The Artist Within

Strokes, hues and paint brushes have been a part of my life. People
thought I just inherited it from my father but the reality is that, drawing
complicated lines and giving them life is my passion.
On June 10th year 2002 at exactly 11:54 AM, I was born at Aleosan
District Hospital. The echoes of my cry were the laughter and happiness of my
parents. My father and grandmother were present when I was born. My father’s
tears of joy with a mix of dreams and hope came running down on his face
when he held me on his arms for the first time.
The history of my name was formed from the creative mind of my father.
It was a combination of my parent’s names. My father’s name is Joel Cala-or
Cangrejo while my mother’s name is Delia Singco Cangrejo. By analyzing their
names, it’ll conclude into Jodelyn Mae Singco Cangrejo and I was also
nicknamed 'Jody'‘
21 was her age when she gave birth to a healthy infant with the presence
of my father whose still at his early 26. They had me born in a Lower-Middles-
class family. That time, they had no stable job so in order to meet the ends of
the family, my mother worked abroad as an OFW. Through her sacrifice, I was
able to study properly in different schools. I spent my pre-school at Camando
Day Care Center, Leon Holy Family Learning Center and Buga Baptist Learning
Center. It seemed like I’m a person who’s an NPA (No Permanent Address) for
keeping on transferring schools up till now. However, I’m currently studying
my Senior High School at Buga National High School under General Academic
Strand.
Looking myself at the mirror each day, I notice myself growing and
changing. I started to develop my personality. Independent, quite artistic,
music lover, cosmoholic and being an otaku (obsessed with anime) are some of
those. Looking on my appearance, I can see the medals hanging on my neck for
being a consistent honor student, a crown entitled Ms. Intamurals 2017 and
certificates that say ‘First Placer in Poster Making Contest’ (School level).
Growing had made my mind develop questions and anxieties. “What is
my purpose in life?”, and “What should I be when I grow up?” were some of
them. Finding the answers took me a hard time until a teacher forced me to
enter a Division-Level poster making contest since she appreciated my father’s
excellent posters. At the contest, I was clueless, mental blocked and curious. I
drew landscapes that doesn’t even match with the theme. As the contest
ended, I just examined the excellently made posters and I was inspired.
Later, soon after I joined the contest, a part of me wanted to either draw
or paint. Most of my days, I would be imagining myself painting abstracts on
the walls in my room and I even imagine myself having a studio full of my
artworks. Eventhough I am still untrained, I developed an interest and liking to
art.
My skills are still similar to those of what newbies possess. My
confidence and trust is still growing but I chose to enter school-level poster
making contests. I believe that was the best decision I have made in my life so
far.
The corriodors and lobby was conquered by silence and everything
changed as my name echoed around the hallways and atmosphere. It was like
music in my ears as I heard my name announced on the microphone as first-
placer in that poster contest.
When I was on my 10th year, I entered a division-level poster making once
again, this time my skills are already on a completely higher level. Luckily, I it
of the 3rd Place FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 13 YEARS. I began to feel proud to
myself. I look at my winning and decent artwork as the medal hang on my
neck. Since then, I was able to boost my confidence and my art skills began to
awaken.
I liked the idea of drawing and expressing myself through my artworks. I
felt content whenever I finished one of my masterpieces. Also, the freedom it
came with seemed like such a big advantage for me.
My passion continued and everytime there will be poster making
contests, I would highly volunteer with no hesitations.
Drawing is self-discovery. Every good artist paints who they are. My
artworks are who I am. This is my identity.