by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao
Who would ever think that his harrowing
childhood experience would turn out to be his strongest force to promote peace?
This is the story of a world-renown virtual
artist whose advocacy for peace has been imprinted in all his works from the
time he started to use brush, pencil, and other art tools. An advocacy deeply
rooted within his inner soul.
Rameer Tawasil has had about 700
artworks, all of them pertaining to peace, cultural heritage of Mindanao, and
environment. But what left a mark on all who had the honor to see his job is
his constant longing for peace, the one thing that he had been hoping for from
that fateful day in 1974 in Jolo, Sulu.
We had a chance to talk with him in
between his lecture during the ARMM Summer Art Workshop for Peace where he
imparts his knowledge to children aged 7 to 15 and instill in them his advocacy
for peace.
In our conversation, we learned that
what is driving him to promote peace is the thought of other people
experiencing what he went through at an early age of 5.
The
horror of his childhood
“It was dawn. The war between the
government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) broke out. At
first I was enjoying looking up in the skies and seeing red pin stripes
crossing the skies. It’s actually the bullets from both sides. As a child, it
was really fun to see it. But when the morning came, that’s when it hit me. I
saw dead people. The result of the war”, Rameer recalled.
Just like any other war, it caused
families to be displaced. And it did not spare Rameer’s family.
As if not enough, Rameer has
witnessed a fateful incident that would affect his life, up to the deepest part
of his soul, an incident so disturbing for a fragile five-year old boy that
brought nightmares, but soon became the source of his will to promote and
advocate for peace.
“My sister used to carry me. When
the war escalated, a Japanese ship took us to Zamboanga City to save us from
the horror that befell Jolo town. When I looked back, I witnessed the whole
town of Jolo burn. That incident haunted me for a very long time”, he
continued.
A
new life in a new place
His family was forced to relocate to
Zamboanga City due to the war. But it also was a blessing for them. It means
new life, away from the wars that plagued Sulu. Years have passed after that
fateful day; Rameer has slowly coped up with the horror of that childhood. Slowly,
all nightmares of the past disappeared.
Or so it seems.
As an adolescent, Rameer has found a
sense of security. He will never have to be afraid that war might break out and
put him to hell all over again.
But the experiences he had lingered
in him. Only this time he’s no longer the helpless boy that has to be carried
by his sister. He has grown up to be an empowered youth whose past has become
his driving force to open the minds and hearts of the people to embrace peace
in whatever way he could. And he found a great avenue that would soon lead for
others, even foreigners, to appreciate and learn of his advocacy… art.
Love
for Art
“I always had a strong foundation on
arts”, Rameer said. “I traced my love for arts and it came from my mother’s
side. At an early age, I was very much exposed to art, especially Tausug art.
My grandfather plays the violin and he was really good at “ukkil” (Tausug term
for wood carving). Their house has all the imprints of a rich cultural art. My
grandmother used to saw and decorate “Sablay” (Tausug dress) and she would ask
me to draw designs where she would put beads and other decorative materials”,
he continued.
It is no surprise then that Rameer
pursued a degree on architecture at Western Mindanao State University (WMSU).
However, visual art has a stronger pull on him than designing buildings and
infrastructures.
“When I was in college, I would skip
my mathematics classes. It was for me an exact science. Art is the opposite.
It’s infinite. Instead of attending my math class, I would instead go to the
library and read about Van Gogh’s and Picasso’s works. That’s when I knew that
I am destined to be an artist”, he shared.
In his third year in college, he
started joining art exhibits.
“I started joining exhibits with my
works focusing on culture. I had works on rural Tausug life setting”, he said.
Arts
for Peace
His colorful works is at best the
color of peace itself, vibrant and lively, yet strong and soul-searching. His
works speak a lot for a guy who is reserved and soft spoken. He uses his work
to communicate to all that without peace, life would not be vibrant and lively.
That’s why his works make us think not just of ourselves but the future
generations whose well being and security of their future depend on us living
at the moment.
Rameer never forgot the 1974 burning
of Jolo town. That incident haunted him throughout the years.
It was in 2002 when he decided to
turn that nightmare into perhaps his most powerful tool to pursue peace not
just in Sulu but for the whole of Mindanao.
“I decided to paint that incident
which remained fresh in my mind. I entitled it “The Burning of Jolo”, and
turned out to be my most published art work”, he said.
His work has not just reached the
consciousness of the Filipinos but also foreigners as well. His work has become
one of the most sought after master pieces by local and foreign art collectors.
He could have sold it and made a lot of money. But Rameer held on to it as if
it’s his life.
