Artists say aye to 'Art for a Vision'

Gus Albor, Virgilio Aviado, Cesar Caballero, Valeria Cavestany, Igan D'Bayan, Ramon Diaz, Arturo Luz, Ramon Orlina, Impy Pilapil, Cid Reyes, Juvenal Sanso, and Jaime Zobel are all world-class artists. Apart from that, they're all very good friends of artist and Philippine Presidential Medal of Merit Awardee Betsy Westendorp.

 

This February, they banded together to contribute to a selection of paintings and sculptures to be sold in a fundraising project that will benefit visually impaired indigents.

 

"Art for a Vision" opens on February 10 at the Crucible Gallery, which is co-owned by another of Westendorp's friends, Sari Ortega. The project will benefit the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines (OFPHIL), a non-profit organization dedicated to the prevention of blindness among the poor in the country.

 

In 2010, a similar event was held to fund the construction of the IFSU-OFPHIL Eye Center, which is now Philhealth-accredited and equipped with the Yag Laser for a more efficient treatment of cataract and glaucoma. To date, it has served almost 2,000 patients from Ifugao Province and other neighboring municipalities.

 

Westendorp is hopeful that "Art for a Vision" will also be successful. “I am very honored to be part of this project once again," said Westendorp, who suffers from age-related macular degeneration.

 

The U.S. National Eye Institute defines this as a disease which gradually destroys sharp, central vision. While it causes no pain, the disease affects the macula, which is used to see fine detail. Without good central vision, tasks like reading and driving become difficult, if not impossible.

 

OFPHIL founder and president Dr. Felipe Tolentino said they wish to acquire state-of-the-art equipment such as the Argon Laser, build comfortable waiting areas for patients, construct secure staff quarters for their medical team, and acquire a generator in case of power failure.

 

Tolentino shared that with the population nearing 100 million, the government alone cannot help all these people. "I'm very proud that you are joining me in this effort. This effort is really something that all of us should be doing. And to those who have donated, you are my hero. When God has given you some, you have to share it with your people," he said.

 

Visually-impaired  

Worldwide, a person goes blind every 5 seconds. A child goes blind every minute. Those 5 years old and below are most at risk. An estimated 1.4 million children are blind worldwide. Millions are visually impaired. In developing countries like the Philippines, 60% of children will die within one year of becoming blind. The remainder will, on average, spend 40 years without sight.  90% of blind children receive no schooling. 75% of blindness is avoidable.  Causes of avoidable blindness are measles, ophthalmia neonatorum, cataract, glaucoma, and retinopathy of prematurity. Uncorrected refractive errors are the most important cause of vision impairment in school-age children. These errors are easily diagnosed and can be inexpensively corrected with spectacles. Vision problems affect 1 in 20 preschoolers and 1 in 4 school-age children. Source: Cataract Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., Bacolod City

Some 3.4 million Filipinos are visually-impaired and 62% of the cases are due to cataracts, with almost 500,000 blind in both eyes, according to the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines. About 90% of people who suffer from blindness belong to poor communities.

 

“It is important to note that 75% of cases of blindness can be avoided through prevention and treatment. No person should be needlessly blind and we hope to reach as many people as possible who have no means for proper eye care,” said Tolentino.

 

Based on the artists' stories, it seems that no one can say no to Westendorp, who at her age is as lovely as her famous flower paintings. Apart from her charm, the fact that this project is for a good cause makes it pretty much impossible to resist.

 

Glass sculptor Ramon Orlina said that the project is perfect for his medium. 

 

"You know how important glass is. In the morning, when you wake up you look at the mirror, you wear your glasses. Everything. Glass. Why is it very important for science? If we don't have the glass, we don't have the lens. Then we wouldn't know that the world revolves around the sun because we have no telescope. We will not know about AIDS or anything without the microscope. It's all lenses, you know," said Orlina.

 

"We are poor. And those who can afford to share, that is what I'm doing," he said.

 

Albor agreed. "If it's for a good cause, I do it," he said, sharing that this project involves a group of friends. "It's like a family."

 

Cavestany also said that she agrees to anything that is for a good cause, and she believes every little thing counts.

 

"Since the world at the very basic levels of subatomic particles is interconnected, everything helps a little bit. Even a thought - if you are always a positive thinker," she said.

 

For his part, Diaz said that when donating for a cause, one should select the good works, so that the chances of selling are higher, and it can help.

 

"This artwork that I donated here was supposed to be for my next exhibit, but i'll just work a little more and donate this one that's prepared already," he said, adding that his piece, a Tang horse, will bring good luck to the buyer.

 

Aviado said that whenever his friends have projects geared toward helping those in need, he's there. "I'm always willing to give an artwork," he said, adding that he was moved when he came across a saying that goes "if you're very attached to something, give it away." For this project, Crucible Gallery selected one of his paintings, which happens to feature an ambulant vendor selling eyeglasses.  

 

The youngest participating artist, painter and writer D'Bayan, said his contribution "Apocalypse Bunny" doesn't depart from his usual style of horror, even if the project is for something bright and optimistic. "I'm striving for irony," he said, explaining that he painted a new piece for the show. D'Bayan met Westendorp when he interviewed her, and he recalled that she has been very supportive of his shows. Westendorp even gave him the formula for the Filipino sunset, which she learned from Fernando Amorsolo, who was her teacher. "So she asked me, and I said, I'll do it. Basta si Betsy," he said.

 

While it is clear that everyone is grateful to Westendorp, she insisted that it is she who must thank her fellow artists. "I am the one who should applaud all these wonderful donors and artists who have exhibited their works. We have a treasure, that is our eyesight. But many people cannot take care of it, because they cannot afford it. So we have to be generous, and they have been generous," she said.  — KG, GMA News For inquiries, call 6361389 or email ofphil.eyecenter@yahoo.com Photos courtesy of OFPHIL