Colors of survival

A big yellow star was plastered in the middle of 12-year-old Nikka Aleria’s painting.

“Ito po ang symbol ng pag-asa dahil nakaligtas kami at nandito na kami ngayon sa Cebu,” she explained.

(This is a symbol of hope because we survived and we are now here in Cebu).

Images both playful and tragic appear in crayon, pastel and paint, the on-the-spot expressions of young evacuees from Leyte staying at the Tinago barangay hall in Cebu City.

The children (and several adults) were given art materials and asked to draw, paint or color anything around the theme of “Christmas and Hope” or “Pasko at Pag-asa”.

What emerged were echoes of the ordeal of November’s supertyphoon Yolanda.

Nikka of Tacloban City painted blue clouds around her star.

At the corner of the illustration board, she mixed black, red and brown to paint a mountain.

She said this was what she saw after the typhoon: cut trees, barren land and dead people.

“Hindi ko malilimutan yung nakita ko, nakakatakot. Pero dahil sa mga nangyari sa amin ngayon at sa lahat ng mga tumulong sa amin, meron na kaming pag-asa,” she said.

(I will never forget what I saw, it was so scary. But because of what is happening to us now and all the help we’re getting, we now have hope.)

The mini-gallery of construction board and paper mounted on the green bleachers of the gym were both art and therapy.

“Young and fragile as they are, children might not realize the need to unload from a devastating experience,” said Stephen Zenz, a Swiss national and longtime Cebu resident, one of the art session organizers, in a concept paper of the project: “Blank Canvas: A Children’s Art Exhibit from the Eyes of the Haiyan Survivors”.

“We believe that art, as an expressive medium, can help ease the minds of the children, providing a head start on recovery from the Yolanda disaster,” he said.

He was joined by volunteers from art students, artists, photographers, and gallery owners in the activity last Dec. 10 and 11.

For two hours in the morning, young evacuees explored colors on paper while sitting on the floor or bleachers of the gym. The works were pinned up on the green bleacher steps like a mini-gallery.

The best pieces were awarded for different age categories.

Nikka’s work won first prize in the age 7-12 category.

Four-year-old Ana Mae of Tacloban city won in the under-7 category with an abstract piece of bright red and yellow colors.

A smiling 9-year-old Dennis drew a cartoon character amid sea waves with the words “Tindog Tacloban” (Rise, Tacloban) on the arms. He was awarded for best work in the 8-17 age group.

The plan is to exhibit the survivors’ artwork starting December 18 at SM City Cebu then auction the winning entries, and allow the public to buy the rest.

“All proceeds will go back to the Blank Canvas project for continuing art therapy session for other survivors in Northern Cebu,” said Qube Gallery manager Bea Sagun.

Adults also took part in the creative sessions.

For example, 27-year old Glicerio Pelen chose to draw images of his fond memories of his hometown in Tacloban City.

“Dinrawing ko ang Tacloban City bago pa nangyari ang bagyo dahil ipinagmamalaki ko ang aming lugar,” he said.

(I drew Tacloban City before the typhoon because I am proud of our place.)

He drew the San Juanico bridge, his barangay, and the Sto. Niño church with a big Christmas tree beside it.

“Pinili ko talaga ang simbahan dahil ang panginoon ang dahilan bakit kami nabubuhay ngayon. Tapos yung Christmas tree dahil papalapit na ang pasko at ito ang nagsisilbing pag-asa para sa amin,” he said.

(I chose the church because God is the reason we are still alive. And the Christmas tree because Christmas is near and it serves as a a symbol of hope for us.)

Written on the board were the words “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Tacloban City. We don’t lost hope.”

While Pelen was drawing his entry, his 5-year-old daughter and 2-year old son started coloring it with crayons.

He smiled as he watched them, not bothering to call their attention when they colored outside the lines.

At another table, 4-year-old Aaron Kyle Veragra of Tanauan, Leyte used three mediums – crayons, paint and clay.

At the lower part of his canvass, he drew waves and stick figures in red.

“Marami kasing namatay (Because many people died),” said Aaron, who is now an orphan.

His parents died during the typhoon. He came to Cebu with his grandparents.

At the center of the board, he drew a Christmas tree, gifts and balloons. Beside it, he molded clay into a smiling stick person.

That’s me, he said.

“Masaya na rin ako dahil papalapit na ang pasko at marami aking natanggap na regalo,” he said.

(I’m happy because Christmas is near and I received a lot of gifts).

The colorful exercises have a science behind them.

Zenz, quoting The Handbook of Art Therapy by Dalley and Case, said “engaging in the process of art provides the possibility of a more spontaneous, non-verbal means of communication, through which children can express many of the difficulties with which they are struggling.”

Sagun of Qube Gallery said they were just happy to see children and adults enjoying their own handiwork.

She was one of three contest judges with Zenz of Expose Salon and Vanessa Ammann.

“We hope to see the same smiles and hope from survivors in our art therapy sessions in north Cebu,” Sagun said.