Girl in Pampanga paints, raises funds for boy with hydrocephalus

Bella Manuel, 7, is raising funds for a young boy stricken with hydrocephalus by selling her acrylic paintings. Contributed photo

ANGELES CITY –– A young girl here has drawn eight acrylic paintings, put these on snap sales, and raised P28,500 for a 7-year-old boy stricken with hydrocephalus.

Bella Manuel, also 7, turned over the proceeds to the parents of the boy, whom she calls Sean, last June 30.

She said: “I was happy to help.”

Sort of matching her daughter’s unprompted kindness, Bella’s mother Reina donated her one-month salary and gave some grocery supplies to Sean, whose family lives in Pulung Cacutud here.

The young painter learned of Sean’s health condition when she saw her mother scanning photos of milk recipients. She works as an executive assistant to Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr.

Without talking about her project, Bella quietly painted her artworks, using the quarantine against COVID-19 in a creative way.

She was around 4 years old when she started painting, according to Reina.

Then, she prodded her mother to put these on exhibit at the souvenir center of the city government.

In a few days, her works titled “Boatman,” “Tres Marias,” “Kitten,” “Chocoberry,” “Garden,” “Horse,” “Parrot” and “Puppies” were lapped up by buyers, which included Rei Ramos Anicoche Tan, founder of Beautederm.

Some of the acrylic paintings of 7-year-old Bella Manuel that have been sold to raise funds for a young boy stricken with hydrocephalus. Contributed photo

Some of the acrylic paintings of 7-year-old Bella Manuel that have been sold to raise funds for a young boy stricken with hydrocephalus. Contributed photo

“I think Bella also raised awareness for this kind of brain condition,” Reina said.

Hydrocephalus is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the cavities of the brain, forcing it to enlarge.

LZB