An Artist's Partnership with a Builder of Dreams

During the past few days, I was thinking of what best to write for this blog. So yesterday I did research on the people who were inspired by Gawad Kalinga, and the lives of these people who have also become an inspiration to others. In my research on the internet, I came across news articles, reports by the Asian Development Bank, some sites dedicated to certain groups’ undertaking with GK and a very interesting blog of a man from New Zealand whose life had been deeply touched during the 20 months he was working as a GK volunteer in the Philippines. It is the blog of Jonny that led me to know more about Joey Velasco, a painter whose art had inspired GK founder, Tony Meloto. His painting titled Hapag ng Pag-Asa ("Table of Hope", his version of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Last Supper portraying hungry street children and scavengers seated around Jesus) was replicated in a gigantic billboard that was displayed along EDSA, a major highway of Metro Manila. It immediately caught the attention of many, including some who have become desensitized by the trappings of worldly pleasures. People were reflecting on the underlying message of the image, including Tito Tony, who grew curious about the artist because the painting depicted the mission of Gawad Kalinga. Coincidentally – well not really because nothing happens by chance -- Joey was, at the same time, finding a way to connect with Tito Tony to write the foreword of his book. The two were meant to know each other, and later on work together towards achieving a common vision. Soon Joey was invited to Tito Tony’s office which became the cornerstone of a partnership that was already made in heaven even before they thought of each other.

I had a chance to meet Joey Velasco in May last year when Tito Tony took me around the northern part of Metro Manila searching for a possible site where Air France KLM could build Dutch-design houses for the poor. That day coincided with the inauguration of several apartment houses that Joey had built for families of street children. Tito Tony was his guest of honor. Even before I was introduced to his artist friend, Tito Tony had already briefed me a bit about him on our way to the place. After a simple turnover ceremony in the presence of the intended residents, I had a moment with the painter of an art piece I had no knowledge of even when he handed me a copy of his book. In fact, the painting shown in a page in black-and-white stirred little interest at first until a background of its creation was related to me. I learned that the subjects in the painting were real-life street children who Joey had personally met, and that they have been given an opportunity for a better future in life through the mission of GK eversince that providential meeting of painter and builder of dreams. The next time I gave thought about the painting was when I read Jonny’s interview with Joey. Learning about it the second time around, the impact was different. It was the story of Joey’s epiphany and transformation into becoming an artist during the bleakest phase in his life that kept me glued on the internet until the wee hours of this morning. It was when he was creating Hapag ng Pag-Asa that he began to rise from despair. His eventual connection with Tito Tony’s vision for GK gave him a renewed purpose to live through the mastery of his strokes on canvass.

As I read on, I was convinced that I wanted to share their story. I was thinking that I would have to ask Tito Tony how I could meet Joey again for a future event perhaps.

Shortly before starting to write, I visited Tito Tony’s notes on Facebook to read his latest. First on the list was an entry “The Filipino Artist as a Struggling Saint”. The first paragraph confirmed my hunch that it was about Joey. It read: “Yesterday I held the hand of a dear friend who had just lost both kidneys. They were stuck to a malignant tumor as big as a man’s fist that had to be removed. His grip was tight and his eyes were hopeful despite the possibility of a lifetime dialysis to communicate to me a firm resolve to honor a vow we made to each other last year.” Joey’s life is once again threatened by a serious illness. His commitment to help GK fulfill a dream of bringing the Philippines out of the third world by 2024 is likewise at risk. We need Joey to be strong again for him to be able to continue to touch others by his hard-work, his honesty, his paintings and his dedication to a long-term mission of emancipating the people from an impoverished state. He is surrounded by generous people who have been giving spiritual and financial support. However, he still needs a kidney and the medical attention to survive. 

Before reading Tito Tony’s appeal on Facebook, I didn’t think that I would be mentioning about Joey’s life now hanging on a thread. Just this hour, I researched about his other paintings and realized that the profound message of his art are a reflection of his personal story.


Read recent articles about this Filipino artist:
- The journey of Joey Velasco continues
- Joey Velasco’s light and shadow