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Culture of Peace: An artist’s moving advocacy
an article by Michael Vincent D. Cajulao, Philippines Information Agency
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 in his inner soul.
Rameer Tawasil - photo from Mindanao Examiner
click on photo to enlarge
Rameer Tawasil has about 700 artworks, all of them pertaining to peace, cultural heritage of Mindanao, and environment. But what left a mark on all who had seen his works 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 five. “It was dawn. The war between the government forces and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) broke out. At first I was enjoying looking at the skies and seeing red pin stripes crossing the skies. It turned out to be 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 this was not enough, Rameer witnessed a fateful incident that would affect his life forever. “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.
His family was forced to relocate in Zamboanga City due to the war. But it also was a blessing for them. It meant a new life, away from the wars that plagued Sulu. 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 memories lingered. 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.
(This article is continued in the discussionboard)
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“I 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 had a stronger pull on him than designing buildings and infrastructures. . ...more.
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