Earth Philippines artists share their gifts with Hawaii

Ligaya “Jing” Banawan and her mural. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

HONOLULU — Cook-offs, film festivals, beauty pageants and now, an art exhibit all TO celebrate the 119th Philippine Independence Day and showcase another type of talent that Filipinos have.

Earth Philippines started in January 2017 and consists of talented artists who specialize in oil paintings, watercolor, paper mache and much more.  When ‎Indah Fides Delgado‎ received a request to host these artists for an art exhibit in Hawaii, she called upon her partners, Gino Soquena, Rodney Yoshikawa and Eva Washburn-Repollo to assist in making the special event happen.

Fidel Sarmiento shares his artwork story.INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“It was a struggle because we didn’t have many sponsors and we basically sponsored ourselves,” Delgado mentioned. But this obstacle, along with many others, did not stop them from creating a successful event. “I even went to the Philippines last month so I could meet the crew,” Delgado added.

The Earth Philippines artists consist of seven members: Fidel Sarmiento; Jing Banawan; Lloyd Orosa; Pancho Piano and Popoy Cusi with special guests Heart Evangelista and Senator Chiz Escudero.

“We have some of the best artists from the Philippines coming,” Soquena pointed out. All  the artists have worked their way to becoming known as award-winning international artists, governmental artists and Filipino celebrities.

Heart Evangelista’s artwork (left) and Senator Chiz Escudero artwork (right).INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

Delgado and her team planned a whole week of events for the Earth Philippines artists to truly gain more exposure for themselves and meet various people in Hawaii. From June 5th until June 10th, the artists gave back to the community by conducting art workshops to students and feeding the poor.

They also made courtesy calls to a few politicians, and even spent some time at the Philippine Consulate. But the biggest event took place on June 9 in Chinatown’s very own Arts at Marks Garage where the artists showcased an art exhibit for the community called “The Gift of Art to Mother Earth and Her Children.”

The event title and group name derived from the environmental art theme portrayed throughout the art exhibit. Each artist interpreted their inspiration and skillfully depicted mother nature, making it their own work and different from the rest of the group. All of the artists shared stories within the artwork and their joy of spreading their messages within the community of Oahu.

Fidel Sarmiento’s masking tape art piece. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

Pancho Piano created artwork that represented his home in Bicol as well as the Mayon volcano and the events revolving around its eruption. “My artwork is focused on festivals, Filipino culture and nature but in abstract art.”  Piano became interested in nature and music as a young boy. “So first I am a musician and second I am an artist specializing in nature.” As a full-time artist, Piano participates in many exhibits and constantly shares his home culture wherever he goes. In his collection of art in the Earth Philippines exhibit, many of his work portray women who represent the people in Bicol and their experiences during the time of the Mayon volcano eruption.  

Rafael “Popoy” Cusi also shares his childhood experience through his artwork as he grew up in Mindoro. Cusi’s work consists of watercolor seascapes and landscapes in the Philippines, creating an underwater theme throughout all the pieces.

“I chose watercolor because of where I came from.” He wanted to promote the climate change and environmental awareness throughout his work, showing people the beauty of the Philippines and the positive aspects of nature. When asked what he plans to do next, Cusi simply stated, “I will go back and paint the Philippines again.”

Fidel Sarmiento depicts imagery honoring larawan ng kahapon, or portraits of yesterday. Each of his pieces includes a piece of masking tape painted to represent holding on to the past. “I put it on the canvas so that when the time comes, it’s recorded here. I like the idea of the past because this is all gone now. When you go to the Philippines, this is all gone.”

Many of his paintings have an architectural theme, which comes from his background in the field as he studied architecture in college. He chooses to pursue his passion in art as he states, “Architecture is so linear and it needs to be perfect unlike fine arts where you can create it as your own.”

Meanwhile, Ligaya “Jing” Banawan does a variety of artwork, from hand painting, murals and painting clothes. “My focus is with a one-stop shop that is for the violence that women and children experience,” Banawan explained.

Banawan also helps children in the Philippines by donating to a foundation the money she makes from her painted clothing. She said that Senator Chiz Escudero asked her to paint the mural displayed at the exhibit, featuring all the different cultures in the Philippines and the history of the country.

Artist Ligaya “Jing” Banawan. INQUIRER/Lalaine Ignao

“We wanted to help our government and we want to show the importance of the environment, the importance of art, the importance of humanity. As an employee of the government, it is my duty to show service to the humanity and showing what is best for our country.”

“Actually, it was Heart who brought me in,” Senator Escudero stated. “She would paint at home, and since I had nothing better to do than watch her, I grabbed a canvas and started painting myself.” Senator Escudero began his pastime in painting about two years ago. He calls himself a novice but says that if his art inspires people, then the piece has done its job.

Escudero’s wife, Heart Evangelista, said that her passion for art started from a young age. “I used to draw on the walls and get in trouble with my mom, but my dad was very supportive.” With her father also interested in art, she was exposed to many artists growing up. Evangelista became more serious in painting about four years ago, using it as therapy. “A painting moralizes you in a way and so it’s like a forever thing that you can be proud of leaving behind. I thought that this would be the best way to be remembered by,” She explained.

Evangelista’s collection of artwork shows what to expect in her future exhibit called Love Marie. She said that the inspiration for her work comes from simply experiencing life and. Participating in Earth Philippines gave Evangelista the opportunity to work with other artists. “To be affiliated with these seriously talented and amazing artists has been such an honor for me that people actually take me seriously.”

The Earth Philippines art exhibit did an astounding job in expressing the importance of environmental awareness, with each artist interpreting nature through the pieces. As Banawan stated, in today’s climate of global warming, the urgency in caring for the world and its environment has heightened.

Instead of abusing mother nature with acts of polluting, throwing trash into the ocean and cutting down the trees, people must take the time to care for the world and participate in various action steps to prevent global warming from growing into a worse situation, Banawan stated.