Filename: Nanay’s Battle Scars by Carren Evangelista

Ilonga painter Carren Evangelista uses the brown colors of ground coffee as her medium to paint
“Nanay’s Battle Scars” as the aroma also reminds her of the warmth of a mother’s embrace.
Photo by Paulo Bryan G. David

Filename: Rose Jabadan with painting

Rose Rubinos Jabadan, chairperson of Pinay Power Junior Chamber International Metro Iloilo
Dinagyang Chapter that organized the Ilongga artists’ exhibit poses with one of her paintings at
the Activity Center of Festive Walk Mall at the Iloilo Business Park Township Complex in
Mandurriao district. Photo by Paulo Bryan G. David

Filename: Painting by Sasha Cabais

A painting by Sasha Cabais of a non-mestiza wearing the Ilonggo textile hablon emphasizes the
“morena” beauty of Filipinas and attempts to break stereotypes on how they were commonly
represented as “mestiza” women wearing Filipiniana or extravagant gowns. Photo by Paulo
Bryan G. David

20 Ilongga artists, 41 paintings define Filipina in art exhibit

Paulo Bryan G. David and Hazel P. Villa

ILOILO CITY – How does one transfer the warmth of a mother’s embrace into canvass? Or a
mother’s capabilities and a woman’s strength into colors? Or capture the morena in the everyday
Filipina?

The first one was answered by 23-year-old “coffee painter” Carren Evangelista in her painting
‘Nanay’s Battle Scars’ using the brown colors of ground coffee as her medium. The response to
the second question is in ‘Womanhood’ and ‘Beauty of a Woman’ by 42-year-old Rose Rubinos
Jabadan and the third is by Sasha Cabais, 24, who painted non-mestizas wearing the Ilonggo
textile hablon.

These artists are but three out of 20 Ilongga painters who produced 41 paintings in the aptly
titled “Pinay Power 2019: Iloilo’s Women Powerhouse Artists”, an all-Ilongga art exhibit here
showcasing the many facets of the Filipina in celebration of Women’s Month.

Organized by the Junior Chamber International Metro Iloilo Dinagyang Chapter (JCI-MID), the
exhibit runs from March 7, 2019 until April 7, 2019 at the Activity Center of Festive Walk Mall
at the Iloilo Business Park Township Complex in Mandurriao district here.

Inspiring Ilongga artists and wanna-be’s

“It’s always a challenge for women of my age to see their worth. That’s why I’m urging
everyone that it’s never too late to rediscover your potential,” said Rose Rubinos Jabadan,
chairperson of Pinay Power JCI-MID that organized the exhibit.

Having started painting since she was 6 years old, Jabadan said that art enabled her to understand
her “true self.” “It made me realize my capabilities as a mother and my strengths as a woman in
general,” she said, articulating the thoughts of the other Ilongga painters.

Her artworks about ‘Womanhood’ and ‘Beauty of a Woman’ aimed to open the viewers’ hearts
and minds to a better understanding of “what it really means to be human, what it means to be a
woman.”

“The images I produced are the result of my constant investigation of the woman. I was inspired
by their beauty and passion, the struggles they encountered and how they overcame them,” said
Jabadan, further explaining that a woman’s sense of balance, firmness and flexibility, are the
changing force towards a more peaceful world.

Aside from Jabadan, the 19 other all-Ilongga paiters are the following: Faith Ann Conlu Rubinos,
Pam Reyes, Gina Apostol, Adhara Alcudia Sebuado, Lorellie Lorraine Dumagat, Sasha Cabais,
Althea Villanueva, Angelica Tan, Analyn Trespicio, Bea Gison, Carren Evangelista, Charmaine
Española, Ivy Katague, Krys Balmaceda, Madhu Ann Liebscher, Mary Camille Reyes, MJ
Solitana, Regine Espinosa, and Sjandra Mae Cubita.

Some unique artworks celebrating womanhood

One of the artists whose works were featured in the exhibit was 24-year-old Sasha Cabais who
started joining exhibits at the age of 21 after finding inspiration in the Ilonggo textile hablon in
2016.

“My artworks are a tribute to our traditional Philippine attire, particularly the ones worn by our
ethnic groups,” said Cabais who also wanted to give a new perspective to her creations by
emphasizing the “morena” beauty of Filipinas and breaking stereotypes on how they were
commonly represented as “mestiza” women wearing Filipiniana or extravagant gowns.

“Everyone has a story to tell and we are special in every way. Be strong and keep faith with
whatever struggles that would come. Let our stories be the inspiration to others out there. Never
stop fighting for the causes we believe in. Let us stand together and make tomorrow better and
brighter,” she said.

On the other hand, 23-year-old Carren Evangelista used coffee as her medium for painting
because the smell reminded her of the warmth of a mother’s embrace and so, her painting
‘Nanay’s Battle Scars’ paid homage to the marks in the bodies of mothers who bore and raised
children and how these scars remained with them all the way to old age.

Her inspiration was her own mother. “She doesn’t even care about her physical appearance
anymore because there are things much more important to take care of and obviously it is us, her
daughters, her family,” said Evangelista.

“We have this impression that marks and scars are ugly, but if you go deeper, you’ll see a story.
And in a mother’s scars, I see a strong woman,” she added.

Aside from the art showcase, some of the highlights of Pinay Power 2019 were activities like
Ted Talk: Women Empowerment, tranquil yoga session, poetry reading and open mic, and the
Search for Miss Pinay Power 2019.

Pinay Power is a special project pioneered by JCI Makati Princess Urduja, an all-female Junior
Chamber International chapter based in Makati City. It is an awareness campaign that introduces
and educates people about the different situations of women across the society in the hopes of
creating a dialogue between leaders and the community.

The project aims to promote programs which advocate women empowerment, welfare and
advancement of gender equality./END/