1404 FIN Table of Hope painting
austraLasia 1404
A Table of Hope - for when the monsters are real
MANILA: 24th January 2006 -- A reader wrote that he
has a 'good news' story he would like to share for the Feast of St.
Francis de Sales, even though it possibly has more to do with the Feast
of St. John Bosco, but whatever.....
Walk along EDSA, Manila's widest, busiest boulevard
these days, past the high walls of the Major Seminary, and you cannot
help but see a huge mural of the Last Supper, but a strikingly
different one. It has all the renewed 'Sistine' vibrancy about it,
though its subject and its figures are different: Christ at the
table, set in the slums and surrounded by children. Read artist
Joey Velasco's description and motives below, then go to Bosconet at
www.bosconet.aust.com and take a look at the picture which will be
available for download at the bottom right on the homepage.
"Hapag ng pag-asa (The Table of Hope) is my
tribute to the countless street children who experience nightmares in
daytime when the monsters are real: a socio-cultural depiction of
Christ breaking and sharing bread in a slum area, this work is
also dedicated to the great Salesian work which is very close to my
heart. After a major kidney operation on January 31st 2005, the urge to
paint seized me. Through openness and careful listening to the
promptings of the Spirit, I was swiftly ushered into the religious art
genre. Having worked for some years in the Youth Centre when I
was a student at Don Bosco, I have never forgotten the faces of the
poverty and uncertainty that has enraged young people in our
country. Back then, the Salesians taught us that Jesus did not
just come to save souls, but to bring us all of life's blessings.
In this painting I wanted to commemorate that idea of being
life-giving. The Table of Hope, hope amidst darkness. On a
dilapidated table made of scrap-wood crates, the Kingdom of God was
brought forth because Christ prioritised these little ones. An
art in which the viewer can see him or herself, this painting, I
consider, is also a legacy to my own children that they may be reminded
of the values of charity and compassion, that fullness of life is
possible also on earth through sharing and by being life-giving".
The Hapag was unveiled by Bishops Bacani and
Tobias last December 9. It has also come to the attention of the
Archbishop of Manila, Gaudencia Rosales, an ardent supporter of efforts
to assist poverty-stricken children. Joey is a fair dinkum Bosconian, who attended DB
Mandaluyong since he was in short pants. Ill-health made his
desire to join and stay with the Salesians a desire he could not
fulfil. But he is now married with four children and runs a
religious articles store in Glorietta, the huge Makati Commercial
Centre.
VOCABULARY
fair dinkum: an Australianism. It
means real, true-blue
true-blue: Sorry - another Australianism. Means
fair dinkum!!
