The coronavirus pandemic, which has adversely affected lives for long months now, have also brought opportunities and options to those who never lose hope.
Entrepreneur Mary Ann Colmenares, of owner of Handmade Gallery, recalls the time when she met a group of creative young people in the early day, of the health crisis – at her farm area in Barangay Tuguis, Hinigaran. “Wala na kami racket,” they told her, referring to the cancelled graduation exercises, fiestas.
That was the time when they were busy helping manage events, style the graduation stage, doing the hair and makeup of graduating girls and handling beauty pageant candidates.
Sensing their creativity and having the desire to help them, the entrepreneur asked if they were interested to do something different using their creative skills and energy.
With enthusiasm, they learned from Colmenares the basics of painting. Eventually, she adds, they painted branches of trees as stores selling art supplies were closed.
They pursued them newly-discovered art interest and this Christmas, they ventured into painting branches to serve as Christmas trees and dressed them up with jewels and capiz shell decors and paper mache fruits, Colmenares further said.
Colmenares displayed the creations of the Taguis creatives in her Handmades Gallery show room in Bacolod City. They’re happy to have earned something during the pandemic, she said.
It’s fulfilling to help young people realize that they can go far with their creativity, the entrepreneur further said, adding that she plans to tap them in her future ventures. – NWI
