This column is about our son, Eldrick Yuji Raphael, who graduated last Saturday, August 27, with latin honors (magna cum laude) and also the recipient of Program Award in Art Management (Bachelor of Fines Arts) as top of his batch. He is not only parents’ pride but also can become one day the pride of Philippine modern pride.
Because of the pandemic Yuji was able to complete his thesis in 2021 using an online platform. His Katúlad/Kahádha (@ktldkhda on Instagram) is an online exhibition of artworks from the collections of the Ateneo Art Gallery (AAG) in Quezon City and Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah. It highlights the connections in the modern art of the Philippines and the Arab World and explores similarities in style, subject matter and media in the paintings and collages of eight artists, revealing the parallels in their histories and artistic influences.
‘Katulad’ is Filipino for ‘similar’ while ‘kahadha’ is the transcribed Arabic word for ‘such’ or ‘like this.’ Both words, which share an initial ‘ka’ syllable, convey a sense of similarity. In an interview with Illustrado Magazine on June 10, 2021, Yuji explained why he choose the theme:
“Over the years, I’ve put together artworks from different times and places as a hobby based on parallels in shape, style, and concept. When I moved back to Dubai in late 2020, I learned more about the art of the Arab world as an Art Management major. As I did, my instinct for parallels kicked in and I was mentally matching the works I saw in local art spaces to ones I had seen back in the Philippines.
As a Middle East diaspora kid, I was always trying to find pieces of the Philippines in the Arab world. For example, both cultures relate through language. ‘Salamat’ is etymologically related to the Arabic ‘salaam’ or peace.
In Dubai, I kept looking for the Philippines; when I moved back for college in 2017, I kept looking for Dubai. This project is my way of showing that these two cultures I experience as a Third Culture Kid (TCK) can exist side by side.”
Recent Golden Visa recipient under the category Persons with Specialized Talents and well-known Filipino educator Dr. Rex Venard Bacarra commented on Yuji’s thesis: “Congratulations! Bridging cultures and their artistic expressions, with people learning from this endeavor of yours, is truly enriching, if not special, as you are. Congratulations to the Ateneo Fine Arts Department for allowing the creative and innovative outputs of your students to come to the fore.”
Yuji is now giving back to his alma mater where he now works as Museum Education Officer at the AAG. The gallery is a university museum located inside the Areté building of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. It is widely recognized today as the first museum of Philippine modern art.
Let me quote an excerpt of what the Fine Arts Department said to the graduates who received awards: “With these awards, may you all care for one another and choose the side of truth and justice. May you all be patient on your journey as it will be a long and fruitful one. May you use your gifted talents and honed skills to give back and receive in blessing and love. You’ve made it this far in flying colors. Now it’s onward to a new ‘One Big Fight’ for tomorrow and what’s to come and it begins with you.”
Soar high son like an eagle.
Note: Art ‘Popoy’ Los Banos is currently in the Philippines on holiday. He and his wife, Rachel Salinel, attended their son’s graduation on August 27 at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. Check their son’s online thesis from this link – https://www.instagram.com/