IT IS PROVING TO BE...

...CATHARTIC.

This has been the fourth day that I have been sitting on the floor painting this image and it has proven to be quite soothing to the soul and heart. Yes, my emotions have stilled and I've been working on this piece with a quiet and steady beat - not bad considering that sometimes it takes me forever to finish a painting.

Am I happy? No. The pain and hurt is still there. But I am definitely finding a semblance of peace.

I can't wait to finish this. And when I do, I wonder, will I be smiling or will I'd be wretched still with remorse?

WHEN EMOTONS OVERFLOW...

... a painting starts to grow.

It's kind of corny or perhaps can be mistaken for being too predictable of creative individuals, but when emotions are starting to build up and there's a need to pour it out a bit, they (including this writer) tend to to do something tangible about it. Musicians write songs. Dancers let their bodies flow. Writers, poets pen down stories and sonnets. And painters... well, what else would one expect of us?

That email caused this painter to lock himself up, throw away the keys, sit on the floor, caress his brushes and let the colors dance. Three days now and I am still dancing with my colors to a slow, sad song.

I am as blue as blue can be.

WHEN THINGS END

I got this one morning in my email...

im sory for late reply and censya na rin dahil nagloloko ang facebook account ko...;< dan, i dont want to be rude or harsh on you but then it doesnt leave me any choice but to tell you this over an email... i know ilang ulit na rin akong nagpaalam but i think this will be the last time. im no good for-- we both know that, maniwala kaman o hindi im not the one who cud be wid u and make u happy... u deserve someone better... someone who cud rily be there for u... someone who cud rily love u... dan ill mis u and God knows kahit malayo ako minahal kita...

R

---------

Whenever I find myself being unable to say what I feel in words, I turn to drawing. Here is my reply.
Crap.

HEROIC KIDS FOR THE FILIPINO CHILD

This year has been pretty interesting.

A lot of things I used to do suddenly landed on my lap and I find myself doing them again. First was making illustrations for a children's book (something I haven't done for a long time) and now, designing a set of four books written by different authors. In a period of less than a month, I managed to brew up these designs for a lovely set of tomes - picture books, really. It's all about kids for kids and how their quiet everyday heroism can someday lead to something bigger.

Lovely, ain't it?


PALETTE OF DREAMS (Mga Kulay ng Pangarap)
written by Liwliwa N. Malabed

ARIEL ESTIGOY is a scholar of Save Our Street Children Foundation Inc. (SOSCFI) in Baguio City. He learned how to paint in a SOSCFI workshop under the artist-volunteer Bumbo Villanueva. Ariel, now 16 years old, teaches young scholars how to make their world more colorful through art. He loves to experiment with pastel crayons.



SONG OF THE IFUGAO (Awit ng mga Ifugao)
written by Agay C. Llanera

TRISHA MAE KITONG is a 4th grade student at the Burnay Elementay School in Lagawe, Ifugao. At 9 years old, she is one of the youngest students of the Hudhud School of Living Tradition, and was awarded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for chanting the hudhud 58 times from June 2008 to June 2009 — the most number of recorded chants a munhaw-e has rendered in the whole of Ifugao. Currently, she lives with her father Edward, a farmer, and younger sister Trixie Ann in Lagawe while her mother Celia works in Hong Kong as a domestic helper.



HANDS THAT BRIDGE (Mga Kamay na Nag-uugnay)
written by Perpi Alipon-Tiongson

BRENDON JAMES DE GUZMAN YULO or BJ is a Child of Deaf Adults, or CODA. He was born on June 10, 1997 to Maria Theresa and Manny Yulo, both Deaf. They live with Lolo Gil and Lola Arsenia, both Deaf as well, in Pasig. Maria has a sister, Tanya, who is also Deaf. Tita Tanya is married to a Deaf. The couple live in California. BJ has a younger sister, 7-year old Darlene, who is hearing. Lolo Gil, Maria and Tanya are award- winning painters. BJ is learning how to paint with them as mentors.



A READER'S STORY (Kuwento ng Isang Mambabasa)
written by Glenda C. Oris

Poverty and physical disabilities have not stopped 16-year old PRECIOUS CABUS from pursuing her passion for reading and love for learning. Visits to a bookstore where she could read books freely, jot down notes and widen her knowledge is her resourceful way of ensuring that she earns a good education. Determined to learn both inside and outside the classroom, she disciplines herself by dividing her time wisely between schoolwork, household chores and helping her grandmother earn money to support their extended family. She is now a high school student at Balara High School and lives with her grandmother and other relatives. Wise beyond her age, hopeful and inspiring, Precious makes a bookstore her very own library, a street her classroom and life itself her school.

All the photos for these books were from the lens of Jaime M. Unson. The stories were edited Carla Pacis, Augie Rivera and the Filipino translations by Bong Oris. These are published by The Museo Pambata

Oh, these books will be launched on Saturday, 29 May 2010 at 9:30 a.m. (good luck if I can be up at that hour) at The Museo Pambata at the corner of Roxas Boulevard and South Drive, Manila.

I thank Nina Lim-Yuson and Maricel Montero - two ladies who tirelessly work for the Filipino child.

p.s. As I write this, all four are in varying phases of being printed in time for their launch on the 29th of this month.