In light of this, the Heart of Gold Foundation Inc., in cooperation with Chong Hua Hospital Mandaue, officially held its 10th physical exhibit: “An Art Exhibit by Cebuano Artists.”
The exhibition was on view in the hospital’s upper ground floor lobby from Feb. 14 until Feb. 24. The event was launched on Feb. 14 because it was when Chong Hua Hospital Heart Institute first operated. This has been the 20th anniversary celebration of the hospital. Executives from the hospital and a few of the invited local artists were mostly present in the opening.
The first art exhibition started in 2013, and the recent one was in 2020, approximately three years before the reappearance of the exhibit. The event was initiated to help and support patients struggling to afford surgeries and other procedures in the hospital.
According to Dr. Maria Rosan Trani, MD, chairperson of the Section of Cardiology in Chong Hua Hospital, open-heart surgeries are really expensive, and they really need financial support for it.
“Through this art exhibit, the Hearts of Gold Foundation is a beneficiary, and in that event, our cardiac patients who belong to the lower socioeconomic class can benefit from the surgeries and the financial help that the foundation can afford us,” she said.
With that said, 70 percent of the artwork proceeds go to the artists, while 30 percent of it will go to the Hearts of Gold Foundation and Chong Hua Hospital house staff.
This year’s display featured works created by 70 creative artists in total. Participants in the event included doctors, members of the medical staff, a lawyer, architects, art teachers and professors, students, as well as full- and part-time artists.
Celso Duazo Pepito, an artist for more than 40 years now, has been joining the said charity art exhibit every year. For him, he intends to participate because it is an opportunity to help; it is a fundraising activity in which he is very happy to be part of as he can contribute something to humanity.
“My artworks reflect my advocacy that represents love for God, love for family, and love for the country, and I want to encourage the younger generations of artists to develop their faith while they are still young. I want them to teach the importance of art in our lives,” Celso said.
“We earnestly want to share with you our journey and trust that you may somehow relate to our experience in the paintings that we have made. This is also a way for our Cebuano artists to gain recognition in the process,” said Tina Marie Gandionco, the events management organizer and an artist herself.
Here is a list of the participating artists: Ana Lona Abadies, Jonathan Abellana, Ma Lida Aguilar, Tony Alcoseba, Krisha Mae Alsola, Arnel Belda, Leogene Benigay, Leodito Bongo III, Cesar Castillo, Fatima Castro, Loloy Castro, Rhodesa Cruzet, Reynan Dingal, Jess Dinglasa and John Dinglasa.
Other artists include Kristina Dodos, Efren Enolva, Aliver Escaño, Hanah España, Rodelio Estudillo, Anthony Fermin, Anton Van Fermin, Chauncey Neira Ferolino, Joan Florido, Luther Galicano, Tina Marie Gandionco, Jojo Gubalane, Marianne Elowees Guinto, Jun Impas, Zapphire Benedikt Jayme, Mayleen Jennifer Laico, Ivy Leyson, John Alfred Lim, Malvin Lim, Ana Maria Lubanga, Juan Guido Lubanga, Celia Mabalatan, Mustard Mean, Melver Mercado, Michelle Angelique Miranda, Alfred Monada and Jovi Neri.
Wrapping up the list are Roxanne Normandia, J. Roberto Olvido Jr., Joseph Ong, Renulo Patan, Celso Pepito, Fe Madrid Pepito, Ma. Antonette Quiapo, Jesse Rona, Warlen Rodriguez, Richard Romeo, Rhea Victoria Rosacina, Ruel Rosello, Jojo Sagayno, Pilar Sala, Maila Secuban, Eduardo Solana Jr., Francisco Soria, Chona Tan, Kent Lawrence Tauto-an, Richell Torres, Lino Venzal, Tony Vidal, Marlowe Villagonzalo, Maria Philina Villamor, Jose “Kimsoy” Yap Jr., Marlone Ylanan and Sonia Yrastorza.