Rest in Love & Peace, Ros.

 


I first met Roslynn Cobarrubias in May of 2015 at a CreateHer event that Tricia and I had been asked to dj. Ros was one of the panelists of incredible women leaders. I had just launched TRAKTIVIST two months prior and I had barely started getting my feet wet in the Los Angeles music industry and Asian American creative scene. Truth be told, I was very unsure and lacked confidence about the journey ahead. So it was an unexpected blessing to hear Ros speak that night. Undoubtedly, I was naturally inspired by the various stories that came from her multitude of experiences as a Dj, Co-Founder/CMO of MyDiveo, Billboard Magazine's "Top 30 Music Industry Professionals Under 30" in 2009, her impactful time at Myspace growing their music platform, and navigating all of this as what she would call herself a "triple minority" (a 4'11, Filipina American, Woman) . But what resonated most with me that night was her emphasis on faith and the important role it played into her approach and success, especially in times where self-doubt & lack of movement were heaviest. At the end of the night, I made sure to introduce myself and thank her for the inspiration. Ros was very welcoming and genuine in her interest in what I was building. She didn’t hesitate at all to exchange contact info. Her kindness and enthusiasm left me feeling empowered. And it didn’t stop there.

Just a few months later, Ros surprisingly hit me up and offered me my first industry job in LA to be an assistant producer & audio editor for her MyDiveo weekly radio show! Honestly, I didn’t think I deserved the opportunity considering how many qualified people she knew that could probably do the job ten times better, but for some reason she put faith in me despite having never worked with me before. It was faith put into practice and I happen to be the lucky recipient. And for that, I’m eternally grateful to her.

From the jump, we clicked. Although, I admit that I owe a lot of that synergy to Ros for being very patient with my newness, as well as her dedicated support in helping me succeed. We certainly bumped heads throughout that year when we worked closely together, but we always managed to get through it. I respected Ros’ big vision, passion, meticulousness, and continuous push for excellence. And she respected my enthusiasm, drive, and willingness to learn/improve.

Our team produced some awesome shows on Dash Radio! Soon thereafter, the show got picked up by a global tv network and launched as MyDiveo Live on MYX TV! Lots of incredible experiences, artists, and music to name. Whether it was interviewing Jhene Aiko at a private event or Anderson.Paak the day after he signed with Dr. Dre, I was always in awe of the way Ros worked her unique magic. She was quick, creative, and prepared, but at the same time approachable and always made the artists (and their teams) feel extra important through her pumping of genuine affirmations to hype them up!

I’m especially thankful to Ros for putting so much trust in me. Never did I imagine that I would be in front of a camera, co-hosting a TV show, but Ros believed in me. I enjoy thinking back on how in sync we became, learning each other's signals and body cues to make for seamless interviews with artists. It was also trust musically, giving me the opportunity on the show to showcase songs from Asian American artists, which was incredibly supportive of our music community. Considering how large of a reach the show had on radio and TV, she could have easily restricted programming to popular and familiar artists, but instead she believed in uplifting our community, including indie artists. She knew we made quality music too and just needed opportunities to share it. And she also extended these opportunities to the Pacific Islander community through her work with Island Block Radio, Josh Tatofi, Common Kings, Eli-Mac, Tribal Theory, etc.

My time at MyDiveo only lasted a year, but I’m unbelievably grateful for all that I learned and the relationship that we built. That time with Ros absolutely prepared me for the tough years of growth that followed, including the courage and skills to launch my own weekly radio show on Dash Radio. Although I eventually moved on to another job, we always kept in touch. I would bombard her with artists I discover, while she would share any marketing and showcase opportunities for Asian American artists. Just as importantly, I’m thankful for Ros legitimizing my music career for my parents! By simply being in the background during her interview on The Filipino Channel, that was a turning point with my parents to finally believe that what I was doing could lead to a career haha!

One of my favorite memories of Ros was witnessing her transformative trip to the Philippines in 2016. Prior to the trip, she was already supportive of our Filipino American community, but that trip ignited a fire and purpose. Couple that with her becoming the Head of Global Music & Talent for media & entertainment conglomerate, ABS-CBN, then eventually launching her own marketing company 1587, Ros was an unstoppable force. She leveled up, but she made sure to level up those around her when possible. It was her mission to connect the dots for as many people as possible so that we could all win. Ros’ contributions during those years made a huge cultural impact by bringing a level of global visibility not seen previously; work that will continue to impact generations to come.

I especially hurt for Ros’ family and inner circle of loved ones. She loved music and community, but everyone knew that she loved family the most. My deepest condolences and prayers go out to the Alba, Cobarrubias, and Fujimoto families.

Ros, love you - the world will not be the same without you. Thank you for your love, light, leadership, & friendship.  Thank you for the memorable experiences. Thank you for enriching my life and the life of so many others. Thank you for making this world a better place.

Rest easy my Friend. Your legacy will not be forgotten.

-Richie Traktivist