“As illustrators, we don’t usually meet the audiences we draw for,” Beth Parrocha explained, on one bright February morning. “So to see those who grew up with our books and to talk to them face to face is a one-of-a-kind feeling.”
It was a comfy chat among creatives as the 12 young Angat Sining fellows piled up on couches at the Lampara Books penthouse. Ang INK, as one of the mentors of the Angat Sining Fellowship for Young Artists, had the opportunity to share our knowledge in visual storytelling.
The first-ever cohort of the Angat Sining Fellowship was dedicated to the Visual Arts. 12 public senior high school students across the country were chosen to learn from esteemed Filipino visual artists such as Toym Imao, AG Sano, BenCab, Mark Justiniani, Fotobaryo, the Mighty Bhutens, and Ang INK. In partnership with the Metrobank Foundation, Inc., Fundacion Sanso, the Ateneo de Manila Fine Arts Department, and the UP College of Fine Arts, the mentorship culminated in a graduating art exhibit held at the UP Diliman Fine Arts Gallery in 2025.
The morning session held on February 3 started out with an ice breaker and introductions. The fellows listened to publisher Asa Montenejo, author Augie Rivera, and illustrator Beth Parrocha as they opened up about the process of children’s book production in a panel discussion entitled “It Takes A Barangay to Make A Book”, moderated by Patricia Ramos.
After a lunch sponsored by Urban Chick Maginhawa, the fellows participated in an illustration workshop facilitated by Liza Flores. Crayons, pencils, and paper flew across the tables as the fellows created narratives, learned to develop characters, and learned to build their own stories. The first day of the workshop ended with a second panel discussion focused on illustration entitled “Buhay Ilustrador”, featuring Aldy Aguirre, Cy Vendivil, and Fran Alvarez, and moderated by Ivan Reverente.
February 4, the second day of the workshop, had the fellows and INKies gathered in a classroom at the Arete, with the Ateneo de Manila Fine Arts Department. The half-day session began with a show-and-tell of INKies’ favorite children’s books.
The fellows were then able to expand on their ideas in the second part of the illustration workshop. They created their own zines to practice the storytelling abilities they had been honing. They then closed the workshop and showcased their work in a gallery walk where they explained their concepts, with guidance and feedback from the INKies.
For Ang INK, it was not just an honor to contribute to the Angat Sining program. It also meant connecting to the very youth we create art for. Many of the fellows expressed that children’s books were what got them into art in the first place. The arts composed a huge part of the Leni Robredo 2022 presidential campaign, as evidenced by none other than one of Ang INK’s founding members, the late Robert Alejandro. Contributing to this cycle of developing artists - and one day building a better, more sustainable art industry and strengthening artists’ rights - is a cause that Ang INK is very proud of.
The Ang INK x Angat Sining cohort took place on February 3-4, 2024 and was made possible by Jun Matias of Lampara Books, Urban Chick Maginhawa, the Ateneo de Manila Fine Arts Department, and the Arete.
Angat Sining Culminating Program and Exhibit Opening • January 17 to February 8, 2025 • UP Fine Arts Gallery • Photos by Eric Cusi
Patti Ramos representing Ang INK at ALAB: Awit at Liwanag, a benefit concert that brings together artists, Angat Buhay partners, and communities. • May 8, 2028 • The Proscenium Theatre, The Rockwell, Makati
