After a time, tired by the constant struggles that the country is facing at a pandemic, I found solace in my safe space – art. Looking at the edge of the table, I found my pointed pen and used tea bags given by a special friend. 

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The Philippines has had an unending problem with waste management and pollution. It remains one of the most daunting issues facing the country. It impairs public health, pollutes the environment, and threatens to drown the country in toxicity. Choosing to create art using waste materials would be a wise move to at least help the environment. Currently, there is no end in sight to this trend, but every small thing counts. That is what matters. 

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On top of the existing issues in the country, comes the threat of Covid-19. Thousands of cases have been recorded and it has continually impacted the economy and the daily lives of the citizen. We can no longer identify which is ‘normal’ from not. The Philippines has a robust tradition of human rights activism. But the militarized response of the administration in dealing with human rights advocates has resulted in deep mistrust between the government and society. Thus, the piece represents the Filipinos’ undying love for the country despite the waves of fear and paranoia crashing. The solidarity remains between the chosen few and the masses which produce them; each has a duty to the other.

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​As I finished the piece of art, I am reminded of the blazing hope we have for the country. We are at a downhill, but we continue to fight each day. As such, I made burnt holes in the piece. It is like our hope for the nation – it is our source of strength… but it also blinds us from the truth. Filipinos must peek into the hole and see the whole picture. Until then, we will stay sailing in the deepest part of the ocean.