Green art supports volunteer service

Joven Ignacio is, first and foremost, a conservationist. As an architect, he is an advocate for "green" design: making environmentally sensitive designs for energy-efficient structures that use as much recycled materials and cause as little impact on the surrounding environment as possible. As an artist, he creates testaments to the beauty of nature, rendering Philippine flora and fauna in lush, rich watercolor, showcasing the beauty of an unspoiled environment.

"With the energy and economic crises that we’re facing," he says, "there’s now a greater need for these kinds of projects." He spreads his message in the University of the Philippines College of Architecture, where he is a professor.

Between his teaching responsibilities and his career, how does he manage to squeeze in enough time for his painting?

"It’s a very relaxing way to spend my time," he says. "When I come home tired from the day’s work, I paint. If I paint for two hours, I don’t need that much sleep – it’s like I spent the whole night resting."

He laughs when asked about how he got into painting, having no previous background in the visual arts other than architecture. When Joven’s father was in the hospital in 1998, he kept his father company, passing the time by making sketches of birds and flowers on paper. A visiting aunt admired his work, and encouraged him to produce more pieces. His paintings, she promised, will be put on exhibit in a gallery that she owns. When, months later, he showed her his pieces, she laughed and said that she was only joking, that she didn’t own a gallery after all: "She said, ‘Uto-uto talaga ang pamangkin ko!’" he laughs. By then, though, Ignacio had already developed a passion for art.

The products of his nightly endeavors went on exhibit, anyway, later in 1999, where National Artist Napoleon Abueva, impressed with the works, told him to keep painting.

Now, Joven Ignacio has a steadily-growing following, his works valued by local collectors. He has also allowed the use of several of his paintings in a fund-raising project by the Jesuit Volunteers Philippines (JVP) Foundation Inc.

JVP is a volunteer group of fresh college graduates and young professionals. The organization aims to promote nation-building through faith-driven volunteer service. JVP sends these young volunteers on yearlong missions all over the Philippines to assist under-resourced schools and communities. In 25 years, the organization has sent more than 700 volunteers to more than 200 institutions all over the country. JVP volunteers provide help to those who need it the most: teaching schoolchildren, assisting in the care of the disabled, working with indigenous communities and other non-government organizations.

Joven admires the brand of idealism at work within the JVP, which is why he lent the use of his art to the organization for free. "These people go to the schools in the provinces and teach there for a year. I know how hard it is, being a teacher myself," he says. "Sometimes I go out of town to lecture in other schools and I know it’s difficult to properly teach the students without enough facilities and equipment. It’s hard work, teaching, but really it’s love of the students that keeps you going."

The JVP is launching a series of all-purpose cards featuring Ignacio’s paintings to raise funds to support its volunteers. Several other parties have already pitched in, sponsoring the paper, printing and launching of the cards.

"I didn’t hesitate. I donated six of my favorite pieces," according to Joven. "These range from my earliest works to some of the newer ones, and to me they represent milestones in my progress as an artist." The six works, drawn from his Philippine Birds and Flowers series, are collected in boxed sets of six, which can be purchased at the JVP office and other offices in Ateneo de Manila University, Metropolitan Museum, and at the Designs Ligna in SM Megamall B where the cards will be launched on Sept. 24 at 4 p.m.

As far as the architect is concerned, the project is another form of conservation: "When I talk about conservation, I include the conservation of heritage. We shouldn’t only try to safeguard the environment, but also the people in it, and their culture."

Ignacio and the JVP are well on their way. They endeavor to ensure that not only is the natural splendor of the Philippine environment conserved, but that the Filipino, years from now, will still be there to care for it, and each other.

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The Joven Ignacio all-purpose cards will be available at the JVP Office and A-Shop at the Ateneo de Manila University, Designs Ligna, and the Metropolitan Museum beginning Sept. 24. For inquiries, call the JVP Office at 927-9060 and 426-5908 or e-mail jvpfi@admu.edu.ph. Visit www.jvpfi.org for details on JVP.