Artists help heal ‘Yolanda’ victims
HEART for Humanity, an art psychosocial intervention program, recently conducted workshops using artistic tools for wellness in communities devastated by “Yolanda.”
Made-Network of Winners (Made-Now), an organization of artists previously recognized by Metrobank Foundation (MBF) through its Metrobank Art and Design Excellence competition, spearheaded the activity.
It developed a module specifically designed for disaster-stricken communities with the theme “Resiliency Building,” with the help of clinical psychologist Grace B. Evangelista, dance movement therapist Blesilda Reynoso, musician Joey Ayala and other cultural advocates and fellow artists.
The art psychosocial intervention program conducted its third phase on the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Eastern Visayas campus and Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) with four simultaneous workshops held in target communities: “Tindog Mural” painting, as part of PSHS’ 20th anniversary and its rebuilding efforts, “Art as Therapeutic Teaching” for teachers of EVSU and Leyte Normal University (LNU), “Redesigning Tacloban” for art and design students, and “HeART for Healing” for teens with autism, in partnership with Autism Society Philippines Tacloban chapter.
Tacloban and Made-Now artists helped paint the PSHS mural with the support of Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines.
In the “Art as Therapeutic Teaching” workshop, EVSU and LNU teachers were introduced to simple artistic methodologies, with the combined goal of teacher well-being and effective teaching for student-survivors.
The module on teacher well-being was facilitated by Evangelista, while visual art workshops were conducted by artists Buddy Ching, Thomas Daquioag, Ferdinand Doctolero and Noell El Farol. Reynoso conducted the dance therapy workshop while Ayala introduced a new module on music therapy.
Educational materials and reference books were donated by The Asia Foundation and National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
The “Redesigning Tacloban” workshop aimed to encourage future artists, architects and interior designers of Tacloban to find creative ways to rebuild their city using sustainable means.
Tacloban interior designer Heidrun Milan, a Yolanda survivor, facilitated the workshop on “Greening Homes, Healing Lives,” while sculptor-architect Jonathan Dangue taught community mapping through the “Buhay, Bahay, Pamayanan” workshop on community building.
The “HeART for Healing for Children with Autism,” an arts-based workshop for children with autism among Yolanda victims, was supervised by a clinical psychologist. It used visual stimulation in the processing of the children’s experience. It was held with the assistance of Faber Castell and Dong-A.
MBF president Aniceto M. Sobrepeña said that through the project, they sought to empower former winners to give back to the community and also introduce art as a tool for healing and wellness for the victims of Yolanda.