At past 60 woman takes up fine arts, now helps out struggling artists

After decades slaving away in the corporate world, Virgie Garcia has returned to school to pursue her passion for art.

Virgie, "Mommy" to her fellow students, took up fine arts at the University of the Philippines at the age of 66 while working as an executive at a Filipino food company in 2013.

After finishing fine arts, Virgie retired from the corporate world and then put up an art gallery.

"Art to me is an expression ng kahit anong nasa mind mo. It's an outlet," said Virgie, who is now 70 years old.

In school, she learned more than drawing and painting -- she realized that not everybody can afford to pursue this course.

"The term 'yong starving artist o kaya struggling artist is a very real term hanggang sa ngayon. Fine Arts is one of the more expensive courses. Ang gastos niya. Next to architecture and medicine, magastos ang Fine Arts. Every week bibili ka ng materyales," she said.

She shared that before, not a single commercial gallery would accept works of newbies because they are not known in the art world.

This pushed her to set up her own gallery, where art students can display their work for free.

"Walang commercial gallery ang tumanggap sa amin noon, kasi wala kaming pangalan eh. So sabi ko magtatayo ako. ‘Pag mag-retire ako magtatayo ako ng gallery for the students," Virgie said.

True to her word, Virgie opened Start 101, which is located right beside her very own art supply store.

Aside from giving art students a leg up, Virgie's art store sells budget-friendly materials that sometimes even includes tips from her.

She even loans struggling students materials that they cannot afford.

"Pagpatuloy lang nila ang ginagawa nila. Because there is a place that they can display, help them financially," she said. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News