From Dreams to Reality: The journey of Gemarie Gamas

The Manila Times

From Dreams to Reality: The journey of Gemarie Gamas   Growing up as part of the Mansaka tribe, Gemarie Gamas always dreamed of exploring his potential beyond the horizons of his hometown. His journey began at Tagum National High School, where he penned his ambition to become an international painter. Fast forward to today, Gemarie has not only made a name for himself in the art world but has also dedicated his life to helping others discover their own legacies. His story is a testament to the power of dreams, resilience, and the importance of uplifting our communities.  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net   Subscribe to Business Franchise Guru: https://www.youtube.com/@BusinessFranchiseGuru   Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Sign up to our newsletters: https://tmt.ph/newsletters  Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #TheManilaTimes  #philippines #entrepreneur

Transcript

00:00The Business Mentor Talks is vlogged by no other, Armando Buts Bartolome, in cooperation

00:13with the Manila Times.

00:15It aims to bring to life and recognize entrepreneurs who constantly strive to create a living for

00:21the community as well.

00:41Listen to The Business Mentor Talks with Buts Bartolome.

01:11Good afternoon, good morning, you know, those of us who watch every Sunday, Jem, tell us

01:21your story.

01:22Actually, Sir Buts, good morning, Jem.

01:23My story is interesting for us as part or member of the minority tribe in Manila, called

01:40Manzaca.

01:41I had a good experience from my own tribe, I dreamed of going to...

01:55So what tribe is this?

01:56What tribe are you talking about here?

01:57My father is from a tribe in Manzaca.

01:58It's a minority tribe.

01:59We call it from minorities.

02:00When I was in school, I became a first owner from grade 1 until I became a valedictorian,

02:27and then in high school, I had a chance to participate in contests, art contests.

02:35But your life as a Lumad, how was your life when you grew up as a Lumad?

02:42What kind of life, for our viewers, what was the life of a Lumad?

02:50In Davao del Norte, right?

02:52Yes, yes.

02:53In Tagum.

02:54In Tagum?

02:55Yeah, yeah.

02:56So it was...

02:57It was hard for me because my parents were poor, and they considered the daily necessities

03:08as hard for them to earn a living.

03:13They weren't fortunate enough to live a happy life.

03:21But in that part, I had a chance to study in a private school, in my high school.

03:33So I was able to study in a famous school in our area, University of Mindanao, Tagum High School.

03:42Yes.

03:43So I became a classmate of Makaya, the son of a congressman.

03:50So that's when I realized that one day, I could have an abundant life.

04:01So that's possible.

04:02In other words, that became your driving force.

04:06I felt like I needed to have a career that I could be.

04:15So when I graduated from high school, I wrote there,

04:19I want to be an international painter.

04:22No, not an international artist.

04:25International painter.

04:28Yes, I wrote that in our yearbook.

04:31So, as time went by, I had a chance to participate in contests.

04:40I also won.

04:42I was fortunate to be in first place, first place, second place.

04:48So I had a chance to go to Manila.

04:55In 1997, when I was in Manila, I had a chance to join the Metrobank Foundation.

05:10But when you were young, you really liked to draw.

05:14You wanted to be a painter.

05:17So, what skills did you develop when you were in elementary school?

05:24Or was it really your nature?

05:26When I was in elementary school, I fought a lot.

05:29It was a bit weird.

05:30I was a soldier in the NPA.

05:33So that was the trend back then.

05:36There were events like that.

05:41So, I drew tanks.

05:46So, it was my experience that my father would let me go down.

05:52Because there were experiences that I can only remember.

05:59I would go to my grandmother's hometown, Tagong.

06:03Because there, in the mountains, they let you go down.

06:07So, that was the time when I was inspired to create paintings.

06:14In other words, you can't record this in other ways,

06:18but you can record it in your art.

06:23So, basically now, Jen, you have come a long way.

06:30In other words, from the mountains,

06:32to becoming a well-known painter.

06:37In other words, you've manifested what you're saying.

06:40That's what we're talking about, right?

06:42So, basically, what are you doing now?

06:45What is Jen doing now?

06:47Actually, I have a gallery.

06:49It's called the Gengam Art Gallery.

06:51So, before that happened,

06:54I became an artist with the Asian Development Bank.

06:59I made portraits of their senior executives.

07:04So, if an outgoing senior executive from another country shows up,

07:11they have a portrait.

07:13So, you're really doing this by hand?

07:16Yes, by hand.

07:17How did you do it?

07:19Because, you know, this is Jen.

07:22We're here at the Royal Care Mabuhay Business Center,

07:26the grand opening.

07:27And it's also the birthday of our colleague, Maynard Esguerra.

07:32And Jen gave a beautiful portrait.

07:39Charcoal portrait.

07:42How long did it take you to do that?

07:45Actually, I just did it for a few hours, I think.

07:48Just a while ago?

07:50Just a few hours.

07:52Just a few hours.

07:53But again, besides doing this painting and all this,

07:58you also teach orphans.

08:01What is the recovery child development?

08:06What you're telling me.

08:08Yes, I am giving back.

08:11What I experienced back then,

08:13I wanted to study, I kept going.

08:17So, it's a bit difficult,

08:20but I did it for my future.

08:24And I want those kids, they're indigent.

08:28We call them indigent.

08:29I think that's the right terminology for that.

08:32I want them to experience, not just reading,

08:38because art is also part of literacy.

08:42At the same time, our culture,

08:45it's retained through art.

08:48So, that's what I did.

08:50So, that happened.

08:51I went to a remote place,

08:53in Talaingo, Davao del Norte.

08:56I made an art workshop for the kids.

09:01And in Davao City,

09:03there's another place that I also went to.

09:07The kids didn't even wear slippers

09:10while they were studying.

09:13They went to school.

09:15So, that's one of my advocacies.

09:19I'm not going to say anything else.

09:21Because there are other orphanages.

09:23So, basically, what are you doing there?

09:26What is it that pushes you to do this?

09:31That's what I'm saying,

09:33I am giving back.

09:34So, it's a give-back program.

09:38I'm the only one who knows,

09:40because sometimes I don't let people know.

09:42Correct.

09:43You're doing it silently.

09:45Let your work be known.

09:48Like what's happening to us now.

09:52If you know me,

09:54I'm not the one telling you.

09:56You just discovered me.

09:58That's what I'm doing.

10:00You know, friends,

10:02I was just talking to Jem.

10:05When I saw his work,

10:07I said,

10:08Jem, you still have a hidden talent.

10:11So, he told me about his life.

10:14And me,

10:16because this is a person

10:18who came from the mountains,

10:20literally,

10:21he taught,

10:23he made his journey.

10:26Right?

10:27So, basically, Jem,

10:29I'm going to ask you,

10:30with the age of technology,

10:32with the age of this,

10:34what do you think,

10:36will this growth,

10:38this painting,

10:40will not disappear

10:42with this age of technology now?

10:45What's the challenge for us?

10:48In your skills.

10:50That's a good question.

10:52Because,

10:54what's happening to us now,

10:56what we used to call CGI,

10:59CGI Computer Generated Images,

11:02now it's AI.

11:04AI.

11:05So, from there,

11:07we started with the hand-drawn,

11:11the loose strokes of the hand.

11:14But now,

11:15we don't need it anymore

11:16because we have a computer.

11:18But in the long procession,

11:20that's still where we will continue.

11:23Because,

11:24what is my connection

11:26with the new technology now?

11:29The new technology,

11:30I also made a hand.

11:32During the study,

11:34the comprehensive study of a cell phone,

11:36I just made it through lines,

11:38I just made it by hand.

11:40The keyboard of the computer,

11:42and the thickness,

11:44and the width of a computer,

11:47I also made it by hand.

11:49Correct, correct.

11:50So, basically,

11:54in the mind of a person,

11:56he used his hands.

11:58But,

11:59even if the technology is there now,

12:02we can still think that

12:07it will be lost.

12:09So, in other words,

12:10Jem,

12:11the challenge now is

12:12to teach the new generations,

12:15to teach the people who have the skill

12:19to maintain.

12:22Because,

12:23there is nothing as human touch.

12:25That's what we said, right?

12:26In other words,

12:27AI is not really something that is a threat,

12:31but really,

12:32it's a challenge for us

12:33to make it better.

12:35After all,

12:37we have a lot of challenges,

12:39but again,

12:41the human touch,

12:42that's why I think the challenge for you is

12:44for you to continue teaching the young people.

12:47Yes, yes.

12:48I'm not a psychologist,

12:53but they say that

12:55when you make an artwork,

12:58there's a healing process that happens.

13:01Correct.

13:02So,

13:03I've just learned that from the…

13:08But that's true.

13:09Yes, sir.

13:10You're mentally challenged,

13:12right?

13:13Mental health, right?

13:14Yes, sir.

13:15That's one thing that's right,

13:16that sketching,

13:18the ability to sketch,

13:20means that they will show their inner.

13:24So, I guess that's one challenge for you

13:27to help people like that, right?

13:31Yes,

13:32I'm happy that I was able to teach.

