Kung Indi Ka Kahibalo

The central figure in this work is a variation on the University of the Philippines' Oblation statue by Guillermo Tolentino which represents selfless giving of oneself to one's country--patriotism, in a word. He holds a bamboo spear or vaulting pole ready for action.  On the lower left is a drawing of a tethered caribou, a cliché for all things Filipino. On the lower right is the iconic Statue of Liberty which represents America welcoming people from all nations--she sports a designer watch and handbag.  Her raised left hand holds a flame lighting the way for all those who seek her shores. The background of the painting is the Filipino flag, though the red portion is patterned on T'boli tribal design and the right blue portion evokes plaid fabric used by Filipinos during the Spanish colonial period. Several jet streams streak thru the upper blue portion.

So this painting is obviously a meditation on the dynamic of immigration between the U.S. and the Philippines, motivated by the questionable promise of a happier and more luxurious lifestyle.