How art saved local artists from pandemic

As the Covid-19 pandemic forced Iloilo City to impose lockdowns, business establishments were also forced to close and major streets in the metro turned into ghost towns.

The only structures that remained vibrant amid the lockdowns were bridges, flyovers, and murals that kept the spirits of the Ilonggos up. These artworks are now part of the city’s vibrant street art scene.

But for the visual artists behind them, their artworks are more than just art forms — their works saved and kept them alive as they struggled with the pandemic.

Visual artist Onofre Ballescas, 44, is one of the pioneer members of the Baysulangpu Artists Society.

Baysulangpu Artists Society is a group of passionate Ilonggo artists who were behind some of the colorful murals in the Diversion Road and the paintings of flyovers and bridges in Iloilo City.

Ballescas has been part of the group since 2000. The group went inactive for some time until they decided to reunite last year in the middle of the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, Ballescas focused on his tailor shop business where they make jerseys and P.E. uniforms.

But the shop was not spared by the effects of the pandemic. As classes shifted to online, the tailoring shop of Ballescas, which mostly accommodated orders from students and schools, suffered massive losses.

“Kabudlay gid mag-negosyo kay teh sirado ang mga eskwelahan. Ang amon mga orders halin sa mga estudyante kag eskwelahan para sa ila P.E. uniforms kag ang mga basketball leagues wala naman,” he lamented in an interview on Tuesday.

Business became difficult for Ballescas due to the pandemic. That’s why when he saw an opportunity to work with his group, the Baysulangpu Artists Society, he immediately grabbed it to earn extra income for his family.

“Since affected man ang akon negosyo, ginkuha ko na lang man ang project kaupod ang iban pa nga miyembro sang grupo para man sa extra income,” he said.

Ballescas and his group was behind the transformation of the once drab bridges and flyovers in the metro into colorful structures.

According to Ballescas, he personally designed the lay-out of some of the paintings on flyovers and bridges, particularly along Diversion Road in Mandurriao district and General Luna Street in City Proper.

“Ako ang nagalay-out sang mga designs pinaagi sa digital. Dayon may mga artists man nga gabulig kag naga-labor,” he said.

Another visual artist, Edwin De Los Reyes, 44, who just recently became a member of the Baysulangpu Artists Society had a similar story with Ballescas.

Just like Ballescas, De Los Reyes was also economically crippled by the pandemic.

De Los Reyes used to own a furniture and arts and craft shop in Guimaras.

However, the series of lockdowns in the province also made it difficult for De Los Reyes to sustain his business.

“After ko ubra sa Boracay for three years, dira ko nag-focus sa furniture shop ko sa Guimaras. Ugaling nag-lockdown naapektuhan man amon negosyo,” he said.

De Los Reyes decided to close the shop.

Unable to find any other means of living, he decided to turn to arts and became a member of the Baysulangpu Artists Society with the help of his friends.

De Los Reyes, including his 19-year-old daughter, Giah, who also became a member of the group, were contracted to paint murals at the flyovers and bridges in the metro.

The father and daughter duo are working on the murals along the posts of flyover at General Luna St. in City Proper. The murals feature the picturesque Molo Plaza, Calle Real and other tourist spots and landmarks in the metro.

According to De Los Reyes, if not for their art projects, their family would have suffered to meet their daily needs amid the pandemic.

“Dako gid ang bulig sa amon. Amo gid ni subong ang amon nga source of income kag syempre gasideline lang kami sang bata ko. Ako ga-freelance kag ang bata ko may mga clients man sang iya artworks,” he added.

De Los Reyes said members of their group alongside other Ilonggo artists are now under the Beautification Program of the City Mayor’s Office.

De Los Reyes and members of the Baysulangpu Artists Society are just among the many Ilonggo artists who were severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said that they initiated projects together with the private sector to help Ilonggos, particularly visual artists who lost their jobs and businesses to the pandemic.

“Covid-19 pandemic has placed our economy into a near-standstill, and amid the pandemonium and devastation caused by this crisis, I have seen how my people were affected and lost their jobs including some of the visual artists. The Baysulangpu Artists Society is one of the many Ilonggos who have lost their jobs because of this pandemic,” he said in his previous statement.

The mayor has partnered with Boysen Philippines to help provide jobs to Ilonggo artists and help in promoting street art in the metro.

“To help them recover, together with Boysen Philippines we initiated some projects that can alleviate their burden in these times of distress, and at the same time, they can also help us transform blank walls and posts into beautiful murals. I am excited to see the outcome of their masterpiece as they precisely painted my dreams of making Iloilo City adorned with colorful and beautiful murals,” he said.

Before the pandemic, Treñas has partnered with local artists to ramp up the local art scene in Iloilo City by transforming vacant walls into mural paintings.

Murals depicting the city’s rich history can be seen at the Muelley Loney in City Proper and other parts of the metro. The plain-colored bridge stretching the Iloilo River in Mandurriao district also known as Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue bridge and the Drilon bridge in Muelle Loney have also both undergone colorful transformations.

Treñas said it is his personal dream to make Iloilo City the “Art Capital of the Philippines” through the installation and promotion of public art.

The art projects continued amid the pandemic as the mayor said he wants to ease the anxiety and stress of the Ilonggos due to the pandemic through art works and street art.

Last June, the 316-meter flyover at General Luna St. in City Proper transformed into a majestic artwork after it was painted with rainbow colors in celebration of the Pride Month.

Recently, another bridge in Brgy. Calubihan Jaro became a colorful canvass for the Baysulangpu Artists Society.

Ballescas and De Los Reyes said the Baysulangpu Artists Society will also be working on more projects in the future involving the transformation of bridges in Mandurriao district and La Paz district.

When asked about their advice on their fellow artists suffering from the challenges of the pandemic, the two shared the same answer, the familiar phrase of, “Padayon lang”.

The two said that artists should continue pursuing their passion and never give up during difficult times, art might also be their saving grace.

“Maskin mabudlay subong ang financial income sa aton nga talent sa subong nga tiempo, sige lang, continue niyo lang ang art, padayon lang,” Ballescas said. (ERS)