Pusô, also known as hanging rice, is a traditional Filipino delicacy from the Visayas and Mindanao regions. Wrapped in woven coconut leaves, it’s both a culinary staple and a symbol of Filipino cultural heritage, representing the communal spirit of dining and shared experiences. Growing up in Zamboanga City, I developed a deep connection to these traditions through flavors like Satti, a beloved spicy breakfast delicacy. My relocation to Cebu further expanded this connection, as I discovered Pusô’s central role in Cebuano cuisine, where it accompanies a variety of street foods and festive dishes.

Inspired by these experiences, I embarked on creating a custom typeface that translates the essence of Pusô into letterforms. I explored multiple design methods to capture the woven texture and symbolic shape of Pusô, experimenting with both hand-drawn sketches and digital techniques. Beginning with individual palm leaf strands in Adobe Illustrator, I refined the shapes through successive iterations, experimenting with the form, texture, and interlocking pattern of each letter.

The final typeface design, still in progress, consists of 10 completed letters, each crafted to represent the distinctiveness of Filipino culture. Words like Pusô, Satti, and Cebu are brought to life through these letters, which I envision as part of campaigns promoting cultural appreciation and tourism, particularly in highlighting the diverse traditions of Southern Mindanao and Cebu. Beyond a typographic exercise, this project became a personal journey—a meditation on my heritage and the vibrancy of Filipino identity.
 
Creating Pusô as Type involved not just technical precision but also deep reflection. The process was immersive, allowing moments of solitude and focus, balanced by the lively presence of family around me. This project not only celebrates my cultural roots but also serves as an invitation for viewers to explore the richness of Filipino culture through an innovative lens.