document events using digital films instead of professional cameras.
Chances: A light and quirky blind dating game show. Under the production and programming department, this show would include four people and only one would be chosen as their potential date from the three. In this game, there will be three chances, consisting of one chance per round that will help the individual to pick their choice.
Untitled KAHON project: A social innovation project yet to be titled is also in the works. Ranch shared, "It is actually a plant-raising initiative, a fun drive. We tapped [iyong] mga people na nag-fefreelance, doing crochet work. After that, we would be marketing a small crocheted plant. Maliit lang siya; it would be requested to be a keychain."
They specified that the above-mentioned event would not be regular work with a monthly salary, more likely on a come-and-go basis as it is the current system of OBX. According to him, "Mostly, it is a give-and-take situation. Similarly, when you work under OBX, you would be getting commissioned work. Hindi talaga siya swelduhan, so ‘pag may ginawa ka, may matatanggap ka naman na incentives or allowance, it is not really a work.”
The Linkage System of OBX
OBX has three types of linkages: Partnership, Sponsorship, and Media Coverage.
Partnerships, comprising two or more entities, including OBX, is a non-profit linkage, powered by digital platforms that require large and active engagements of the entities’ scope. OBX will share the collateral of their event and vice versa.
Sponsorships handle the acceptance of financial support from other entities. As of the moment, however, OBX does not engage in giving out cash and vouchers so as to avoid complicating the process of their system.
Media Coverage is considered the most powerful linkage of OBX. It is when the organization documents and covers events of other entities. Media Coverage is supported by the digital platforms of OBX without the necessity of requiring the audiences to share and react to the posts. Media Coverage is also presented with the #ClassicOBX theme, both onsite and online.
As a concluding note to encourage creatives looking for a space where they can hone their talents, Ranch remarks, "To those people, na walang support, na walang people to back them up, Outbox Labs is here for you. We are your space for creativity; anything under the sun na creative, you are welcome here, kasi at Outbox Labs, we are #OBXtra.”
