Little Good Things at the BGC Art Mart
Last March 25 and 26, I joined the Summer Create run of BGC Art Mart at the BGC Arts Center. It was my first time again to join an in-person art fair after two years, so I was a little bit wary again of interacting with people. There’s the risk still always of getting infected. But safety protocols were placed as always for everybody’s safety!
I wanted to write about the little good things that made my heart happy during those two days, so here is a short list!
1) “Keep doing what you’re doing!”
The tiles spelling out ARLI were supposed to be ART OF ARLI. But I forgot the other R tile!!! (But turns out it was just in the luggage I had. It fell from the container during transit. Haha!)
A few people have told me this—different statements but carried that same message—when they learned that I wrote the books I had with me! They took the time to tell me that, and they don’t know how much those words meant to me to keep on writing.
2) The thoughtfulness of people
When friends (and new artists I met!) knew that I was the only person manning my booth, I witnessed such thoughtfulness and kindness from them. Marz of Marz Today told me to tell her if I needed to leave my booth for a bit. The sister of Yang of mayangbajada, Fatima, also said this to me. Friends told me to eat as well. I didn’t have snacks or dinner during those two days. Haha! I just ate a heavy meal before lunch, and I was glad it sustained me throughout the afternoon and night! Before my friend Nikka left too, she said to me, “Kain ka ha!” And then Chris (I hope I spelled his name right!) from the group next to me shared his McDo fries with me in the evening. The fries were warm and definitely helped stave hunger off during that time. And then there were congratulations, greetings, and reminders to have fun from friends who couldn’t visit too. These all made my days. These were all kind gestures that I’ll forever remember. Maraming salamat.
3) Cats and dogs!
It was such a joy to see people bring their cute doggies to the event! And of course, there are the resident cats trotting around! Look at this little one taking a bath in the middle of the hullabaloo!
4) When a little girl told me that my postcard was beautiful
It was one of my pink postcards! I was so happy when she told me that it was beautiful and that she couldn’t stop looking at it. It was so magical. I appreciate her telling me that! Oh, someday, I would really love to make a book for kids!
5) Art conversations
Got to talk with Marz and fellow INKie (Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan members) Kuya Don of Studio Dondon about making art for a living. It was a relief to be able to talk about it with friends who are also going through the same things as I was since we all were pursuing our passions. The energy from everyone too in the art mart was contagious! Everybody was so kind and supportive of one another. It was amazing to meet new people, friends, and artists!
6) Family visiting me at the booth
With Kuya John C!
All of my relatives live abroad, so I never got to experience them getting to visit me during art fairs or events at school while growing up. One of my cousins though, Kuya John C, has been vacationing here for a while, and he was able to come see me during the Art Mart! It felt like everybody was there when he visited.
7) Getting photos taken for remembrance
Portrait taken by Kuya Jay!
Kuya Jay, a friend from The Feast Makati Salcedo, visited to support his friends who were artists joining the Art Mart and who are from The Feast too! But he visited me at my booth as well and even took photos of me and my works! (Thank you so much, Kuya Jay! Please check out his works and his services over at Jay Olaguer Photography!)
8) The turquoise luggage I used to carry all my products
It’s actually my cousin Ouel’s, but it was his Mom, my Tita Miles, who suggested that I borrow it when I was heading back from the US to the Philippines last December 2019. My Tita Miles passed away last May 2021. I love her very much, and I miss her terribly. She always encouraged me, taught me to be more confident, supported me, and to believe in myself, just as my parents, Tito’s and Tita’s, cousins, and friends have done too. Bringing that trolley with me and pulling it to wherever I would wait for a ride home late at night during the art mart, however, made me feel like she was with me in spirit, so I wasn’t really alone.
There’s still so much goodness that happened during those two days. I wrote more about them in my Instagram before this blog post! Here is Day 1 and here is Day 2! I look forward to the next run! Thank you to everyone who came by and said hello, who bought my products, and who organized the whole event!