Despite the growing awareness and appreciation of arts in the Philippines, one thing remains the same—it is not a sustainable career, especially for beginners. So, it’s not surprising that even those with a natural knack for it opt to pursue stable corporate jobs offering secure, regular, and decent income.
This holds true for the winners of Avida Land’s South Park District Mural Design Competition. These call center agents, led by Jhocel “Anthony Marahuyo” Malicsi and his team of thirteen talented individuals—Rheydene Luca Ortega, Rhealhet Luca Ortega, Laurence Sebolino Gutierrez, Ma. Aleilyn Joyce Domingo Botin, John Roland Alipis, Ainafer Rupal Arena, John Alexis Rupal Arena, Roma Nieves Huet, Rica Permejo, Mia Jormalyn Astrera Balaoro, John Lenarrd Soriano Barua, Michael Grospe Autos, and Jefferson Panghulan Parajas. Handling logistics for this team were Jerome Edianel Carandang, Charmaine Abiado Camba, Paul Denvir Delmonte, and John Carlo Decrepito, who secured the P500,000 prize with their competition design entry titled “In Her Future Memories.”
This design that adheres to the theme “Part City, Part Nature, Pure South” is turned into a mural. It prominently depicts a female cyborg whose mechanical parts seamlessly blend with a backdrop of brightly-hued tropical flowers, creating a fusion of technology and nature. On the left, where the flowers open to the futuristic city skyline, onlookers are invited to imagine what tomorrow might bring.
Through its appealing imagery, the mural transports the viewers to a world where concrete skyscrapers rise amidst vibrant flora, symbolizing a hopeful future where progress does not come at the expense of the natural world. It’s an image that evokes nostalgia and a feeling of deep connection to one’s hometown.
“None of us is a professional artist, but I always tell them to trust yourself and trust the process,” Anthony said.
Twenty-nine-year-old Anthony has been working as a call center agent for six years now, and his teammates are colleagues turned to real-life friends. In a conversation with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, he shared that he took up an engineering course at the University of the Philippines but couldn’t finish due to personal and financial problems. Even though he’s also into arts, the idea of pursuing it after quitting school didn’t cross his mind, knowing that it would not give him a sustainable income. Hence, he decided to work in a call center company.
That is why they are grateful when Avida Land opened the competition to all, not limited to professional artists. These young dreamers took the opportunity to showcase their talents and skills. Their work stands 20 meters above the ground and is considered the biggest creative mural in the South. It is expected to attract multitudes of art lovers and visitors to South Park District, a 6.6-hectare master-planned mixed-use development in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, home to two Avida residential developments—Avida Towers Ardane, a pre-selling property, and Avida Towers Altura, a move-in ready home. Both are situated right across the South Park Center and South Park Corporate Center.
With this feat, Anthony and his team established Marahuyo Studios and are currently accepting projects from murals to portraits. To those individuals who doubt pursuing their artistic passion because of a lack of education, Anthony and his team remind everyone that it’s all about talent, hard work, and dedication.
“You don’t have to impress everyone. Find your own style that is unique, and then leave an impression that lasts,” Anthony said. “Don’t think that you need an art degree to start. What’s good with art is you have complete freedom. As long as you have the passion to create, have the will to learn, and are hungry to create something, do it.”
Meanwhile, Avida Land's marketing head, Tess Tatco, beams excitedly for South Park District's newest attraction. “Come see ‘In Her Future Memories’ for yourself,” she said. “And step beneath the towering canvas, feel the pulse of the city and nature merge, and rediscover the charm of the South.”