Interview The Kanto Team
Images Metrobank Foundation (MADE 2023) and Jerome Santos
G R A N D A W A R D E E
Watermedia on Paper Category
Jerome Santos
Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan (In-between)
In Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan, Jerome Santos sets a table for three served with refried bones and chewed-up leftovers overflowing in buckets. Pagpag, meaning to shake off dirt, is the practice of scavenging for scrap food from restaurants and fast-food chains to be cooked and served again as a fresh meal. The extreme poverty prevalent in the country has forced Filipinos living in informal settlements to turn to impoverished solutions for survival. The painting repurposes the juxtaposition between humor and wit to the weight and seriousness of this issue without straying from what it is trying to say. Jerome Santos’ depiction of pagpag sets off a deeper discussion into the series of interconnected issues–one that begins with the firsthand impacts of mass consumption and material culture on poverty-stricken communities. Text by Janine Bernardo of Metrobank Foundation
“Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan” offers a poignant depiction of the practice of pagpag and its connection to poverty. Can you share your creative process and the emotions that guided you while working on this artwork?
Jerome Santos: It honestly helped that I was able to experience a few things related to my Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan’s concept. As an artist, I believe that it is important to truly express the emotions of an artwork, and that’s what I did for this piece. Researching and gathering information for this piece opened my eyes to the reality that many of our fellowmen actually live on scraps, and that poverty here in our country has only gotten worse. I put myself in the situation of these people in order to channel their emotions into my piece, combining these emotions with my personal experiences. I highlighted these emotions by painting relatable scenarios. I intentionally ruined a few portions of the painting as well, depicting emotions of struggle, anger, and sadness.
Your painting captures the nonchalant expressions of the men dining on pagpag, highlighting their resilience in the face of adversity. How do you hope viewers will interpret and respond to the juxtaposition of humor and seriousness in your piece?
Jerome Santos: I want this piece to be a message of both resilience and awakening. The piece is meant to depict Filipino struggle but I also want it to showcase our bravery in the face of adversity. I want it to be a visual narrative of how people who experience such conditions still choose to keep going and inspire people with the power to help them take action. I hope that this artwork will be able to encourage people’s imagination and push them to connect with their emotions, whatever those emotions may be. I hope that people will start to question such realities upon seeing my piece and that they will be encouraged to suggest solutions based on their own experiences or even by digging deeper and being more aware of these issues.
Living abroad in Saudi Arabia, you’ve mentioned your own experiences of seeking leftover food from acquaintances who work in restaurants. How has your perspective on poverty and survival, both in the Philippines and abroad, shaped your artistic vision and commitment to addressing social issues?
I struggled here in the Philippines and I struggled when I lived in Saudi Arabia. I would say that these experiences gave me the strength to use painting to highlight issues related to our economy and our society. My personal knowledge is not as wide when it comes to the entirety of this issue, so it helps that I am able to use my own experiences and translate my emotions in shaping the artwork.
Jean-Michel Basquiat is known for his powerful social commentary through art. How has Basquiat’s work influenced your artistic style and approach to exploring themes related to personal experiences and social issues?
It was more of Basquiat’s life that inspired me, not so much his art style. He also started with nothing, slowly finding his way and making a name for himself in the art scene. I like how his pieces appear to be innocent but carry powerful messages and I admire his bravery in expressing his sentiments through his work. These things have had huge influences on me as an artist and on my pieces in general.
“I want to lend a hand and help in ways that I can—not just as an artist but as a person. I want these people to know that someone out there is willing to listen, even when the world seems to care less at times.”
“Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan” sheds light on the interconnected issues stemming from mass consumption and material culture. What conversations or actions do you hope your artwork will inspire regarding these complex and pressing societal challenges?
My only hope is that Ha(PAG PAG)kaing Pinagkainan will move audiences and inspire them to take action until we are able to reach more people and address more issues like this in our country. The main reason why I painted this piece is because I want to emphasize these realities that we often overlook in our day to day. We have lived with these situations long enough and I want to remind people that we have a voice, and we can all contribute to solving societal problems.
Winning the Metrobank Art and Design Excellence Awards is a significant achievement. What are your future plans and aspirations as an artist, especially in terms of continuing to address social issues through your work?
I hope that my art reaches more audiences. I plan to continue exploring and experimenting with different mediums in creating more artworks that will highlight societal realities. I want to be able to deliver messages that will remain relevant not only for our current situation but also for future generations.
Your artwork serves as a powerful medium for raising awareness about issues like poverty and survival. Are there specific projects or initiatives you are considering to further engage with these topics and make a positive impact on society through your art?
Addressing societal issues does not end with the creation of these pieces. As an artist, I want to take action by meeting more locals and actually seeing their living situations. Hearing more stories will allow me to tell more stories through art as well.
Still, I want to lend a hand and help in ways that I can—not just as an artist but as a person. I want these people to know that someone out there is willing to listen, even when the world seems to care less at times. •
The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) was established on January 8, 1979 by Dr. George S. K. Ty, sixteen (16) years after he founded the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (Metrobank). MBFI envisions to be the country’s premier corporate philanthropic foundation contributing a significant impact on social development. Its flagship programs include the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos; Metrobank Art & Design Excellence (MADE); Metrobank Scholarship Program (MSP); Metrobank MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge (MMC); Grants and Social Development Partnerships, Disaster Response, National Teachers’ Month (NTM) celebration, and the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair Lectures. MBFI is also the principal owner of the Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), one of the leading centers of wellness in the country.
As a development organization, MBFI aims to uplift individuals and the sectors they represent and strategically link with institutions for a shared-purpose. By creating and propagating a culture of excellence and providing solutions to stakeholder’s needs, the Foundation continuously expands its scope of reach and is at the forefront in serving communities. As the heart of the Metrobank Group, “Excel. Engage. Empower” or the 3Es remains its roadmap.
