“THE CANVAS OF THE SOCIETY”

A canvas depicts a story, a story that we never knew unless we try

to feel and analyze it. When we watch it was just a simple painting, a
portrait but behind it, was a much deeper meaning. Moreover, the video
presents a brilliant painter named Joey Vellasco who painted a new
type of the last supper but instead of the apostles he chose to
illustrate children. “Ang kambas ng Lipunan” or in English, the
Canvas of the Society shows how the life of the children who live in
poverty. Despite being poor they are still full of hope. Subsequently,
we never knew that millions of children live in the colorless world,
fighting with reality, and have no choice but to be young adults. And
this is what the artist wants us to realize, the world never just
revolves around us, but there are tons of people who are suffering
from much bigger problems than us.
As I watched the video, at first, I thought it was a biography
about the painter’s life, however, it is not, but instead, it is a
video art and a documentary about the children who live in scarcity.
While this video enlightens me about the different stories that kids
experience due to poverty. In addition, I never thought they go
through such dangerous things just to survive. It touched my heart and
at the same time, it was broken, for these children were full of hope,
love, and joy yet they were too young to feel those hardships. Like
the kid named Michael in the clip, he was a dumpster jumper along with
his peers. Somehow they dig, collect, and sell garbage, and climb
garbage trucks that were two times higher than their heights.
Meanwhile, Joey said that there are already many children who died
because of that work which is being a “jumper” in the dumpster truck.
It was kinda tough and tragic, and they deserve much better than that.
Moreover, these children teach me to be strong and resilient even
though I went through rugged paths in life. In spite of my tragic and
sad experience in life, I must go on and must fight for my future.
Further, once I accomplished my dreams, their dream will be the next
to succeed. Then, I must make the world a better place for them by
working hard and one day helping them to rise. For as a future
teacher, it is my job to give the students a better education despite
what family background students have in order for them to have a
bright future and give a farewell to their hard life.
To sum it all up, the video “Kambas ng Lipunan”, showed how
children suffer due to poverty. And every one of them has different
types of stories to tell. However, despite being raised in a poor
society they are still full of hope. We may just see them as ordinary
kids laying around but we never know that behind those innocent eyes,
was a hard life, just like how the canvases are. Meanwhile, watching
this documentary, taught me how to be tough and strong just like how
these kids are. And despite my terrible and painful experiences, I
must keep fighting for my future and survive to help them soon.
AWIT