Over 300 Artists volunteer to paint Manila North Cemetery wall for Undas
Those visiting their departed loved ones at the Manila North
Cemetery this coming Undas are in for a colorful surprise. As they pass
by the cemetery’s wall along A. Bonifacio Ave., they’ll find the wall decorated
with a mural of flowers from all over the Philippines.
Over 300 artists from different provinces such as Ilocos Sur,
Tarlac, Bulacan and Rizal, volunteered to come together and paint this mural.
Acclaimed artist Ferdie Montemayor spearheaded in organizing the volunteers,
together with other artists from the Pinto Art Museum.
Dubbed “Flores Para Los Muertos (Flowers For The
Departed),” the project is a collaboration between the Pinto Art Museum, Office
of Mayor Isko Moreno, Office of Congressman Yul Servo Nieto, and Davies Paints
Philippines, Inc.
“The idea is a bouquet,” Dela Cruz says. “The essence is unity; to
produce an arrangement of native Filipino flowers as a non-political offering
to Manila and to the departed who rest in the cemetery.”
"We offer flowers to the dead all the time as a way of paying
homage to our loved ones,” Dr. Joven Cuanang, the founder of Pinto Art Museum
says. “As we are nearing All Saints Day, this is also a celebration to our
cherished tradition.”
The event was like a gathering of friends and family on a Sunday,
doing what they love together. Another award-winning artist, Jim Orencio, says
when Dr. Cuanang told them about the project, they happily volunteered. With
him were his children who are also artists, Shannah and Rex, who were assigned
their own parts of the mural.
The over 300-strong volunteers managed to paint the whole mural in
just 10 hours.
Manila 3rd District Representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto,
was present at the event. “Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa kanila, (I’m
very grateful to them)” he says about the artists. The
actor-turned-congressman, shares how he hopes the mural will make art more
accessible and contribute to the transformation of Manila.
“Ang sining hindi lamang para sa mayaman, kundi para sa lahat, (Art
is not just for the rich. It is for everyone.)” Nieto says.
In 2018, the Manila North Cemetery saw 1.5 million visitors on
Undas. This year, visitors to the country’s oldest and largest cemetery will
find a 500-meter mural along its eastern wall. “This is really something
special for us because of the cemetery’s historic roots and because the event
brought together over 300 volunteers who were able to finish this vibrant
monument in 10 hours,” Davies Paints Marketing Communications Manager Jo Ann
Viriña says.
This isn’t the first time Davies Paints has contributed to
beautifying a locale.
In 2016, they collaborated with the Tourism Department in the
Cordillera Autonomous Region and with Tam-awan artists who painted 200 houses
for the colorful Stonehill, Botiwtiw, and Sadjap (STOBOSA) Hillside Homes
Artwork in La Trinidad, Benguet.
They have contributed to beautifying many parts of the country
since. Their most recent prior to this was earlier in 2019, when they
collaborated with Mandaluyong City government and with artist group Ang
Gerilya to paint pillars along Shaw Boulevard with murals depicting the
city’s folklore.
Davies Paints hopes it can continue contributing to the
beautification of more localities. “We want to transform communities through
colors,” Viriña says.
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