Gelo Arcaya and his unusual concept of fun

CEBU, Philippines - People have different concepts of fun. It may be playing games, watching movies, eating, or anything one wishes to do. For the 22-year old Fine Arts student Gian Angelo Arcaya, it is about staying in the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu longer than what is required, and enjoying every second of it.

Not expecting that his college life would turn out the way it did, Arcaya, popularly known as "Gelo" in the campus, has spent six years taking his Certificate of Fine Arts (CFA) major in Studio Arts course that was supposed to be for three years only.

"Wala sa plano ang magdugay sa college (It was not in the plan to stay longer in college) said Arcaya. "Pero nalingaw man gyud ko'g maayo diri sa UP gud, nga di nako ganahan mo-graduate unta (But I really had fun here in UP that I did not want to graduate anymore)."

According to him, even from his first year in 2006, he would already intentionally drop minor subjects that he did not like, regardless of the consequence. "Even on the first day of class, kung bati ang teacher, drop dayon… ma-happy na hinuon ko kay mo-extend na 'sab ko (if I don't like the teacher, I would drop the subject immediately, and I would be happy because it will extend my stay here)."

"One reason ngano nagdugay ko kay dili 'sab gyud ko mo-enrol with full load… 4 or 5 subjects lang, then mag-drop pa gyud ko ana… pero mga minor subjects ra. Wala ra ma'y problema sa major (Another reason why I stayed longer is that I don't enrol with full load of units... I'd only get 4 or 5 subjects... then I drop some... minor subjects only, though. I don't have problems with the major ones)," he added.

Even when Arcaya was in high school, he would not take his subjects seriously until it's already in the 3rd or 4th grading, where the grades would matter a lot more.

"Kapoyan man gud ko magtinarong gud (I always get tired at doing good in school)," he said. "Kaya ra man gyud 'ta, pero ug tarong ka for the whole time, unya pwede ra man diay ka magtinarong kadiyot lang and makapasar ra man gihapon, mag-lingaw-lingaw lang sa ko… sayang man gud (I know I can do it, but I realized that if I can have fun first, then just get through with academics later, I'd rather have fun now...I don't want to waste the opportunity)."

Usually dressed in a shirt, knee-length shorts and a pair of slippers, with his tattooed body and his long Mohawk hair style, Arcaya said that the university's "not strict" policy added to the fun he experienced, and is still experiencing, together with his friends in Fine Arts.

Arcaya, together with the other Fine Arts students, would stay overnight in their studio room from Wednesdays to Saturdays to finish their artworks, thus, sometimes leading them to do different things just to enjoy, especially when the going gets tough.

Since he was a kid, it is already his dream to be an artist, particularly in the field of painting. In 2010, he won the grand prize in the Jose Joya Annual Painting Competition among Fine Arts students in UP Cebu.

"Ganahan gyud ko mahimong full time artist, pero since kailangan gyud ta'g kwarta, mag-trabaho lang pud ko kung unsa'y available sa akong course ig huma'g eskwela (I'd really love to be a full-time artist, but since I also need money, I guess I'd also find a job that'd fit my course after school)," he said.

While studying, Arcaya experienced getting a job to finance his needs.

"Naa gyu'y time nga maglisod financially, samot pa jud sa among materials nga mahal (There are really times when I get financially challenged, most especially with expensive art materials)," he said. "Mo-support man akong parents hinuon, pero kay ma-uwaw na pud ko mangayo nila usahay so mangita ko'g laing way nga maka-kwarta ko (My parents support me, but sometimes I get embarrassed asking from them, so I would find some ways where I can get money by myself)."

He has tried working as a graphic artist in a printing press, and a coffee shop endorser. And together with his friends, he also offers art services such as painting and printing shirts. "Tungod ana, maka-save pud ko'g pang-allowance nako, and maka-pakaon ko sa akong mga amigo (Through this, I could save for my allowance, and I can also treat my friends)."

"Lingaw nga amigo si Gelo, then dili ka i-look down. Equal ang iyang pagtan-aw sa tanan (Gelo is a fun friend, then he wouldn't look down on you. He treats everyone equally)," said Eleazar Enerio, one of Arcaya's friends. "Ug bisan dugay na kaayo na siya diri, kahibalo ko na ma-successful ra gihapon siya kay kugihan man, dayon passionate siya sa iyang talent and profession (Although he has been here for a long time already, I know that he will be successful one day because he is hardworking and is passionate with his talent and profession)."

Arcaya said that at first, his friends and family didn't understand why he stayed long in the university. "Di man gud sila kasabot sa kinabuhi sa UP, especially akong mama. Mao bitaw ni-graduate lang sa ko last school year para at least pahalipay sa ilaha ba (They do not understand the life here in UP, especially my mom. That's why I just graduated last school year for them to be happy)."

For him, it really felt good being able to graduate finally. People, according to him, were amazed and several applauded him when he came up on stage and finally received his diploma after six years. However, he didn't stop there as he then proceeded with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) major in Studio Arts course to fully develop his talent in painting.

Now in his seventh year in the university, Arcaya said that he never, even once, found his college life difficult.

"Kung naglisod ko, wala na unta ko diri (If I found it hard, I wouldn't be here anymore)," said Arcaya, pointing out how his happy and fun personality made things a lot easier to handle. And for him, there's no point in doing things when one doesn't incorporate fun in it. "Sayang man gud, for free ra baya mag-lingaw-lingaw (Having fun is for free, so I would not waste the chance)."

Arcaya knows that he could've found a job already if only he graduated on time. But despite this, never did he regret spending six years, and counting, in a place where he's able to be himself freely.

"Ang basehan sa pagka-tawo dili gyud baya kung sayo ni-graduate (Graduating on time is not the basis of one's personality)," he said. "Naa'y daghan nga ni-graduate on time pero wala ra man gihapo'y nabuhat (There are a lot of people who graduated on time, yet, they have not done anything relevant."

However, he would never recommend to anyone not to finish schooling on time.

"Dili ko mo-suggest na ilang buhaton ang pareha sa akong gibuhat, pero makaingon lang ko na loosen up 'sab sometimes (I wouldn't suggest that they would follow what I've done, but I have to say that we should also loosen up sometimes)," Arcaya said. "Life should be fun, and kailangan mogawas pud ta sa atong comfort zone (We should also go out of our comfort zone)."

And indeed, as numbers continue to add on his years of study in UP Cebu, Arcaya wouldn't mind for he knows that what he has is a unique experience that he will be forever proud of. (FREEMAN)