TACLOBAN CITY — Ryan Managaysay didn’t want to remain idle amid quarantine restrictions brought about by the new coronavirus pandemic.

So one day, the 21-year-old plucked a local fern, known as “salikupkop,” and with a small sharp blade started carving a leaf to create a portrait.

“I just like to give people good vibes. I want to inspire them to do something productive during this time of pandemic,” he said.

Class requirement

Managaysay, a sophomore taking up education at Samar State University (SSU) in Catbalogan City, said his artworks were posted by his instructor, Jhonil Bajado, on Facebook.

“I was overwhelmed by the reactions … I just thought it’s crazy,” he said in a recent telephone interview.

Managaysay, who has been doing charcoal portraits, said his art pieces were originally part of a requirement under Bajado’s “Readings in Philippine History” subject.

But he decided to continue producing leaf art to inspire young people in his hometown of Tarangnan to be creative amid the stress brought by the health crisis.

He said he had to climb coconut trees to get salikupkop before he can start working on a portrait.

Unassuming

His first subject in his leaf art was Bajado, but he said he was not confident to show it to his teacher.

Bajado only learned about the artwork when Managaysay posted it on “My Day” on his Facebook page, a feature of the popular online site which disappears after 24 hours.

“He (Managaysay) was not confident to show it to me at first, because he did not consider it worthy [of] my attention,” said the teacher.

“Knowing how unassuming this kid is, I know he was just hesitant to show the artistic work of his hand,” he said.

Even when he did his second portrait of broadcast journalist Jessica Soho, Managaysay was still hesitant to show it to his teacher.

“I even asked my classmates first if he would like it,” he said.

Bajado, who heads SSU’s museum and archives department, said he was impressed.

“I was overwhelmed and impressed with his creativity in using a local leaf as his medium. I found it not so common, so I asked him to create more, which he willingly did,” he said.

So Managaysay continued to practice and had to waste several salikupkop leaves before finally perfecting his portraits.

Personalities

Among Managaysay’s subjects were Pope Francis, President Duterte, boxing legend and Sen. Manny Pacquiao, television stars Willie Revillame, Boy Abunda and Raffy Tulfo, and Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan.

Managaysay said it usually took him three to four hours to finish a portrait. The most difficult part of the face to do is the eyes since these are small.

“I use an actual photo of my subject as my layout,” he said.

Managaysay said he started accepting commissioned artworks, allowing him to help augment their family’s income.

He is the second child in a brood of four. His father, Tomas, died in 2009 while his mother, Norma, 49, is a day care worker.

“I am positive that this leaf art will support me in my studies,” Managaysay said.