Cebuana artist shares art from the heart

Janine Arbolario is truly her father’s daughter. Inspired by her dad, both an educator and an artist, young J9 (that’s really how her nickname is written), born and bred in Bacolod City, quickly found great encouragement and support to value the importance of education and learned to appreciate and to love the arts.

Growing up in a home that was filled with artists and theater talents led J9 to be creative in the visual and performing arts with aplomb and drama. To pursue her sole ambition – just like her father before her – she took up fine arts at the University of the Philippines Cebu.

As a requirement for graduation, she presented her first solo exhibit, aptly titled My H.E.ART (Hopeful and Educational Art) 4 Children, at the second level of SM City Cebu.

The first-of-its-kind display area was transformed into a children’s playground with paintings measuring 19x29 inches, rendered in mixed media, crayons and watercolors on paper, complete with large scale papier mâché installation works, such as sungka, piko, tirador, singkil and tumbang preso.

The aim of the show was to raise awareness on the rights of Filipino children in various sectors of society by cultivating Filipino culture through grassroots art. The artworks represent specific human rights issues that convey the message that the extensive violation of such rights has prematurely forced children to adulthood without the benefit of time or the opportunity to grow and develop emotionally, physically and mentally.

Understandably, most of the paintings depicted homes and schools and other basic children’s rights that are sometimes neglected, such as a child’s right to education. It is the duty of the state to ensure that primary education is free, to ensure that secondary education is accessible to every child and to make education available to all. The state shall take appropriate measures to assist parents and others responsible for the child in providing material assistance and support programs, particularly with regard to nutrition, clothing and housing.

"My art is filled with subjects that drive home these points – simple and sincere," J9 declares. "I endeavor to capture the things that adults may have forgotten, but are important to the children who pay attention to the smallest things such that their world is full of wonder, discovery and reality."

Before the exhibit, J9 conducted a weeklong art workshop with 50 children from different agencies. The event allowed them to discuss their rights through colorful and vivid paintings that were likewise displayed during the opening of the exhibit.

Guests of honor where Cebu City First Lady Margot Osmeña, who is also chairperson of the Cebu City Commission for the Welfare of Children, Cebu Arts Council president Petite Garcia and Metrobank Foundation Inc. Visayas regional head Patrick Go.

Janine Arbolario is an award-winning artist whose citations include being the Visayas representative to the PLDT National Cover Design Competition, finalist in the Martino Abellana Painting Competition, third place in the Jose Joya Awards and winner in the Philippine Business for Social Progress Christmas Card Design Contest.