#SiningBayanihan: Kayod

"Masdan ang kalabaw

Habang nakasingkaw

Sa gitna ng linang

Sa init ng araw

Laging kaibigan."

Today's theme is "Kabuhayan" which means living or livelihood. In my previous artworks, I dedicated them to the fronliners, to my friends, to believers, to Jesus Christ, to the community, to our mind, to Mother Earth and to artists. Today, I want to pay tribute to our unsung heroes, the farmers, whom without we wont be eating nutritious food. I represented them as a Carabao in this artwork, a gentle creature who is the partner of rice farmers in cultivating their land. The carabao are very resilient, hardworking and humble. Above its head depicts a scenery of the process of farming, from planting the seedlings until they grow into golden grains. The mountains are shaped like the rice terraces of the Cordilleras, an ancient heritage which shows the greatness and beauty of agriculture in our country.

I titled the piece "Kayod" from the Filipino idiom "Kayod Kalabaw" which means diligent or hardworking. Even though they are essential in our country, it is a sad reality that farmers are one of the poorest and neglected sectors in the society. Now, in this pandemic, we realize their importance more than ever. Institutions, offices, and establishments may be closed during the community quarantine but farms will never cease, because we depend very much to them. So I want to give my praises to each hand that cultivates the soil, plants the seeds, reap the harvest, and feed our mouths. Let's pray for them and hope that they will be blessed more in their lives.

"Kayod", a Digital Illustration
#SiningBayanihan Week 3, Day 4: Kabuhayan (Living)

Alay ko para sa magigiting na bayani,
ang mga magsasaka 👨‍🌾👩‍🌾🐃🌾
Salamat sa inyong sipag at tiyaga!
Dahil sa inyong kabuhayan, kami ay nabubuhay.

#SiningBayanihan
Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts

#WeHealAsOne
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingAristry

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#SiningBayanihan: Imagino

"I imagine, therefore I belong and am free."
- Lawrence Durrell

It's been weeks since the crisis started and many of us feels so trapped inside our homes, not being able to go to school or work, travel, jog, shop, meet friends, or unwind in our favorite hangouts. We don't have the freedom and it seems like we're hostages by this pandemic. However, we should feel lucky that this crisis is not a natural calamity (like typhoon or earthquake), or a terroristic attack. There is a silver lining in every situation. We are only asked to stay inside our homes, not in evacuation centers or underground bunkers. This is our chance to spend time with our family, reconnect with friends, reflect with our spirituality, while others are asked to serve in the frontline.

I, myself, work as a frontliner, giving essential information to the public in the city's Task Force COVID-19 Risk Communication Team. But I am lucky that my work doesn't require me to leave my home everyday. I am very busy with my work, but I am just as anxious and stressed as everyone. We deal with people asking sorts of questions, demanding so much from the government, and served as shock-absorbers both from the public and the administrators.

For me, the #SiningBayanihan Art Challenge is a need for me, that's why I do my best to come up with an artwork when I get the time. As an artist, art creation is a therapy, a process of healing from the pressures of the real world. Here inside my mind, I have access to a world that is free. A world that has so many stories to tell, and the only limit is my imagination. This is my temporary distraction from the harsh reality, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment when I am able to translate a figment of a thought into art. It is a cathartic feeling to put it out there, without expectations of what it should look like because this is my own creation.

For today's theme, "Libertad" or Freedom, I want to show that process of creation. Titled "Imagino" which translates as "I Imagine", it represents how I feel when I'm in the zone in making art pieces like this one. It's a moment of being immersed with my own mind, the single most important tool as an artist. With it, we pour our soul to breathe life into a concept or idea. At first, I don't know how to start the art challenge, but just like our muscles, the brain should be constantly challenged and exercised to keep the creative juices flowing. I somehow kept a momentum in creating my illustrations and, somehow, I feel that my mental state is getting better each day I get to do this activity. I can't express more how important making art is for me.



"Imagino", Digital Illustration
Week 3, Day 3: "Libertad (Freedom)"

It's also my first time to record my digital process for this one. Watch the timelapse video here:


Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Bayanihan

Perhaps the best trait of Filipinos that shows compassion for his fellowmen is "Bayanihan". It is a community effort to help an individual or a family, by literally carrying their house which will be relocated to another place safer or more convenient. Now, Bayanihan is a Filipino value which means coming together to achieve a common goal. Yesterday, Easter Sunday, we celebrated not only the Resurrection of Christ, but also the recovery of the city's first COVID patient, ZP-01. The entire community felt the victory over this disease even just for a day. Sadly, just hours ago, the city recorded another positive case. The battle continues but our spirit will never lose hope. Let's do our duty, frontliners or not, and help the community in this crisis. As much as possible, stay home, stay safe and stay healthy!



"Bayanihan", Digital Illustration
Week 3, Day 1: "Kapwa (Fellowmen)"

Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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#SiningBayanihan: Sacrum Cor

Good Friday 2020. The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, encircled by the crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross, and bleeding. The wounds and crown of thorns allude to the manner of Jesus' death, while the fire represents the transformative power of divine love. The devotion is especially concerned with what the Church deems to be the long-suffering love and compassion of the heart of Christ towards humanity.



"Sacrum Cor", Digital Illustration
Week 2, Day 5: "Corazon (Heart)"❤️

"Jesus, meek and humble of Heart,
Make our hearts like unto Thine."

Ateneo Center for Culture and the Arts
#SiningBayanihan
#InspiringCreativity
#ElevatingArtistry

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Like my work? You appreciation is much appreciated!
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Blog Folio: csz97.blogspot.com