Feature: An artist in the making: Chevin Villaflor and his “Muses”

A SIGN. The birthmark covering almost a quarter of Chevin Villaflor’s face could be a sign that he will become a visual artist.

An artist in the making: Chevin Villaflor and his “Muses” 

J. Colima Bajado

With the flourishing of visual arts in the region today, equally budding is an artist- 18 year old Chevin Villaflor.

Starting from pencil sketches and crayon drawings in gradeschool, he once garnered the first place for editorial cartooning in a Regional Schools Press Conference in high school.  Chevin, now a Business Administration student in Samar College, is striving to use other medium of painting.

“Most people (say) that I have the gift of art. I guess that's the major (motivation)”, he said. Surely, his vivid imagination would invigorate his membership to the growing pool of artists in the region.

Chevin’s Muses: Kataw and Kakanog

When asked why the subjects of a collection of his artwork, tagged by him as “My Muses”, were mostly women, he answered, “My themes usually are women…(because) I view them more sublime than men.”

            Chevin added that “…most (of my) themes are (inspired by) folklore, mythology (and) history…(because I) am a big fan of culture and tradition and I guess, that shows in my art. Sometimes, I (do) abstract concepts like my watercolor piece entitled "Pagbaribad han Kalag". I am not an abstract artist though; I always strive to provide readily comprehensible images. Ornate but understated.”

            As a student of art at the same time a proud Waraynon, Chevin endeavors to capture the Waray culture which is prevalent in his works “Kataw” and “Kakanog”, which furtherly belongs to the “My Muses” collection.

            Kataw, the half fish-half human image, though a “fictional” element of our culture, was believed to be existent in our folk tradition as attested by the Jesuit scholar Francisco Ignacio Alzina in his monumental work, Historia de las Islas e indios de Bisayas, published in 1668.

            While the Kakanog, a moth-butterfly, is a prehispanic Waraynon simile used to describe a woman who wears an outfit of varied colors which becomes her with elegance. However, Kakanog is believed to be a bearer of evil omens.

“Artist Gene" ?

Chevin shared that he has been asked not a few times whether he is related to the celebrated Waray visual artist, Leo Villaflor. “I've heard his name numerous times, but I am not, in any way related to him,” the young boy explains.

All “art lover” in the region identify the late Leovigildo “Leo” Villaflor as the “Grand Daddy” of Visual Arts in Eastern Visayas. When he died February this year, Dulz Cuna, herself an artist, remarked that “(losing) him… is a poignant thing (for the artists in the region)” ,  considering his innovative and pioneering contribution in the scene of visual arts, the  “tuba painting”.

            While Maestro Leo Villaflor popularized the tuba painting, Chevin integrates Waray taste in his artworks, as much as possible.  Though not related by consanguinity, Chevin is “flattered” to know that he bears the same family name of a “true visual artist”. Truly, Chevin's parents Gemma and Arnold are not only flattered but also proud to see the first step of their son towards a greater part of artistry.

Future of Visual Arts in EV

Recently concluded Arangay Exhibit 2 which showcased different works of our visual artists from all over the region is a living testament of the growth of visual arts in Eastern Visayas. Works of notable artists like Dante Enage, Ed Rompal, Noel Sagayap, Aris Ventures, Jaime Sagayap and Dulz Cuna to name a few, were exhibited at the UPVTC Humanities Lab and Hall, inside the UP Tacloban campus. Another exhibit, tentatively named as “Waray Tupong” , is set this November.

            Chevin, an artist in the making, true as it may seem, needs to “spill more paints” in order to assume a “name” in visual arts. But with a mix of colored imaginations and strokes of determination and discipline, no doubt, he will become part of our pool of artists, sooner or later. ###

Published in Gahum Weekly Vol.2, # 23.

Kataw, half fish- half human, is believed to be friendly with fishermen, which occasionally leads to a forbidden love; Medium: Water Color and ink.

Kakanog, a moth-butterfly, despite its inviting colors, is believed to be bearer of evil omens; Medium: Oil and pen.

Title: Pagbaribad han Kalag; Medium: Watercolor and ink.