While heavy rains poured across the metro, bright colors took over the Atrium of The Podium with the launch of Coloring Lives, a heartwarming art exhibit showcasing works by students of Sunshine Place under the Felicidad T. Sy Foundation.
Now in its eighth year and staged for the first time outside the senior wellness hub, the exhibit brought together floral arrangements, porcelain paintings, and children’s artworks, all for a good cause.
Proceeds from the show will benefit the Josefheim Elderly Care Community, a nonprofit home for the abandoned elderly in Pililla, Rizal.
Visitors were treated to a visual feast, including 14 Ikebana installations led by instructor Marc Tomas, 35 porcelain paintings under Mee Lee Casey, four watercolor pieces from Jen Consumido’s class, 18 entries from the kids and beginners’ class of Loida Balubayan, and 37 works from the intermediate acrylic class of Fidel Sarmiento.
Hobby group leader Tess Colayco, though not a formal instructor, displayed her decoupage crafts (charming trays, boxes, and bags) that drew admiring glances.
Celebrity Solenn Heussaff lent star power to the event as she showed support for her mother, Cynthia, who is currently enrolled in both the Ikebana and porcelain painting classes. The two were seen mingling with Marc Tomas and Laly Etroit during the opening.
Also present were Sunshine Place President Lizanne Uychaco and instructors Sarmiento, Consumido, and Balubayan. Among the participating artists was Grace Coronel Agbayani, daughter of Cinderella founder Loreto Coronel, who blended art with her personal flair. Palanca awardee Erlinda Acasio Flores displayed two of her paintings in the top row, while Carolina Ocampo-Llanilo, Miguel Lago, and Amada Isabel Reventar proudly stood by their pieces.
Lita Gelano’s geisha-themed porcelain painting attracted attention, as did Terly Chickiamko’s works, including Garden Bounty and Blossom and Twine.
Dolly Borlongan’s decoupage gift box, The Butterfly Apothecary, Evelyn Felias’ Lemon Tapestry tray, and Colayco’s Free Spirit wooden box also stood out.
and Jen Consumido for watercolor classes
Guests included SM Foundation’s Linda Atayde, who joined with her own Ikebana arrangement, along with SM’s Christian Mathay and Jon Jon San Agustin. Podium Mall manager Charles Tiu attended with Ian Mathay, while Sunshine Place’s Gilda Reyes, Rose Siaco, and Baby Ruth Chuansu were also spotted at the exhibit.
Sunshine Place is located at 56 Jupiter Street, Barangay Bel-Air, Makati.
