Maybe because it is the month of repentance and redemption, my columns for this month are about my encounters with Foundations that give help to the needy. A week ago, I had the opportunity to attend an exhibit titled BRUSHSTROKES At the Cusp of Change where its main exhibitor, Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid while exploring the heritage of our nation across crossroads together with artist friends decided to put the exhibit together to fund a Scholarship Program to support students majoring in community journalism.
Six students, each enrolled at the Bicol University, Silliman University, Visayas State University, University of Mindanao, and Mindanao State University-Marawi are pursuing undergraduate degrees major in development journalism with one masteral student at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication.
I was invited by Dr. Florangel Rosario Braid, PhD who like me is a regular at the Sunshine Place, a recreation center for seniors established by SM matriarch Mrs. Felicidad T. Sy.
Dr. Braid relates that after her husband passed on in late 2015, she together with her sister visited Sunshine Place after hearing about the place through newspapers and by word of mouth from friends. She was visibly impressed with the “come-on” of Mr. Fidel Sarmiento, a multi-awarded artist and President of Art Association of the Philippines. She signed up for an Acrylic Painting class once a week under the hands-on supervision of Mr. Sarmiento along with 8 other “painters”, some first-timer seniors like her, with a sprinkling of young adults. Dr. Braid says that it took a lot of hard work and patience on Mr. Sarmiento to teach them the rudiments of painting. In a few years, she completed 175 painting canvasses after attending classes faithfully and at the same time participating in various workshops recommended by Mr. Sarmiento. The art classes stopped during the COVID but she still tried painting, consulting with the maestro via ZOOM.
It is interesting to note that during the COVID, classes in Sunshine Place continued via ZOOM. In my case, I continued with my Creative Writing classes via ZOOM … classes were in full swing; in fact, our professor had to limit only 10 students per class as it would take us 3-4 hours interacting. Like the painting class where canvasses were submitted to Mr. Sarmiento, Creative class short stories were submitted regularly to the Professor. While the Painting class mounted exhibits, Creative Writing class came up with a book.
Aside from learning how to paint, what captivated her was the friendship that she forged with “fellow kindred spirits” And together, they decided to put up this exhibit not only for personal satisfaction but to help students, not so much academically but to pursue community development.
Dr. Braid says, it is not purely classroom work but mingling and immersing with the community around the schools where they are enrolled. It was not providing material needs to the members of the community BUT interacting with each other to come up with projects benefitting both the student & the community workers they engaged with.
It has been said that when we all lend a hand in helping in the community, we improve everyone’s quality of life.
I recall a quote from American civil rights activist Cesar Chavez which goes; “We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community… Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.” For me, this best describes the aim of the community engagement of the scholars.
Her art works on exhibit are a mix of landscapes, flora, fauna, and Filipino heritage. Director Connie Madarang in her brief remarks at the opening of the exhibit said: “Each artwork is a testament to her indomitable spirit and her relentless pursuit of enlightenment through art.” Aside from her paintings, those done by her friends Olive Villafuerte, Chona Yap, Ramon Tuazon, Mike Patolot and Cristina Velasco were also on exhibit. Included too were art works of Mr. Sarmiento.
Dr. Braid is an institution in her field. A writer, an author, newspaper columnist, co-founder of the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication, and member of the Constitutional Convention that drafted the 1987 Constitution, she wears another hat—that of being a philanthropist. Her philanthropy is anchored on the transformative power of education.
Coinciding with the art exhibit was the re-launch of her memoir TAGPO: Right Place, Right Time. The autobiography recounts the milestones of her life and the valuable lessons learned through the years. “I hope the reader will find in each work the thoughts, feelings and hopes that I believe I had more deeply expressed in art than I could have done in words,” Dr. Braid wrote.
At 93, she continues to contribute to the legacy of learning and empowerment through the Rosario Braid Scholarship Fund. She says she too climbs her own spiral of life as we both recall Mohammad Ali when he says: “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
