Art 101: Create and Survive

title “Philippines’ First Drag Superstar,” with a total of ten episodes. Professional dancer Precious Paula Nicole reigned winner.

Drag Den PH with Manila Luzon, the first local drag reality competition, then aired on Amazon Prime months after the Philippine franchise, with 26-year-old Naia Black hailed as the “First Filipino Drag Supreme.”

Drag has come a long way from its rough journey as a common-theater practice to an award-winning art form—proving that it is a craft of passion encouraging queers—and allies—to use their talents to inspire others and give awareness about sociopolitical issues.

Drag is undoubtedly an art of charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent with a touch of protest.

May the best drag queen win.

By Albrecht Mauro R. Beltran Jr.

Art mirrors reality. Our sufferings and victories, our peaks and valleys, are unknowingly embedded on four-cornered canvases. Art lets us understand the fullness of our existence. This proves that it makes a difference in everybody’s lives.

For Jose Glenn Blanco, an artist for over 44 years, it was through art where he expressed his experiences during the pandemic. Painting became his only escape from reality. His works, painted from 2019 to 2022 featuring the scenes of everyday life, were displayed in his Hope & Faith Art Exhibition at Adamson University Art Gallery last February.

The pandemic has built up this overlapping situation where some people question the existence, meaning, and purpose of their lives, all at the same time. Even their faith in

God was challenged as cases rapidly increased and loved ones were lost.

On the other hand, this crisis became an eye-opener for some people, with some even regaining an even closer connection with the Almighty God. The Angono-born talent then relatively introduced the importance of nature with his paintings in dealing with the pandemic. According to him, the closer we are to nature, the closer we are to God, the creator.

The exhibitor of 25 masterpieces disclosed that if he had to pick one among all, ‘Munting Paraiso,’ an oil on canvas painting, would be his favorite. Illustrated in the artist’s pick is a scenery of a stream surrounded by various plants as the subject.

“Lahat kasi sila favorite ko e. Kasi hindi mo masasabing mas gusto ko ‘yon, o isa do’n.

Like this particular painting (Munting Paraiso), ‘yan lang ang painting na ginawa ko na walang tao,” he said.

The University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines-Diliman graduate then explained one of the concepts of oriental philosophy, in which a person is just a small part of nature. In the thick of the lockdown, daily routines halted—the outside was a ghost town, and business days were as silent as the weekends.

Given the restrictions enforced during this sudden pause worldwide, art has suffered without a doubt. Galleries, museums, and other usual venues were forced to shut down, which left the artists, art educators, and production staff at the edge of the cliff for a moment.

Yet, one thing is certain— the value of love for craft, hope, and resilience carried on. These three have secured the oneness of friends and families towards another day of survival as they indulge in the exceptional product of creativity.

Art is a two-way communication between the creative minds of the artists and the eyes of the audience. While the prior continues to strive for their passion, it is in the latter’s hands to appreciate, advocate, and even purchase art.

As the world started to spin again, we have learned that the beauty of art has left us with coping mechanisms that help us respond to unfamiliar circumstances—leaving us with marks and scars.

As every stroke of the brush reminds us that we are all human beings, it is a reminder that we all share universal life experiences. And so is art— in some way, it is also an allembracing blanket.