Boy Riding a Carabao

A Caucasian boy named Isaiah, from Houston TX, went to the Philippines to spend a vacation with his family. He was visiting the Philippines and his relatives there for the first time. He had a wonderful time, playing with his cousins and meeting new friends.  He really had a lot of fun back there.

This painting shows Isaiah riding a carabao.  It is an acrylic painting on an 18" X 24" canvas.  It was completed on December 21, 2014.

For those who have not seen or heard what a carabao is, a carabao is a swamp type domestic water buffalo found in the Philippines. It is considered the national animal of the Philippines.  Carabaos are used for farming and for pulling carts in rural villages in the Philippines. They are also a good source of meat, milk, and hide. Carabao hide was once used extensively to create a variety of products, which include the armor of pre-colonial Filipino warriors.   Also, according to Wikipedia, "the carabao is considered a symbol of Guam. In the early 1960s, carabao races were a popular sport in the island, especially during fiestas. Today, carabaos are a part of the popular culture. They are often brought to carnivals or other festivities, and are used as a popular ride for children."

Below is a series of photos I took while I was working on this painting.

No. 1

No. 2

No. 3

No. 4

Bayanihan

I just finished another painting today.  It's called "Bayanihan."

"Bayanihan is a Filipino term taken from the word "bayan", referring to a nation, country, town, or community. The whole term "bayanihan" refers to a spirit of communal unity or effort to achieve a particular objective. 

The origin of the term "bayanihan" can be traced from a common tradition in Philippine towns where community members volunteer to help a family move to a new place by volunteering to transport the house to a specific location. The process involves literally carrying the house to its new location. This is done by putting bamboo poles forming a strong frame to lift the stilts from the ground and carrying the whole house with the men positioned at the ends of each pole. The tradition also features a small fiesta hosted by the family to express gratitude to the volunteers." - From Wikipedia.

Unfinished Painting

The painting is a 18" X 24" acrylic on canvas.  I started this painting last month (November 2014).  

The picture on the right shows how it looked like on day 1.  I worked on this painting little by little, sometimes in the evening and sometimes very early in the morning (just a few minutes before taking a bath and leaving to work in the office).

I finally completed this painting this morning, December 6.  It's Saturday, but I got up early to work on it.  I really wanted to finish this painting today, so I can start a new one.

Bayanihan