The Artists
The Enigmata artists have their own special organic qualities as artists and as a person. Mindanao has given us a reason for being grounded in the ARTs as the highest expression of our soul as a people rooted in our culture. Enigmata is a journey of pilgrims which started in the meeting of minds of kindred spirits in Davao and the heart of Bukidnon. We take the responsibility and accountability to open the eyes of other people. The world is going through a great transformation and so we are… as we start within ourselves.
Enigmata artists are multi-faceted and multi-tasked.
Rodelio “Waway” L. Saway (from Talaandig Tribe, Bukidnon)
Waway (Enigmata Musical Director and co-founder) popularized soil painting on canvass, a theater artists and a great story teller. As cultural warrior and theater artists, Waway has traveled extensively in Europe and America as artist and workshop facilitator. Waway heads the delegation to the Centennial Celebration in the Smithsonian Grounds in Washington DC, USA. Waway has now released his own music in CD and recorded also the music of the Talaandig tribe. Waway has evolved into a film maker and has exhibited in works locally and internationally. As a professional musician and performance theater artist, Waway has performed in many places in the Philippines and many countries in Europe, Asia and USA. He has always showed his deep love as a father to six children and his commitment to his Talaandig community. The Talaandig village known to the Mindanao Peace Advocates as Talaandig City of Peace is the most neutral ground for the dialogue between Tri-People (Muslim, Christian, Lumad) in Mindanao where Waway is the one of the soil painting artist/teacher. Talaandig artists conceived “1001 Soil Painting” mellenium project as an indigenous self-determination project as a creative enterprise to raise funds for the survival of Talaandig cultural heritage.
Kublai Ponce Millan
Kublai, sculptor (Enigmata Visual Arts Director and co-founder) has made a name with his versatile mind-blowing art hotel in Davao with his multi-textured ART, gravity defying structural engineering and most especially his ingenuous concrete sculptures which has graced many parts of Mindanao. One should not miss the People’s Park in Davao beside Apo View Hotel where Kublai, as a story teller immortalized his indigenous chracters. As an ultimate satisfaction, Kublai dreams of giving honor to each of the ethnic group in Mindanao as a living cultural symbol in a form of a sculpture. In the short years of exploration, Kublai has learned very fast in his intuitive work as a sculpture which turns out to be more of a spiritual journey in redifining his roots, his art and passion. A fine arts graduate from the University of the Philippines, Diliman, QC Kublai, keep himself entertained as he moves his hands with passion. As a family man, Kublai shares most of his playful time with equally talented musician artist partner Maan Chua, and children.
Ma. Rosalie A. Zerrudo
Ros bridges multi-characters as a poet, film maker, chanter, dancer, recycling functional artist (Enigmata Creative Director and co-founder) the overall coordinator of the Earth Camps has special interest working with children as a developmental artist. Enigmata Biodiversity art education is her brainchild. She conducts regular art camps for local children and special children. As an outdoor enthusiast, Camiguin has given her the inspiration to strengthen initiatives for environmental protection. A graduate of psychology, she combines her community work with creativity in the wilds. As an adventure risk-taker, she joined the UK-based Raleigh International expeditions in the 95-H Guyana South America with sponsorship from other Raleigh InternationalHong Kong as the first and the only Filipino volunteer venturer. She made children’s film for Culture of Remembrance “Tell Me a Story Mr. Cloud Project” sponsored by Patrimoine Sans Frontieres, France. She was Philippine participant in the Gwangju Human Right Folk School sponsored by May 18 Foundation in South Korea in 2005. She participated as presenter to the First Asian Environmental Educator Workshop organized by Korean Federation for Environmental Movement, Naminara Republic, South Korea in 2007 and participant to the Jeongju Youth Eco-campGAME-for Children project in 2008. She was one of the chosen grantee for Arts Network Asia, Singapore 2007-2008. South East Asian Center for e-media (SEACeM) sponsored her internship for video production for e-media and web management. For five years now, her culture and arts related projects received grants from the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA). An environmentalist, she shared her grassroots initiatives in the conference/workshop organized by Malaysia Nature Society, Terrenggano, Malaysia. Her short film dubbed “Ovarian Chants” also entitled “Windows of Dreams” won Best Musical Score and Best Film (first runner-up) during the Cine Magis First Digital Short Film Festival organized by Xavier University co-sponsored by NCCA and later was shown during Sine Rehiyon and Cinemalaya screenings in 2009 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Moreover, she is a member of the Imagine Peace Asia network of peace builders and co-director of the Philippine Fair-Travel and Peace Camps. She was recently chosen as International Fellow-Elect for the International Fellowship Program sponsored by Ford Foundation, New York for her 2010 post graduate program.. Recently, she mounter a short documentary film “Yellow Bridge” as artist in residence at the 2009 Biennially Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival in Japan sponsored by Japan Foundation.
Francisco “Chico” D. Barretto
Chico visual artist (Enigmata Artist Consultant) is an explosive persona with the hands for fine things and the heart for landscapes and culture. An educator and a great story teller, and a weekend percussionist, this man explores all kinds of medium, and gives life to stones, clay and concrete into human figures in his sculpture pieces, animations and paintings. A graduate of philosophy from Ateneo de Manila University, Chico has now retreated to the powerful corners of corporate world in Cebu City in the creative production lab as graphic and web designer and thriving film maker while maintains his stamina in long distance running and strumming his guitar.