13:37Even,

13:38actually,

13:39it's free, right?

13:40When I teach in those places,

13:43so,

13:44from my own pocket,

13:45I really don't…

13:48Sir, what's…

13:49My friends already know that.

13:52I'd rather borrow for that,

13:55just to make it exciting.

14:00Because they need materials for colors,

14:05so,

14:06the paints,

14:07the canvas,

14:08the pencils.

14:11But,

14:13you'll see their joy

14:15when they make something.

14:18Through coloring,

14:19it's like they're having fun.

14:23It's like they're making a masterpiece.

14:26So, basically,

14:27what would you recommend now?

14:29Okay,

14:30how do you now communicate to our viewers

14:34the importance of…

14:38What would you recommend?

14:39Because you've been through a lot, right?

14:42You've faced a lot of challenges.

14:44In fact, you can write your life in one book, right?

14:49People who are seeing no hope,

14:52what would you recommend to them?

14:53People who are seeing no hope,

14:56what are the challenges in life,

15:00or those who have skills,

15:02and yet, they can't develop.

15:05What would you recommend to them?

15:07Sir, what I see,

15:09from my own experience,

15:11I see the potential,

15:14it's not from the outside.

15:15It's not from the outside.

15:17So, acquiring that,

15:18you might think it's from the outside,

15:22but actually, it's from the inside.

15:24It's from the inside.

15:25Yeah, okay.

15:26So, I see that.

15:28Why would I go abroad?

15:31I have my talent and skills here.

15:34Why would I go abroad?

15:36So, I'm not saying that…

15:38It's just based on my experiences.

15:41I can make a portrait,

15:44a small painting,

15:46or a caricature,

15:48just to earn.

15:50I also learned how to paint big paintings.

15:54So, from that time,

15:57there are commissions.

16:02So, I also have a chance

16:08to save.

16:11So, the method,

16:15as an artist,

16:17I acquired it,

16:19I saw it,

16:20it's from the inside.

16:23So, that's the point.

16:25What you're trying to say is,

16:27people, our viewers,

16:29don't lose hope.

16:31Yes, sir.

16:32Like Jeff,

16:34I was surprised here.

16:36He really turned around this time.

16:38In other words, 360 degrees.

16:41My life is not just up to here.

16:43Period.

16:44Yes, sir.

16:45You are trying to explore to the maximum.

16:49In other words,

16:50you won't be able to get to know

16:52the foundations you're talking about.

16:54You won't be able to get to know

16:56the Senate,

16:57to be a judge of paintings.

16:59Yes, sir.

17:00But you are now telling people your skills.

17:04At the same time,

17:05here you are.

17:07Thank you, sir.

17:08So, I'm very…

17:13I'm really happy that

17:15my being an artist

17:17has a place

17:19in the community where I belong.

17:23Because sometimes,

17:24artists say,

17:25it's just art,

17:26nothing else.

17:27But art is very deep.

17:32You can't buy it cheaply.

17:35It's an expression.

17:36Yes, sir.

17:37You see the statues of Michelangelo.

17:40Who were they that day?

17:42That's right.

17:43Picasso.

17:44So, sooner or later,

17:47if you have a signature of Jem

17:50in his caricature or painting,

17:53it will be valuable.

17:55So, there.

17:57Again, Jem, thank you very much.

17:59Again, you are a happy Filipino

18:03who is proud because

18:05you are proud that

18:07I'm not ashamed to be from a tribe.

18:11You show that anyone can be proud.

18:14Right?

18:15Thank you for that.

18:16If they can do it,

18:17you can do it too.

18:18Right?

18:19So, that's what's important.

18:20Jem, by the way,

18:21is a member of the PCCI Quezon City Chamber.

18:25And he is always with us

18:28in our activities.

18:30So, again, Jem,

18:31thank you very much.

18:32Thank you, sir.

18:33More power,

18:34and I hope you can help more young people,

18:37especially to pass on that legacy

18:40of the art of painting.

18:42It's really an art.

18:43It's not just skill.

18:44Yes.

18:45So, thank you for having me here in your blog.

18:48Yeah.

18:49It's my pleasure to meet you.

18:51Yes.

18:52So…

18:53This guy is simple.

18:55You know,

18:56being a painter,

18:58it's silent,

18:59but yet his works are really…

19:01We will show you my work

19:03as long as we go through this blog.

19:07Thank you very much.

19:10And again,

19:11as you can see,

19:12if he can do it,

19:13so can you.

19:14So, again,

19:15in our next episode,

19:16watch this beautiful episode of Jem.

19:21Bye-bye.

19:39Bye-bye.

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