From art to heart

By Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon

“There's nothing difficult than losing a child.”

This is how the Rotary Club Makati West (RCMW) would like to emphasize to the growing cases of children born with congenital heart problems that need immediate relief, which, if neglected, may lead to untimely death. 
Globally, about one in every 100 kids has a congenital heart defect. In the Philippines alone, there are over 1,000 children with congenital heart problems are on waiting lists of just four hospitals.

Into the Grove by Ferdinand Cacnio

A child with congenital heart defect may suffer from general weakness, and is prone to pneumonia and other respiratory and cardiovascular complications which eventually could become life-threatening.

Some of the typical heart problems are the enlargement of the organ, a hole in the heart, the valves may be too narrow or completely blocked, or the heart may not pump so well.

These heart defects can usually be treated with medicine, procedures or surgery. However, for those who cannot afford expensive operations, these children are knocking to your “golden hearts” to prolong their existence and can live a normal and full life.

The art of giving

Active in helping those in need, RCMW, considered as one of the leading rotary clubs in the country, is one with these children in seeking public's support as the club, in cooperation with various Filipino sculptors and other non-government organizations, launched once again the “Alay Sining 5,” an art exhibit that will benefit the club's Gift of Life program main beneficiaries, which are the kids with congenital heart problems.

Against the Tide by Daniel dela Cruz

Now on its fifth year, Alay Sining aims to raise funds to support the club's program that provides free heart operations and medicine to children from indigent families with congenital heart diseases. The exhibit will feature the works of some of the country's skilled and noted Filipino sculptors. Since 2004, the Gift of Life program has already helped save the lives of some 250 children.

"Through Alay Sining, we wanted to highlight our sculptors whose works are being increasingly recognized not just in the country but also abroad. This exhibit-sale will offer our countrymen and foreigners alike the opportunity to acquire the best of Philippine sculptures to beautify and add class to their homes and offices. They are also a good business investment as their value can only increase in the years ahead," RCMW president Ed Balois expressed.

Traveller's Ride by Ian Valladarez

Balaois continued "At the same time, the buyers of these beautiful and collectible art pieces will be doubly happy and fulfilled as they will also be able to help more poor children undergo the heart surgery they need to stay alive and live long, healthy and productive lives."

Alay Sining is an annual project of RCMW's Culture Committee headed by National Artist and past president I.P. Santos as chairman and past president Jun Alvendia as co-chairman. Other members of the committee are Ed Balois, Gil Chua, Paolo Delgado, Ernie Fajardo, Mon Guerrero, Bobby Lim, Ruy Moreno, Rene Nieva and Roque Tordesillas. Sponsors of the project are Meralco, PLDT, United Print Media Group, Mandarin Oriental Manila, Siguion Reyna Montecillo and Ongsiako Law Offices and Perceptions Inc.

The Alay Sining 5 one-day exhibit-sale will take place this coming Monday, Nov. 19, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ballroom Hall on the 3rd floor of the Mandarin Oriental Manila along Paseo de Roxas in Makati. Balois advises not just Rotarians but all people who love and collect art to come early as the sale will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

According to Balois, half of the proceeds of every art masterpiece will go to the artist and another half is for the club's Gift of Life program.“Every artwork that you will buy can have the impact to the lives of not only these children, but for our artists as well. In the sense you have 50-50 sharing that you can make... 50 percent for the artists and another 50 percent for the club,” the RCMW president stated. Fortunately, some of the artists are too generous as they willing to donate some of their artworks and their profit.

Tabing Ilog II by Ral Arrogante

 

Balois estimated the normal price of a heart operation on every child ranging from P800,000 to P1.5 million, but with the agreement with partner hospitals, they have sliced down the cost to P100,000 to P250,000.

The committee also revealed that children outside the metro also benefited in this program, as the club has partnered with some regional hospitals and private sectors such as the Philippine Airlines, which gives free rides for children coming from different parts of the archipelago to undergo operations here in Manila.

Artists with 'big hearts'

As the Alay Sining 5 coincides with the 43rd anniversary of the RCMW, Balois believes that this exhibit will be successful as the growing numbers of participating artists is continue to increase, which now include three National Artists, two The Outstanding Young Men or TOYM awardees, and various winners of national and international art competitions.

“Last year, the Alay Sining recorded some 30 plus artists. This year’s exhibit is considered as the club’s highly-anticipated activity so far as more than 40 artists are lining up to join this art fair. At the same time, through this exhibit we can appreciate more the talent and ingenuity of our Filipino artists, who deserve more recognition,” Balois stressed. 

