Happy Wall Painting

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary” Pablo Picasso

September 14, 2012. You were only 8 years old when I first brought you to volunteer work. You were ecstatic to do your first wall painting with Dolphin Loves Freedom. We went to a public high school in Quezon City. You didn't mind the traffic at all. You were grinning all the way to QC as you imagine all the paints you will splash on the wall.

When we got there, your small, hazelnut eyes opened wide with all the buckets of paint on the middle of the gym floor. You immediately pulled out the paintbrush and paper cup from your backpack, lined up for your turn to get your share of paint. The walls of the corridors were your coloring book for the day. You had fun painting but most of all you took pride in meeting celebrities in activism like Ric O'Barry - the "Flipper" champ, Abner Mercado - ABSCBN Crusada, and Tito A.G. Saño - founder, Dolphin Loves Freedom.

We spent the whole day painting the walls with dolphins, the plain dirty corridors ended with splashes of colors. You didn't get tired. It was a busy bee day but smiles were everywhere including yours. This was the first of so many volunteer dates I had with you.

November 30, 2012. Enzo and I spent our Bonifacio Day with Dolphin Loves Freedom, painting the wall of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) in Quezon City. We spent most of the school holidays together volunteering. My dear Enzo loves meeting new people of all ages. He doesn't mind if he was the youngest. He made sure he's useful all the time. He's not afraid to ask for his role.

The Peace Mural. My way of teaching peace to my kids.

Project EDSA: Lakbay Para sa Kapayaan sa EDSA “The Making of the World’s Longest Peace Mural”

PROJECT EDSA known as Journey of Peace in EDSA was a project of AAI, AFP, DLF & MMDA, with Teach Peace Build Peace Movement, in Building a Culture of Peace through peace mural painting. The project aims to set a new world record for the longest peace-themed mural, surrounding the Philippine Army headquarters along EDSA.

May 26, 2013. Enzo was so happy to share his wall painting adventure with Vito. This was one of my proudest mommy moments. I got to share my advocacy with my two boys. They may not fully grasp the importance of the activity but somehow they learned that as a child they can also make a difference.

We had an artful memory at the “the longest PEACE Mural in the world”. We take pride that we were part of this historical event.

Oh, we were on the news too!!!

ABSCBN: PH starts bid for world's longest peace mural

June 8, 2014. The following year, we participated in the peace mural in POEA Office on Ortigas Avenue corner EDSA. Teach Peace Build Peace Movement (TPBPM) together with the POEA, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) painted the 120-meter long fence of the POEA building.

Take away: Fast forward to November 2020, my dear Enzo re-painted the walls of our home before we move in. Indeed, every wall of our house reminded me of him. A happy memory I can hold on to.