Revisiting 12 children in Velasco's 'Hapag ng Pag-asa'

MANILA, Philippines - The 12 street children in Hapag ng Pag-asa, a highly recognizable work by the late Joey Velasco, have moved many who look at the most reproduced contemporary painting.

Unbeknown to all, however, the models whose ages range from four to 14 each have a story to tell beyond the four corners of the mural. Before he passed away, Velasco did not stop at depicting them in the canvass, but secured for them a shelter at a Gawa Kalinga village. He continued reaching out to them until his death in July 2010 at age 43.

Itok, Nene, Joyce, Tinay, Emong, Onse, Buknoy, Michael, Dodoy, Jun and Roselle were given a better chance of life, but nine years since the painting was made public, they all continue to face life's constant battles.

"Some of them [are winning], some of them [are struggling]. One has lost  the fight all together last year--at age 18 due to complications at childbirth," television show Cheche Lazaro Presents said in a report.

Cheche Lazaro Presents Lenten special "Hapag ng Pagasa" will be aired on Easter Sunday, April 20, at 10:00 p.m. on ABS-CBN.

Today, many are still haunted by the image of the 12 young souls who take the place of Jesus' apostles in a Filipino rendering of Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpiece.