Sunday, September 14, 2003
MEETING ROBERT
Another favorite excerpt from Paulo Coelho's The Warrior of the Light goes...
A Warrior of the Light sometimes thinks: 'If I do not do something, it will not be done.' It is not quite like that: He/She must act, but he/she must allow room for the Universe to act too.
It was so timely that I came across this line again very recently.
* * *
I saw an article in the Inquirer last Monday (September 8) on Robert Alejandro, now more popularly known as Kuya Robert thanks to Art Is-Kool (9:30 a.m., Saturdays on GMA7). He is also the "ro" in Papemelroti, their family business. He designed the Alabang Town Center, among many others. His art is very distinct in Papemelroti and The Filipino Bookstore. The first line of the article read: "He is Peter Pan personified." And indeed, his picture showed an almost-40-year old man in an Art Is-Kool t-shirt and a pair of shorts, with smiling eyes and a gentle aura of an old friend/favorite brother.
I recall a conversation I had with Ella, a friend of mine from fourth grade nearly two years ago. I told her about my interest in children's books, how I enjoyed my I.S. elective on Writing and Illustrating for Children, and how I dreamed of getting some of my artwork published. "You should meet Robert," my friend said excitedly. She was a producer for Probe then and worked closely with him. With her busy schedule, Ella and I didn't see each other until two years later... which was last week.
The article on Robert prompted me to contact her and surprisingly, she was free to meet for lunch last Thursday. Our two-hour lunch (!) was full of nostalgic stories of CSA, our schoolfriends, work, our futures, and of course, Robert. "He is such a happy person... with a really happy childhood... no hang-ups... he really sees the goodness of people... actually, bagay kayo." :) Hmmmm. Then she added: "But he's just so busy... instant celebrity status sya with Art Is-Kool."
The next day, I see an Art Is-Kool sign next to the Metropolis Star mall here in Alabang. Robert was scheduled for an art workshop right in my neighborhood! I immediately texted Ella and joked: "Should I stalk him? :) Hehehe." She goes ahead and tells Robert about me and that I was going to his workshop. He tells her that I should approach him as soon as I get there.
To make a long story short: I met Robert Alejandro yesterday. :) We got to talk before his workshop started and I must say that he is such an authentically COOL guy. He said he never expected the show to be that big: educational shows aren't normally popular. He shared how he enjoyed all this sans the public attention. All of a sudden he needs a camouflage when he commutes or when he goes around town. He asked about my interest in kids' art. He said we should talk more. He is a cool guy. A happy person. Childlike. Big heart. Smiling eyes. Peter Pan personified.
I saw how the kids and their parents adored him. They held up their artworks inspired by Art Is-Kool. They cheered for their Kuya Robert. They shrieked "Art Is-Kool!" as loud as they could for the GMA cameras. Parents shook his hands, hugged him, thanked him, took photos of him with their kids.
I felt like a kid as I watched him at work. I wanted to hold up my artwork as well: "Kuya Robert, what do you think? Can you teach me more?" I wanted an Art Is-Kool t-shirt as well had they not run out for the 250+ sea of children who were there. All of a sudden, I want to do art workshops as well. I want to help teach kids to take up and enjoy arts and crafts. In the middle of the art workshop, I finally called a lady who had an art school here in Alabang. I've had her calling card for nearly six months now yet have felt insecure about asking for opportunities to work on weekends. I'm meeting her next week.
There are no concrete outcomes as of yet: I am not yet an art teacher. I haven't showed Robert any of my artwork. My work is not published yet. I really don't know where all this will lead to. But I know I'm one (or two? or three?) steps closer to one of my dreams.
Was it me or the Universe?
* * *
Then, accepting the help of God and God's Signs, she allows her Personal Legend to guide her toward the tasks that life has reserved for her.
A Warrior of the Light sometimes thinks: 'If I do not do something, it will not be done.' It is not quite like that: He/She must act, but he/she must allow room for the Universe to act too.
It was so timely that I came across this line again very recently.
* * *
I saw an article in the Inquirer last Monday (September 8) on Robert Alejandro, now more popularly known as Kuya Robert thanks to Art Is-Kool (9:30 a.m., Saturdays on GMA7). He is also the "ro" in Papemelroti, their family business. He designed the Alabang Town Center, among many others. His art is very distinct in Papemelroti and The Filipino Bookstore. The first line of the article read: "He is Peter Pan personified." And indeed, his picture showed an almost-40-year old man in an Art Is-Kool t-shirt and a pair of shorts, with smiling eyes and a gentle aura of an old friend/favorite brother.
I recall a conversation I had with Ella, a friend of mine from fourth grade nearly two years ago. I told her about my interest in children's books, how I enjoyed my I.S. elective on Writing and Illustrating for Children, and how I dreamed of getting some of my artwork published. "You should meet Robert," my friend said excitedly. She was a producer for Probe then and worked closely with him. With her busy schedule, Ella and I didn't see each other until two years later... which was last week.
The article on Robert prompted me to contact her and surprisingly, she was free to meet for lunch last Thursday. Our two-hour lunch (!) was full of nostalgic stories of CSA, our schoolfriends, work, our futures, and of course, Robert. "He is such a happy person... with a really happy childhood... no hang-ups... he really sees the goodness of people... actually, bagay kayo." :) Hmmmm. Then she added: "But he's just so busy... instant celebrity status sya with Art Is-Kool."
The next day, I see an Art Is-Kool sign next to the Metropolis Star mall here in Alabang. Robert was scheduled for an art workshop right in my neighborhood! I immediately texted Ella and joked: "Should I stalk him? :) Hehehe." She goes ahead and tells Robert about me and that I was going to his workshop. He tells her that I should approach him as soon as I get there.
To make a long story short: I met Robert Alejandro yesterday. :) We got to talk before his workshop started and I must say that he is such an authentically COOL guy. He said he never expected the show to be that big: educational shows aren't normally popular. He shared how he enjoyed all this sans the public attention. All of a sudden he needs a camouflage when he commutes or when he goes around town. He asked about my interest in kids' art. He said we should talk more. He is a cool guy. A happy person. Childlike. Big heart. Smiling eyes. Peter Pan personified.
I saw how the kids and their parents adored him. They held up their artworks inspired by Art Is-Kool. They cheered for their Kuya Robert. They shrieked "Art Is-Kool!" as loud as they could for the GMA cameras. Parents shook his hands, hugged him, thanked him, took photos of him with their kids.
I felt like a kid as I watched him at work. I wanted to hold up my artwork as well: "Kuya Robert, what do you think? Can you teach me more?" I wanted an Art Is-Kool t-shirt as well had they not run out for the 250+ sea of children who were there. All of a sudden, I want to do art workshops as well. I want to help teach kids to take up and enjoy arts and crafts. In the middle of the art workshop, I finally called a lady who had an art school here in Alabang. I've had her calling card for nearly six months now yet have felt insecure about asking for opportunities to work on weekends. I'm meeting her next week.
There are no concrete outcomes as of yet: I am not yet an art teacher. I haven't showed Robert any of my artwork. My work is not published yet. I really don't know where all this will lead to. But I know I'm one (or two? or three?) steps closer to one of my dreams.
Was it me or the Universe?
* * *
Then, accepting the help of God and God's Signs, she allows her Personal Legend to guide her toward the tasks that life has reserved for her.
