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Skills & Talents

Our

and

God-given Talents

Painting

I started to draw when I was still very young. I usually observe my Daddy whenever he prepares our ABCs on cut-out boards. He draws simple illustrations representing each letter of the alphabet. I follow him. I further developed my skills in drawing during our elementary art sessions and in numerous poster making contests where I earned a number of awards. During the height of the 1987 snap election, Daddy was campaigning for Cory Aquino who was running for president against Marcos. I was in sixth grade then. Finding ways to support Daddy in the campaign, I drew Cory's face and made it as a template for the T-shirt printing that eventually used by the followers.

I continued using my skills in drawing in High School and in College. I began to appreciate the use of Oil Pastel for my paintings mostly for posters used in the campus. At times I also illustrate for the school paper. Later on, I have learned to use other media like watercolour, acrylic, charcoal, and coloured pencils. But still, oil pastel was my favourite. My works usually end up as gifts for friends and loved ones. Occasionally, they grace the altars of the chapels in the University.

Finding time for painting has been very rare when I started working. However, when I can't paint, I make sure that I read books and articles about painting techniques. It may not be necessary but a formal training about painting will certainly improve my innate art skills.

Photography

At times, when I paint landscapes, sceneries just fade away so fast. I just finish my painting from memory and this upsets me. I got interested in photography. It is faster and I can snap as much views as I could which I paint later. It has been very convenient.

I bought my first SLR camera from Thailand and since then, started amateur photography using conventional 35mm film. I bought a handy point-and-shoot camera for unexpected events, and also as back-up for my SLR. My favourite is close up portraiture photography. But I also take landscape, historical documentation, seasons, indigenous people, mass movements, and photo journalism. I really love experimenting with my camera's aperture and shutter. Different blending sometimes produces remarkable prints and it is always a source of great joy. I hope that one day I could put my art works on exhibit.

Photography has been very useful also in my research work. However, scanning photos from prints proved to be a tedious job. Thanks heavens, digital technology has arrived. I started using Sony Mavica in 1999. And ever since I have combined conventional and digital photography in both art and work particularly in project documentation and in web development.

Literature

I like literature and I still have to develop this talent. I particularly would like to concentrate on Surigaonon and Mainitnon literature. I have started writing some pieces and it is published at www.mainit.org/literatura and http://pidjanga.blogspot.com.

Martial Arts and Sports

I started Aikido training in 1994 at Cagayan de Oro City. It is the best exercise and discipline I had undertaken so far and it is a defensive form of martial arts.

I began an interest in Wushu when I was in Bangkok. The competitive nature of the sports and the grace of the performance attract me so much.

A number of sports are very dear to me. These include basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, and table tennis. I have represented a class or a college on one of these sports. I am also attracted to other sports like lawn tennis and chess.

Music

I am not a master player but I can play some notes and songs using a guitar, a recorder, harmonica, and an electric organ.

Language

Aside from English and Tagalog, which I learned comprehensively in the community and in school, I speak Cebuano (Central Philippines), Surigaonon (North-Southern Philippines), and Binukid (Central-Southern Philippines) fluently. Because of my travels and exposures, I came to speak basic Thai (Thailand), Ilonggo (West-Central Philippines), Chavacano (South Philippines), and Bicolano (East-Northern Philippines). I had begun informal studies about French and Arabic.

Prayer

My religious formation has taught me how to run retreats and recollections. My catechetical experience also taught me to lead prayer sessions, charismatic gatherings, and community worships.