Andrew “Tatting” L. Soliva
Tatay Tatting, visual artist (Enigmata Artist Consultant) has the heart beat of a social worker (registered) full of humor and sensitivity. A multi-talented artist on canvass and music, Tatting has devoted much of his development work in community organizing, wellness program and alternative natural approaches for health and healing. Tatting has chosen to focus all his love energy to his spiritual farming practice where he materializes in the fertile soils of Bohol. The real concept of sustainabilityis self reliance which means planting our own food, is best heard from a real practioner committed to the principles that safeguards the earth as source of all life. Tatting stopped talking, and started planting.
Oliver Ratunil “Padi” Paderanga
Padi, (Enigmata Adviser) a marine biologist by profession is now in his Ph.D. program with Siliman University in Dumaguete City as a scholar of Department of Science and Technology. A faculty of former Institute of Marine Biology and college instructor of subjects for Bachelor of Science in Ecoturisn at the Camiguin Polytechnic and State College. Padi as he is fondly called is one of the prolific researher and resource on the marine biodiversity in the island. A musician at his own right, Padi has explored the visuals of the sea being part of the Coastal Resource Management Resource Research Team funded by the New Zealand Aid in Camiguin conducted in 15 Marine Protected Areas around Camiguin and other commercial dive sites and snorkeling sites and fish sanctuaries. A talent in technical writing is a product of a rigid academic training and influenced by parents of high achievements. Recently Padi was one of the invited experts in the JENESYS Japan Foundation cultural exchange program in Japan with other scholars from Asia.
Errol P. Balcos
Errol, (Enigmata Artist Consultant) studied architectural drafting evolved as visual artist, portrait artist, printmaker (Enigmata Artist Consultant) as a support staff, is one of the most dedicated painter who works on oil, acrylic and mixed media and now experiments with prints and sculpting while threading the streets of world music. Errol has exhibited his works locally and internationally that also gained him awards and recognition. In 2007-2008 Errol was awarded Juror’s Award of Merit (Bronze) Philippine Art Awards in National Museum Manila while he was a top 10 Mindanao Regional Finalist in this prestigious visual arts competition. In 2006 he received a grant for the Layag: contemporary artist residency program in Angono Rizal funded by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.
Miriam “Mimi” A. dela Plaza
Ate Mimi (Enigmata Adviser) soft spoken strategist is an agriculture expert with major in economics minor in animal husbandry. She further took up her masters in agricultural economics. Presently she is our Provincial Science and Technology Director. A mother of three and a talented folk singer in her younger days.
Marcelino “Balugto” P. Necosia, Jr. (from Talaandig tribe, Bukidnon)
Balugto means rainbow (Enigmata volunteer artist) which embodies this person with many colours. Balugto grew up with the mentorship of his uncle Waway Saway in the Talaandig Tribe. Balugto evolved as a natural artist in the school of living tradition in their tribe where teachers are their elders, parents and nature. This is a traditional indigenous school where learning is by doing. Balugto is known for his skill in drumming and playing percussion instruments. He designed an original “kokak” instrument made of bamboo. He is also a master drum maker and dancer and visual artist. In 2007 he was awarded regional winner in Philippines Art Awards sponsored by Philip Morris with his painting “The Unseen World”. In 2008 Balugto was first prize winner with his painting “The Guardian Spirit” of Kalinawa Art foundation in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
Ross Vincent Rosello
Vincent, (volunteer artist) musician and visual atist, is a volunteer resident artist and has been involved in Enigmata’s workshop for the local children on music, drawings, collage , and paintings, recycling arts, visual arts , and handicrafts. He serves as class research moderator – cultural heritage research and assistant curator during Kabilin Exhibit for cultural heritage preservation.
Christopher “Tupi” Salem (from the Talaandig Tribe)
Tupi (resident artist) is a craftsman, installation artist and support staff in Enigmata community projects. Tupi has all around interest and enthusiasn in many forms of visual arts and music. A nephew to Waway Saway, the blood of being a natural indigenous artisan and musician runs in his veins. Tupi is naturally gifted with craftmanship and patience for details useful in his indigenous instrument making such as tribal drums, bamboo flute and multi-dimensional dream catchers.
Venson Ian Tagupa Constantino
Venz (volunteer artist) is an excellent master wire artist… His craftsmanship and installation is a gift of abstract intelligence. His recent come-back as volunteer staff in Enigmata community projects was such an evolution of an independent creative process. Venz has the talent very rare in the island. A dragon wire art embedded in this picture is available for a close-up touch-experience at the treehouse community gallery. You may order on line or request for specialized designs. He plans to go back to school next year and follow his calling as a teacher which can eventually transform the classroom into museums.
Mario Guerra
Mario (local artisan) is a seasoned carpenter who learned this skill as a young man. His exposure from previous jobs and projects made him one of the experts in the island on bamboo craftsmanship as walling for traditional houses common to the Philippines but most especially intricate and elaborate in Antique province in the Visayas where he learned the process. In a series of product development project with Enigmata creative enterprise, Mario discovered his skill on wood art and wood cuts in details such us in exploring okil art patterns on ventilating light screens.
The BENefactor Ben Aicha
Ben Aicha, Enigmata Treehouse benefactor fondly called Tarzan built the original ARTchitecture he named Tarzan’s Nest which is now home to Enigmata artists (new management) with their added recyled artworks, sculptures, paintings and interior eco-designs. With a degree of PhD in matehmatics and mechanincal engineer by profession and a musician by heart, Ben discovered his other creative qualities as a portrait artist, architect, non-writer writer and healer during his journey in the Philippines. Back in Europe with his roots from many colors and religions he continues his spiritual healing work and wrote his autobiographical mind map in his new book “Be Wise.”
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