“The charm of the Kalendaryo lies in its design: the classic red, black, and white color scheme, combined with the intricate borders, perfectly captures a vintage vibe.”

Words Jewel Chuansu
November 7, 2024

At a time when people have gotten used to organizing their days on their phone’s calendar app, IMPRENTA31 is bringing back old-school wall calendars. What’s unique about their calendar is that it celebrates the beauty and richness of the Philippines.

IMPRENTA31 is co-owned by two dynamic artists—Viggo Franco, an actor, painter, and film producer, and Mijan Jumalon, a painter and filmmaker. Their partnership began in 2018 with a filmmaking project. Their short film, “OLA,” won Best Short Film at the 2021 Gawad Urian Awards. Their creative partnership evolved, and in 2023, they embarked on a new journey, turning their artistic vision into entrepreneurship.

IMPRENTA31 was born unexpectedly. After completing a long documentary film, Viggo casually suggested, “Gagawa ako ng Kalendaryo.” He was initially inspired after seeing a 1920s calendar on social media and sought to create his own version. After showing it to Mijan and getting positive feedback from friends, they decided to share it with the public. What began as a lighthearted idea quickly gained traction among friends, family, and online followers. The overwhelming response to their first Kalendaryo 2024 led to the formation of IMPRENTA31 in 2023.

Their approach to business mirrors their artistic process, treating projects like Kalendaryo as an outlet for their artistic expression. Viggo shares that on the production side, his dad, Mr. Boy Carandang, a printing professional, leads their technical team alongside Mr. Roel Almeria and Mr. Ronny Carandang. They make sure IMPRENTA31’s creative ideas come to life.

Viggo reminisces about his father’s printing business, recalling how his father would bring home calendars every Christmas. Those calendars were more than just date keepers; they were filled with memories. The creation of the Pilipinas Kalendaryo 2024 was their attempt to reframe this simple household item into a work of art that reflects our local culture. Viggo shares that they wanted to create a calendar worthy of being displayed proudly in our homes, like a painting.

“The charm of the Kalendaryo lies in its design: the classic red, black, and white color scheme, combined with the intricate borders, perfectly captures a vintage vibe,” says Mijan. Each page features Filipino imagery and all-Tagalog text. The Kalendaryo resonates deeply with people, as they see a calendar that embodies Filipino identity and cultural pride.

Infusing the calendar with Filipino imagery simply made sense and felt like a natural extension of their identity. For Viggo, Filipino culture is woven into his essence and is as inherent as breathing. He adds, “I hope this Kalendaryo becomes a cherished part of Filipino life”—one that reflects who we are, and something that the next generation can grow up with.

IMPRENTA31 seeks to bring Filipino culture out of the archives and into modern life. The vintage design and thoughtful packaging has made the Kalendaryo a hit, with many buyers sharing heartfelt messages of appreciation like “Thank you for creating something so beautiful. It makes me proud to be Filipino,” and “Finally, a calendar that’s truly ours.”

The 2024 Kalendaryo is a celebration of iconic Filipino imagery, featuring the Haribon, Lapulapu, Mayon Volcano, the jeepney, vinta, and kalabaw. For the 2025 Kalendaryo, Viggo designed the border and asked Mijan to draw Mariya Makiling by hand, which was then incorporated into the intricate border design. The 2025 edition highlights historical images and offers a nostalgic view of our heritage.

IMPRENTA31 has also created other product lines such as notebooks and tote bags. The Dala-Dala: Baybayin tote bag was conceived from an eye chart Viggo saw while helping a friend film a documentary about an optometrist. Viggo and Mijan got excited with the idea of transforming a standard eye test into a Baybayin version and inviting customers to reconnect with Filipino culture through a unique lens.

The Aklat-Talaan Duo, Kalasag at Kris, was inspired by their love for creative writing. Viggo wanted to create something meaningful for writers—more than just a notebook, but a creative tool. Mijan recalls her own days of journaling, noting that we’ve lost touch with the art of handwritten text.

The motif and design of sword and shield in the Aklat-Talaan was inspired by Lapulapu’s heroism. “Our battles today aren’t fought with shields and swords anymore. In this modern age, our weapons are our minds—our thoughts and ideas can dissolve wars, challenge wrongs, and build harmony,” Viggo explains.

Mijan emphasizes the sensory joy of writing on paper. “There’s something truly special about the feel of pen on paper that screens just can’t replicate…Physical calendars and notebooks have a tangible quality that digital formats don’t offer. They’re like little treasures from your life that you can actually touch and hold.”

You can reach IMPRENTA31 via their Instagram and Facebook accounts: @imprenta_31.