Day in the Life Paintings

After reorganizing the paintings hanging on our walls, I realized that there’s a common theme on the pieces D and I recently acquired: a majority of them depict Filipino day in the life activities. I don’t pertain to the typical weekday work at the office (or in our case, at home). It’s the lifestyle I used to witness more during my childhood holiday vacations at the provinces, or during Filipino festivities. These days, as we’re now mostly able to travel domestically, I feel lucky whenever I get glimpses of these sceneries or activities en route to our destinations. Nothing beats the beauty of the sky merging with a vast field of greenery or the blue sea – simple, calming, and a reminder of how beautiful the world is. On the other hand, when I’m at home working, never a day goes by when in between calls, I’d stretch my legs, walk around and spend some time gazing at these paintings. It’s always a reminder of the more important things in life, and places to look forward to at the end of the week.

These next set of paintings remind me of when I was in Bohol earlier this year. The sight of fishermen on boats captivated me as I admired their patience and determination. Maybe one of the trips that D and I can have later on this year will entail fishing.

The next two paintings were handpicked by D. Originally I had other pieces in mind when we went to the galleries, but he ended up convincing me how they would fit nicely on our living room wall. He always gravitates to festive and colorful sceneries, and I recognize the lightness they bring when we look at them. The first painting, Sorbetes Vendor, is by Margarita Cajumban. This reminds me of preserved Spanish-Filipino places like Vigan in Ilocos, and Taal Town in Batangas. The next painting, Sa Loob ng Intramuros, is by Christian Regis. It shows the hustle and bustle of the Filipino commute: showcasing the Filipino jeepney, the Philippines’ common mode of transportation. It also shows the horse-drawn kalesa which still operates within the walled city of Intramuros in Manila.

Lastly, this art piece is the first painting that I have bought. It is called Besperas ng Pahiyas, painted by Manuel Baldemor. It illustrates the Lucban houses in Quezon Province, adorned by colorful kipings (paper made from ground rice flour) during the Pahiyas Festival which is celebrated every 15th of May. Pahiyas means “decorated”. It is the feast of San Isidro Labrador, the patron of farmers, as a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Personally I have not witnessed this festival in person, and is something in my list. Hopefully the restrictions continue to be eased here in the Philippines so I can get to see it in action in the next few weeks.