HAVE YOU EVER looked at a piece of art that made you feel something deep inside? It was Rainbow Rowell who once remarked that “art wasn’t supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something.” As we celebrate National Arts Month, let’s take a moment to appreciate the talented artists who brought beauty and emotion into our lives with their work. 

With this year’s theme, “Ani ng Sining, Bayang Malikhain,” from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), we present artists from the Lions’ Den who presented their apparent creativity in their imagination turned artistic expression. 

Mariel “Lev” Ramos  

Lev, a freshie from the Department of Legal Management, dwells in doing commission work often. She described the activity as “fun” with how “your drawing and output relies on the feels or the vibe of the artist or the song/album they are trying to promote which I think is really helpful and really fun to do.”  

As an artist in the Philippines, Lev described her experience as “pretty cool,” crediting her positive feedback to the new art styles she had immersed in, along with the liberty of letting her creativity flow. “I feel like I grew more as an artist after being able to talk to other artists like me,” she added.  

Needless to say, for Lev, National Arts Month served of great importance to her as she shared how the celebration made her feel appreciated for doing something that she loves, more so considering how art is not primarily recognized enough as an ideal career path, especially among Asians.  

Angela Faith Cayari  

Angela described herself as “someone who is both emotionally expressive and repressive at the same time.” This led her to consider art as an outlet and therapy, aiding her through the times when she could not fully express herself through work.  

Looking behind the drive to her appreciation for art, Angela reminisced how she recently had an incredible experience when she got a chance to create a “super cool mural” for a family friend’s burger joint. While it took her around six hours to finish, she shared how “it was worth it,” owing to the smiles of her happy clients—which also made a lasting impact on her. For Angela, it was one of those “special moments” that she will never forget.  

She also recalled experiences as an artist in the Philippines, notably participating in two mural initiatives during the 2022 elections when she witnessed how different artists interpreted themselves in various creative processes. It made her appreciate art more, especially in today’s generation, as she stated, with the rampant rise of A.I. technology in art.  

Roze de Leon 

Taking in a unique approach, Roze pictured her art style as “cute ‘emote’ Chibis.” During the pandemic, Roze shared how she started doing commissioned art with Discord as her main exchange platform. Following the ebbing of the pandemic, her work flourished even more through her involvement in her department’s organization, Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC), recalling how she once designed the organization’s final headdress worn by their respective representative at the last Pep Rally.  

As a Filipino artist, she described the experience as “tiring,” leaving her to advertise her art in the U.S. “Filipinos rightfully have better things to buy that are more beneficial to their lives; art is a priceless thing, so I felt selfish to sell my art at the price it should be in the Philippines,” added Roze.  

This National Arts Month, Roze joins her fellow artists in celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the country through honoring the legendary national artists who have contributed significantly to the growth and development of the arts in the nation’s history. 

Yzabella Rei Gayanelo 

Yzabella is a second-year student from the Department of Political Science who became interested in art early on, crediting her way of imitating the surroundings around her, such as the notable series Code Geass, as the inspiration behind the art style of her masterpieces.  

As an artist in the Philippines, she had opportunities to develop her skills growing up through extracurricular activities in schools, even once making it a habit to join annual poster-making contests. Amusingly, she recalled how she initially planned to take Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) as a strand for Senior High, but instead took Arts and Design owing to her mom who could not accompany her in the enrollment. “Pag-uwi ko… ’yung nanay ko naiinis sa akin, ta’s ako tawang-tawa,” she shared.  

Expressing the importance of art to her, Yzabella said that for her “Art gives the world color, it makes us feel alive. Through art, not just visual arts lang, even poetry [and] music, it makes you feel that all these are experiences of people that they share with you. They are sharing a piece of them to you, which is very valuable to me and makes life colorful and more meaningful.”  

Andrew Simon Poa 

Andrew described himself as someone who “delved into different art forms,” specializing in the traditional way of pen and paper. He added that he does not do commissions for his art, declaring how he viewed his masterpieces as a “product of affection,” creating them to be gifted. But behind the limelight, Andrew shared how being in the public eye as an artist is “difficult,” as it only “exposes their uniqueness to criticism and comparisons with other works of art.”  

Inspiring his fellow Bedan artists, Andrew reminded them to “keep striving harder and improving their craft.” “It sounds cliché, but patience is key, especially with yourself. Don’t let fear hinder you; don’t let expectations pull you down. Taking that leap of faith lets you realize how much more there can be learned in art,” he shared. 

Angelica Jane “AJ” Silan 

AJ described her art style as something that “leans from semi-realistic to anime-like.” She is used to drawing the traditional way for personal works, while doing the digital way for commissions. 

In her experiences as an artist, she recalled how her most remarkable experience was when an old friend from high school requested her to create a design that would be used as merchandise for a project called ProjecTYONGFs, a project dedicated to the K-pop idol Lee Taeyong who is a member of the boy group NCT 127. And guess what? Her incredible art caught the attention of that same K-pop idol during an offline fan sign event in the Philippines! How awesome is that? 

Being a Filipino artist, she realized that several artists in the Philippines made art for a living—which made her rethink her career, realizing how people can still earn from doing what they’re passion about. As such, National Arts Month gave her a boost of energy and pride as a part of the community being celebrated.  

“I would like to tell my fellow Bedans to strive and don’t stop. Sana malaman nila na art is not made to compare but to be appreciated. Create lang ng create hanggang sa maubusan ng canvas,” AJ said. 

Rochelle Anna Marie Soriano 

Rochelle’s art style ranges from landscapes and portraits, but lately, she revealed that she has been into classical art—which she considers as her “main influence.” The onset of her creative process usually starts in a continual cycle of trial-and-error, up until it reaches the standard which she aspired to. “For me naman, it’s just all about embracing the journey and letting my work evolve naturally,” she said. Moreover, Rochelle expressed her excitement in embarking on a journey to develop her style.  

Rochelle calls her Filipino artist experience “interesting.” In the Filipino culture, she reiterated that art is an impractical career choice, declaring “Art is still a huge part of who I am, and I think no amount of societal pressure is going to change that.”  

Moreover, Rochelle encouraged Bedan artists to stay committed to their craft, as their passion and hard work will help them progress and appreciate the value of expressing their unique individuality. 

Celebrating the National Arts Month, we put our focus on these incredible artists from the Bedan community. With their inspiring journey of bringing color to the country, not just San Beda, we implore our fellow Bedans to seek and mold the artist in you. After all, life is one heck of a kaleidoscope! 

(with Manssel Jianne Latonero)