“A US Navy Commodore once offered me
to buy it. But I politely refused him. It’s a personal property. I could have
made a lot of money by selling it. But by doing so, I would have sold a part of
my life. It’s the only work that I know comes from the artist’s own experience,
my experience. You will never find another work that is a product of one’s
experience. Most of the artists’ works now are based on what they read or hear.
If it’s lost it’s like losing my advocacy for peace”, Rameer stressed.
Asked if what he wants for his work,
he replied, “I would be willing to donate it provided it will be preserved and
let everybody have an opportunity to see it. I would prefer to donate it
locally, perhaps our local museum. That’s what I want”.
He said “The Burning of Jolo” has a
continuation of sort, which, he entitled “Jolocaust”,
a depiction of the sufferings of the Tausug people during the war, which is in
some way a reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s “Holocaust”.
One of Rameer’s works was also declared
the official symbol of peace in Mindanao. It was unveiled during the World
Interfaith Harmony Week last February, this year. It’s also being used in other
countries to depict peace, he said.
As part of his continuing advocacy,
Rameer has accepted ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman’s invitation to teach kids on
art. He said it’s a very good opportunity to instill the culture of peace to
children.
“The Culture of peace should start with the kids. It is important to
instill in the minds of the young ones the essence of peace. Although they may
not immediately grasp the idea, the lessons will surely be kept in their
subconscious area. Sooner or later it will just come out”, he said.
As of this writing, Rameer is
conducting a 5-day Summer Art Workshop on Peace for kids.
Personal
Success
As one art collector said about his
work, “It’s like your work is literally moving. It’s just very impacting”, he
quoted.
Because of his art and advocacy, the
always unassuming Rameer Tawasil, has gained respect worldwide. He has already
held a one-man exhibit in Belgium, Sweden, and just recently, Malaysia. His
works on peace have preceded his name here and abroad.
He also shared to us his effective
tools not just to sell his works, but more important, to make others understand
about his peace advocacy thru art.
“Being an artist, you should also be
a cultural worker. When you’re in an exhibit don’t just sit there and let
people see your work. Go to them and make an effort to explain to them what
your work is all about so that they will know what they will be getting and
your advocacy as an artist”, he explained.
Most of all, Rameer has never set
his sight on fame and fortune.
“I never meant to be famous and gain
lots of money thru my work. I don’t chase fame and fortune. Art is not supposed
to be commercial, it’s personal. For me, it’s expressing what I want others to
see. It’s more of dedication. This is what I want to do. If it (fame and money)
comes, then it will. As they say, if you are dedicated, there’s always light at
the end of the tunnel”, he quipped.
A friend once told him, “Why stay in
Mindanao? Come to Manila and paint here”.
Rameer answered, “There’s an
inescapable reason for Mindanao culture, arts, and even social issues to paint.
You cannot escape. There are so many things you can paint about Mindanao. It’s
different when a non-Mindanaoan artist paints about Mindanao. It will turn out
differently”.
His
Trade Mark
“Personally, I really don’t know
what my trade mark is. I usually do all kinds of visual arts. Some say I’m into
Fluidism, others, Futurism. But if I would really asses my work, I’m more into
Ukkilism”, he said.
Ukkilsm came from the Tausug term
“ukkil” or wood carving. Art enthusiasts say his works are like wood carving,
only, it’s on canvass.
“My grandfather was into traditional
wood carving. My work is more like carving also. But I use my paint and brush
instead”, he said.
Future
Art Works
“I have been working on this piece
since 2003, but I have yet to finish it. It’s about the Massacre of Bud Dajo”,
He said.
Bud Dajo or Mt. Dajo is one of the
historical sites of Tausug’s resistance to outside conquerors. Thousands died
after American forces tried to capture Sulu.
Rameer is very careful not to depict
wrong messages on his work that he spent a lot of time researching and even
personally interviewing the descendants of those killed in Bud Dajo.
“It’s like writing history. If
something is wrong in my work, then I made a wrong depiction of history. To
make sure that I have the right information, I read a lot of books and even
personally went to the site of the massacre and interviewed descendants of
those killed. But still I have to strictly very all information”, he said.
Finale
Truly, art speaks a thousand words.
The messages it relay may differ from one person to the other. But Rameer’s
work is unmistakably clear! Wars, sufferings, deaths, separation from family
are just a few of what war brings to each and every one of us. And all these
can only be avoided if we have peace. For if there is peace understanding,
respect and acceptance of one another regardless of your political, social or
religious beliefs abound. There will always be differences, but at the end of
the day, we all want peace.
For as long as peace is elusive here
in Mindanao, there will always be calls for peace in any way or form. And we
will always find it in Rameer’s works.
If you are for peace, and are
interested in his works, you can just Google search it and you will see how art
can be a powerful tool for peace. (MVC/PIA9-ZBST)