A Mural of Hope in West Fairview
/
The mural zeroed in on children and their need for a better tomorrow. (Photo by Bella Bonner)
The rally that launched the new Leni-Kiko mural in West Fairview this month in Quezon City stood up to the biggest and best rallies so far held around the country because it had something more endearing than big name stars on the block: It had heart.
The rally honored the more than 40 men and women from across Metro Manila who did not know one another but came together for seven days and seven nights to paint the second tallest, if not the largest mural of the Pink Movement so far unveiled in the city.
The artists (Photo by Bella Bonner)
Pink is the color of presidential candidate Leni Robredo’s campaign. Pink signifies courage, volunteerism, and action.
The mural was a dazzling show of volunteerism. It brought to full view what selfless and love-driven acts look like amidst the country’s electrically charged presidential campaign.
“Amazing the power of love of VP Leni,” Maxelyn del Rosario wrote in response to a Facebook post about the mural that had gone viral. The post has garnered 3.2k likes and 1.9k shares. Readers love reading about a good real-life story.
“It is such an impressive gesture of humanity,” reader Ghislaine Bovee echoed.
Indeed.
Lyan Mecano and sister Vi, on the same page about what the country’s future should look like, thought about what they could do to help Robredo’s bid for the presidency. The brainstorming took a good few minutes before it segued to a blank wall on their building staring back at them. “Let’s paint a mural!” they shouted in unison.
Painting the wall (Photo by Lisa Flores)
Oh, sure. At the time, Leni-Kiko murals across the country were having bad days, being painted over or vandalized by supporters of opposition camps. Hmm. Moreover, who would paint the mural? Neither of the siblings painted for a living. And how would they go 40 feet or four stories up to paint the wall? How much would such a project cost?
The answers came after a phone call and one night.
“Hello, Robert?” Lyan’s call to good friend Robert Alejandro began. “What do you think of this…”
Alejandro is an artist whose reputation has risen to dizzying heights with the signature children’s art he has contributed for the Leni campaign. After the call, Alejandro made a call for volunteers on his Facebook page and by the following day, at least 30 artists had signed up to help.
Another children’s art illustrator, Liza Flores, suggested a beautiful design of raised hands and roses that symbolized hope. She captioned:
“We raise our hands, with our rose, hopes and love for our country.
We raise our hands to vote.
We raise our hands to volunteer.
We raise our hands to make a promise that we will continue to help.
We raise our hands to invite everyone to join.”
But design on an 8 ½ x 11-inch paper does not translate to a painting 40 feet tall and 50 feet wide. Thus came AJ Sano, famed muralist and activist with a passion for teaching art to children. He would draw Flores’ design on the wall and other volunteers only had to fill in the blanks, like creating a giant paint by numbers; 1 is for pink, 2 is for green…
Carmelita Garrido, AJ Sano and Liza Flores
With design and painters on board, it was time to climb the walls.
Editha Bagayaua suggested, “It only takes a spark to keep the fire going.”
The idea for a mural had ignited, and passion took care of the rest. As luck and good vibes had it, a friend of a friend knew someone from Datem, a big construction company in the Philippines. A call was made and, shortly thereafter, scaffoldings were erected onsite, planks and harnesses provided. Free of charge.
Cash donations came. Building owner Lyan Mecano initially estimated needing between P30,000 and P40,000 for paint, lights, and other project needs. It was the easiest job he ever had to do. There was no need for a call out or to embark on projects to raise funds. Generously, donors dropped money in the hat and the project ended with a good P79,000, enough to take care of all expenses for the mural and the mural launch rally.
Volunteers painted night and day to beat the deadline by a few days. (Photo by Boblee Valdez Clarino)
“Ang nagmamahal kailangan ipaglaban ang minamahal.” (“The one who loves must fight for the beloved.”)
“Abante Babae, Laban Presidente,” (“Forward Woman, Fight for President”) the calls resounded at the foot of the mural, which became a makeshift coliseum for a day. It was recognition day and 500 people were expected.
They came in droves. The old, the young, the healthy, the challenged. Everyone came in pink and boundless energy. They shouted “Leni-Kiko” and the mural’s rai·son d'ê·tre -- “Para sa kinabukasan ng mga bata.” (“For the children’s future.”) We have to do today what is right for our children tomorrow.
Retired UP Professor Edru Abraham and his Kontra-GaPi ensemble welcomed the crowd with strikingly melodious sounds and dances, a fitting reflection of Leni Robredo’s strong appreciation of ethnic culture.
Kristine Parulan, West Fairview resident, an FEU cheerleader and Good Shepherd Parish choir soprano rallied the crowd and led them in songs starting with the poignantly symbolic “Ang Bayan Ko.”
Singers lamented the crowd’s overwhelming sentiment for change.
“The ground is swelling and the tide is rising,” writer Carlomagno Priela declared. “The Pink Movement is unstoppable!”
The completed mural (Photo by Bella Bonner)
If one were to stop, look, and listen to what’s going on in the grassroots, it would be difficult to buck Priela’s statement. Every day, everywhere, volunteers are standing up, raising their hands to ensure a Leni win.
Mario Padua noted, “Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganitong klaseng halalan na nag boluntaryo ang mga mamamayan para sa bayan. Mabuhay ang mga Kakampink.” (“Only now have I seen this kind of election where the people have volunteered for the country. Long live the Kakampink.”)
Perhaps it’s a new culture in the making. Everyone wants to do something to be of help. The crowd roared: “Leni Gerona Robredo brings out the best in us.”
The mural launch (Photo by Ferdie Llanes de Aves Flores)
Bella Bonner is a journalism graduate of the UP Institute of Mass Communications. Among others, she worked as a grant writer and hotelier in Texas where she lived for 30 years. She has retired, returned to Manila and spends her days in sports, traveling and writing a personal blog, "Chicharon Diaries."
More articles from Bella Bonner