Diwata Mia by Maria Magdamit

During the presscon, some of the featured artists who are expecting to participate in this coming Alay Sining 5 presented their respective artworks and explained the stories behind their masterpieces, and most of them shared with same and oft-repeated line: “Help others and make money at the same time.”

Frederic Caedo, who is a grandson of one of the greatest Filipino classical sculptors Anastacio Caedo, related that his nephew also has a heart defect, and he encouraged other artists like him to “don’t miss this opportunity for what you can give even in a small way.” He explained his masterpiece, which is a bust of woman and made in marble and yakal wood. According to Caedo, the piece was inspired from his grandmother, whose “beautiful face made his grandfather fascinated and fall in love with her.” His other sculptures depict the replicas of national heroes and other famous Filipino personalities.

For Ferdie Cacnio, whose father and brother Angel and Micheal Cacnio also known in the realm of arts, his artwork Into the Grove reminisced his childhood as he liked rowing a boat in a Malabon river that full of mangrove trees. “I grew up in Malabon, where mangroves are abundant. In my younger days, may time na namamangka ka o namamasyal riding a boat with a girl. Part of my life reflects to my artworks,” he recalled. Cacnio is not just a sculptor, but also a painter and graphic designer. After 20 productive years as creative director of his own design studio, he started his career as a sculptor with a successful solo exhibit entitled "The Dancer" in 2005.

Musekerong Robot by Lucky Salayog

A visual artist, product developer and designer in sculpture from Paete, Laguna, Banjamin Dailo inspired by the power of women in nurturing and giving life. In his masterpiece Lady with Fan and Umbrella, Dailo interpreted the importance of the woman in our society. “For me, women are not weakest sex among men, because they not only give life, but also nurture them,” he said. He also cited the importance of the exhibit as “this program helps a lot to sculptors like me as it became a promotion to every artist. You give not only helps to save children for their heart problems, but also adds the collections that we made.”

Meanwhile, visual artist Lucky Salayog focused more on “green arts” as he engages in other form of media and uses recyclable materials, and not only concentrated in traditional materials in making his artworks. In his Musikerong Robot piece, he used scrap metals, junked fragments or other leftover materials that we usually see in a garbage can or in a junk shop. “In my artwork, which is a robot playing a violin, I encourage everyone, especially the out-of-the-school youth, to still value the classic music even though we are now here in modern technology,” Salayog averred.

Lady with Fan and Umbrella by Benjamin Dailo

Born and raised in Paeta, Laguna, the hometown of the country's well-known sculptors, Glenn Cagandahan has sculpting is in his blood. Despite coming from a long tradition of woodcarving, he opted to shift from the medium and instead experimented with modern materials such as fiberglass and resins. “This is my second year at Alay Sining and my participating works usually focus on family values. My work illustrates the simplicity of Pinoy life. Like this, in riding a carabao, the father is usually the one who holding the rope, but I changed it. Instead of the father, his child holds the rope, which symbolizes of the transition of responsibility from his father to his child. It means that if we support this Alay Sining, we can save many children as possible, whom will continue what their fathers' started,” Cagandahan emphasized.

Aside from their “big talent and big hearts,” these Pinoy artists are true with their words. Meet them at the Alay Sining 5, together with other artists, which include National Artist Napoleon Abueva, National Artist Arturo Luz, National Artist Abdulmari Asia Imao, Gus Albor, Agnes Arellano, Ral Arrogante, Felix Baldemor, Fred Baldemor, Wilson William Baldemor, Michael Cacnio, Henri Cainglet, Lor Calma, Seb Chua Jr., Jonathan Dangue, Joe Datuin, Don Reich de Dios, Daniel dela Cruz, Rolando Facultad, Noy Gepte, Bisoy Iglesia, Juan Sajid Imao, Pete Jimenez, Maria Magdamit, Carlito Ortega, Tito Obor, Ramon Orlina, Glenn Pagaduan, Ann Pamintuan, Antonino Raymundo, Ronel Roces, Angeli Salcedo, Jinggoy Salcedo, Jonahmar Salvosa, Ian Valladarez, Francisco Verano, Jun Vicaldo Jr., Angelico Villanueva, Ben Hur Villanueva, Nicky Wijangco and Reggie Yuson. “Someday, your children or apos (grandchildren) might benefit this project. Please help us to correct the defect of the hearts of these children, and make them the living recipients of your kindness,” Balois concluded. 

Nativity by Angeli Salcedo

Silungan by Jonathan Dangue

You and Me Against The World by Wilson William Baldemor

Carabao by Glenn Cagandahan

Fusion 28 by Joe Datuin

This Christmas, we should express our heart-warming support to this initiative, and be the vessels of their hopes that will make way to “mend their broken hearts.” -- Jaimes R. C. Sumbilon