Samar artist honors Filipino Olympians with broken glass art

Francis Diaz, a 24-year-old artist from the town of Gandara, Samar, earned praises for his unique work of art honoring the country’s representatives to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Diaz garnered attention on social media for using broken bottled glass pieces as the medium for his mosaic, which he called “Galing ng Atletang Pilipino (The Excellence of the Filipino Athlete).”

The education student from Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) told Rappler that the country’s first Olympic gold medalist, Hidilyn Diaz, was one of his inspirations for creating the art piece.

“Yana nga 2020 Tokyo Olympics, nakakabilib an aton mga atleta nga Pilipino. Lalo na nga pinangunahan ni Hidilyn an pagdaog han aton bansa,” he said.

(I admire the performances of our athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But I was particularly in awe of Hidilyn Diaz’s historic win at the competition.)

“Ansya naghimo ako hin artwork han nga tanan na atleta han aton bansa para maghatag suporta ha ira mga laban yana nga Tokyo 2020 Olympics,” Diaz added.

(That’s why I decided to do an artwork featuring our athletes to honor them for bringing pride to our country)

“Nabaruan ko ini nga paghimo kay nanganganugun ako han mga basag na botelya kon ilalabog la. Kaya nagpinsar ako na pwede pa ini pakinabangan. Yana, ginhimu ko hiya nga medium han akon art,” he explained. 

(It is such a pity seeing people throw away shattered glass bottles like they’re a total waste. So, I looked for ways to turn them into art pieces. Now, I’m using them as the medium for my art.)

Diaz said it takes between five and seven hours for him to complete a single piece. His Olympics tribute, in particular, took seven.

He also encouraged fellow artists to channel their creativity by using materials people no longer see as valuable.

“Ako na artist an magpapatunay na kaya natun makahimo hin impossible na artwork kun atun ini tatagan hin halaga ngan aton hihimoon with effort,” he said. 

(I want to prove that anything is possible for artists who make an effort in everything that they do.)

Diaz said he is open to doing commissions. For those who are interested, you may reach him at 09666984631 or francisdiaz36@gmail.com. 

The Philippines marked a colorful Olympic finish this year, with Filipino athletes bringing home multiple medals: one gold for Hidilyn Diaz (weightlifting), two silver medals for Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam (boxing), respectively, and one bronze medal for Eumir Marcial (boxing). – Rappler.com

Lance Paolo Lim is a Visayas-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship