Meet the man behind Cavite’s pandemic-inspired murals

A former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Dubai has been painting pandemic-inspired murals at Barangay Tejero, Pasong Kawayan, in General Trias City, and in the neighboring town of Noveleta, attracting attention of passers-by and motorists.

Balikbayan Christian Cresencio, 37, of Pasong Kawayan II was working as a muralist in Dubai, United Arab Emirates before he started his solo street art here in April 2021 on one wall in Barangay San Rafael 1, Noveleta, with a pandemic theme, titled: Uncertained.

Photo by Dennis Abrina/Rappler

“That was my son’s picture wearing facemask, medyo malungkot gawa ng mga kabataan di sila makalabas sa school for face-to-face classes, andun ang emotions ng mga mata nya, pero nandon pa din ang mga paru-paro nakadapo sa kanila ang pag-asa and represent ng Monarch Butterfly,” Christian Cresencio said in interview.

(That was my son’s picture wearing a facemask. It’s sad that the youth today can’t go to school for face-to-face classes, so those emotions are seen in his eyes. However, the butterflies are still there because hope lies in them, and it is represented by the Monarch Butterfly).

Photo by Dennis Abrina/Rappler

“My second mural with title Invincible Chaos, located at Pasong Kawayan 1 features my partner Tanya Pastors wearing facemask. Instead of butterfly, I put the Maya Bird to represent Freedom,” Christian said. 

Photo by Dennis Abrina/Rappler

“My third mural is a picture of Dr Andro Umali, a physician and bike enthusiast, who used to bike going to Medical City wearing a respirator mask and goggles in the midst of a pandemic. It was given by photojournalist Ezra Acayan and then I added flowers for their continued fight against COVID-19 and a bee for their hard work as a front liner,” he said.

All of these murals were done with the consent of property owners and out of pocket expenses.

Photo by Dennis Abrina/Rappler

“I spend around P10,000 for the paints for this public arts, mas madaming tao ang makakakita, mas nakakatuwa, kahit gumastos pako sa sarili kong pera,” he said. (I spend around P10,000 for the paints for this public arts. More people get to see it so it’s more fulfilling for me, even if I spend my own money).

“I started public art in 2010. We are a family of painters, from my father to my brother, who are now working as a sculpture artist and muralist in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

“Patuloy po tayong gagawa ng mga street arts para makatulong bilang awareness campaign tulad ngayon panahon po ng pandemya, nawa’y makapagbigay inspirasyon sa kapwa ko Caviteño,” he said. (Let us continue creating street art, to help bring more awareness in this pandemic and to give inspiration to my fellow Caviteños). – Rappler.com