FOR SOME people, one book makes all the difference—especially if it’s one of their own.
For artist Ruben “Totet” de Jesus, that book was “Ang Mahiyaing Manok,” a children’s book written by Rebecca Añonuevo and published by Adarna House in 2000.
De Jesus, a Visual Communication graduate of University of the Philippines Diliman, illustrated the book that was about a chicken’s struggles with confidence.
“It actually made my mark as an illustrator,” he says. “When I started as a children’s book illustrator, I wasn’t very confident about my drawing skills. ‘Ang Mahiyaing Manok’ opened a lot of things for me as an artist. I realized that I have a gift that I have to develop and share with other people.”
That book became a bestseller for Adarna and gathered recognition, including an Encouragement Prize from the 2000 Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustrations in Tokyo; a runner-up prize from the 2004 New York Showcase Exhibition, Winter Conference, Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; a finalist for the National Book Award; and the titular chicken was named one of the 25 best-loved Filipino children’s-book characters during the Philippine Board on Books for Young People’s 25th anniversary in 2008.
De Jesus has had a similar ascent. He has since become one of the founding members of the Illustrador ng Kabataan (Ang INK) and has illustrated almost 20 books.
Today, the award-winning 54-year-old is a professor at the Visual Communication Department of the UP College of Fine Arts. Teaching has become important to him.
“I advise young illustrators in Ang INK, and with the book I hope more kids will start to believe in themselves,” he says. “Hindi tayo kailangang maging masyadong mahiyain dahil mayroon tayong kani-kaniyang galing (We don’t need to be too shy because we all have our own gifts).”
New piece
This year marks 15 years since the publication of “Ang Mahiyaing Manok,” and De Jesus wants to give thanks with a special exhibit for all the book has given him. The distinctive style and themes of “Ang Mahiyaing Manok” are at the heart of “Tilaok”—the exhibit that opens on Nov. 12, 5:30 p.m. at the GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center in UP Diliman. It runs until Dec. 11.
De Jesus will be unveiling 15 new pieces which take their cue from the full-color “Ang Mahiyaing Manok” book illustrations and the ballpoint art from his “Simpleng Buhay, Simpleng Kulay” exhibits at the Filipinas Heritage Library.
Simple approaches
He hopes his guests at the “Tilaok” exhibit will see the thinking behind the art, particularly the charms of his distinctively detailed ballpoint art.
“For artists, it is good to go back to themes and creative approaches considered simple based on present standards, especially in the digital age,” he says. “I still hold on to the tried-and-tested water-color medium. I am still awed by the results and I am still learning. We also treat ballpoint as a lowly medium, but there are wonderful things that the point, the dash or the line can achieve. For everyone, there is beauty and joy in simple pleasures— reading, appreciating and respecting nature.”
Even as one exhibit opens, De Jesus is already thinking of another.
“I will be having another one next year where I will be collaborating with, hopefully, 20 people in different fields,” he explains. “This will also be child-oriented. Exciting kasi, I chose people I’ve not worked with yet as an illustrator for any of my book projects.”
“Tilaok” exemplifies the joy Ruben de Jesus has felt as a children’s illustrator, and he wants to share it with everyone.
He loves what he does: “I get to talk to kids visually, help them grow, learn, see themselves through the stories and the visuals, go beyond their limitations and, hopefully, become better Filipinos.”
Ruben de Jesus’ “Tilaok: Celebrating 15 Years of ‘Ang Mahiyaing Manok’” runs Nov. 12-Dec. 11 at the GT-Toyota Asian Cultural Center, Asian Center, UP Diliman, Magsaysay corner Katipunan Ave., Quezon City.