LIVING THE ART - WALK OF HOPE IN BAYAWAN CITY

The artist, Marlon Ponsoy aka Hive account@flabbergast-art as he sets up an indigenous music performance in the town market square

Something wonderful is happening in Bayawan City, Negros Occidental.

The Walk of Hope (WOH), is a living art project conceived by the artist Marlon Ponsoy aka Hive account@flabbergast-art promoting indigenous music, art and culture. With the support of Hive account@steemph, the project involves a trek to various cities and municipalities in coordination with the local governments.

Daytime performance at the town market square

WOH conducts FREE art workshops tailored to the traditional art and culture of each province to teach the out-of-school youth and other interested parties how to make and use indigenous musical instruments and crafts with the goal of imparting HOPE and generating livelihood opportunities through the arts.

Magical evening interactive lecture/performance at the Bayawan amphitheatre. Right photo: Tatay Dagsa on the faglung)

It also organizes and joins art exhibits, indigenous music concerts and events promoting and using these products and other allied activities such as bamboo-planting and development of new products from locally available materials.

Interestingly, what was supposed to be the second stop in the 2-year Visayan leg of the Walk of Hope in Bayawan City seems to have gained a life of its own into something that will develop and grow long after the WOH moves on to its next destination.

The original plan of a few days to a week of a concert and couple of teaching seminars in Bayawan has expanded into two batches of 3 day basic training seminars involving about 60 kids with advanced training modules to be set up as well. Aside from making traditional instruments and crafts, they are also innovating new products and modern designs using bamboo as the main medium.

Workshop at the amphitheatre

Together with fellow artist Tatay Dagsa, they are now also setting up the Dagsa Artspace and Coffee Shop, of course made with indigenous materials, that will serve as a venue to meet and train as well as display the products and generate livelihood opportunities.

Making a traditional bamboo bench with bamboo nails! (photo on the right)

Among other reasons, Bayawan City was chosen because it is near sources for bamboo, a material used for countless traditional products and crafts.

A part of the project involves a bamboo planting initiative which had to be postponed for a few days to allow greater participation due to the considerable interest and response.

Seedlings for the bamboo planting project

Probably the most touching and fulfilling of all the WOH activities are the FREE art seminar workshops for the underprivileged kids and the out-of-school youths.

Buying materials for the art workshop/seminar. All materials are provided.

It is hard to think of art on an empty stomach! No hungry artists here!

An unforgettable event for all! Experiencing the joys of discovering and sharing art for the love of it!

Perhaps the most intriguing thing about this is that everything is being done from the ground up on the initiative of Marlon aka Hive account@flabbergast-art himself, from the organization and coordination, design, creation, lectures , seminars and performances in collaboration with Tatay Dagsa and the locals they have trained and the support of Hive account@steemph.

Products on display at an event. Note bamboo bikes in the foreground

Traditional living art in the modern day!

It is nothing short of amazing how Marlon aka Hive account@flabbergast-art has breathed such life into a simple concept, just practically living off the land on a modest budget pursuing his advocacy. And to think that this is only the second leg in a 2-year tour!

ABOUT THE ARTIST

"The Philippines' heritage city, Vigan has raised a new remarkable artist in the person of Marlon Ponsoy. His interest in ARTS was developed at a very young age. Like other gifted children lads, he would rather grab a pen and paper and do sketches of what he observed around him unlike other kids of his age. Marlon at 10, started working as a newspaper vendor in buses touring their province. He was also a shoe shine boy on the side. Early exposure to hardship did not stop him to pursue his dream of BEING AN ARTIST."
(from a Philippines Graphic Magazine article about Marlon aka @ flabbergast-art)

Ballpen on board portrait of Ilocos' Oldest Tobacco Maker by Marlon

(except and portrait photo from the article "Ilocos' Oldest Tobacco Maker" by Marlon Ponsoy aka Hive account@flabbergast-art)

In the artist's own words:
It was June in 2012, when I started my sojourn. I started travelling in full battle gear - art, that is . I brought with me my artwork and all of my creations from what I've witnessed while growing up in my Ilocos province. I only have one goal - to share my talent and to have an exchange with other creatives from the different regions of my country. Later I've realized this is primarily the first step to knowing my self and my Filipino identity.

Excerpt from the article "A Walk of Hope (Lakad ng Pag-asa )" by Hive account@flabbergast-art

ABOUT Hive account@steemph & THE WALK OF HOPE
Hive account@steemph is a non-profit group of like-minded Filipino Steemians. Hive account@steemph's mission is to promote the platform through charity, community and art and culture initiatives such as the Walk Of Hope.

Modest donations in Steem or SBD to Hive account@walkofhope by the sympathetic and kind-hearted for the purchase of art materials and food for the workshop/seminars are most welcome and would be highly appreciated. Even just 1 SBD
will go along way in assisting our advocacy!

For updates and more information follow and vote for Hive account@walkofhope!

(All photos and images courtesy of Hive account@flabbergast-art)