Alejandro wasn’t just an artist—he was a storyteller.
Known affectionately as “Kuya Robert” from the early 2000s show Art Is Kool, Alejandro became an icon for Filipino pride and imagination. Through his art and his work with Papemelroti, the iconic stationery brand he helped build, Robert Alejandro showed generations of Filipinos how to embrace their roots and find joy in their identity.
A piece of home
Papemelroti started in the 1970s as a small family business named after the Alejandro siblings: Patricia, Peggy, Meldy, Robert, and Tina. That store became a popular Filipino brand, with its rustic charm, eco-friendly products, and designs that reflect everyday Filipino life. Robert influenced everything—the earthy colors, the intricate hand-drawn patterns, the nostalgic feel. For many, visiting a Papemelroti store felt like stepping back into simpler times, filled with warmth and tradition.
Because of Papemelroti’s blend of Filipino designs, people felt proud of their heritage and each item became a keepsake. Alejandro’s work brought back memories of home, family and that Filipino identity.
The success of Papemelroti was truly a family affair. The Alejandro siblings grew up in a household that valued creativity, spending hours making crafts, painting, and designing together. This collective passion shaped the brand, giving it a unique warmth and authenticity that people connected with. Robert’s artistic vision may have given Papemelroti its recognizable style, but it was the love and dedication of the entire Alejandro family that made it a cherished Filipino brand.
His message was simple but powerful: art can be a sanctuary, a way to find light in dark times.
This made Papemelroti more than a store, it was a family bond. The Alejandro family built something meaningful and shared it with the world. They gave Papemelroti a soul— something that made people feel a little closer to home.
Art as healing
In 2016, Robert was diagnosed with colon cancer and art became his refuge. Art provided him with moments of peace, of beauty and an escape from his struggles. The process of creating art made him happy, he once said.
During the pandemic, Alejandro continued to share this joy by offering free online art workshops. For families stuck at home, these sessions became a source of comfort and creativity. His message was simple but powerful: art can be a sanctuary, a way to find light in dark times.
Filipino art pride
Alejandro’s influence went beyond Papemelroti. He taught and mentored budding Filipino artists. Teaching at the University of the Philippines and founding Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK), Alejandro gave spaces for young artists to tell Filipino stories through illustration. His work with Ang INK gave voice to Filipino artists and produced a generation of illustrators who, like him, saw art as a form of cultural expression.
He may have passed on, but his spirit lives on in every piece of Papemelroti art, in every workshop he taught, and in every Filipino who felt inspired by his work. Alejandro’s art is a reminder that our identity is something beautiful, something to be cherished, something to be proud of.
