Aim for the Stars
Aim for the best always! Nothing wrong with dreaming big, taking chances and getting it! This was always my 'motto' and getting my grants and awards abroad were just icing on the cake. When I started my prints about the HIV virus and AIDS in 1995, I was disturbed about the lack of awareness of Filipinos and about the looming situation. I thought that by portraying them in my works, then I could contribute partially to the hopeful change. I still continue to work with these series in form. I created the imagery of the virus amidst the epitome of the Filipino me. 'PiPay' is the indomitable spirit of struggle and bravery of Filipinos. Be it the imagery or the deconstruction of the imagery, they worked with each of my paintings and prints. With the onset of the coronavirus or Covid-19 in 2020, I am faced with another predicament that caught the Filipinos in thrall, hysteria, and health security. "I want my art to be a change, a journey and a direction to be a better