This teenager is not an ordinary artist.
When Heri was growing up, he would watch his mother Marjorie Pascua paint.
”Since anak ko siya, naniniwala ako na may artist genes siya pero never ko siyang pinilit. Nagpa-paint kasi ako sa harapan niya so nakikita niya ako. Na-eexpose siya, nakikita niya gamit ko,” Mommy Marjorie told The Philippine STAR.
“Since naniniwala ako na magp-paint din siya one day, merong blanko na canvas akong laging naka-ready. Media noche ng 2018, bigla niyang sinabi sa ’kin, ‘Mama, paint.’ In 45 minutes, natapos niya ‘yung painting,” she added.
Heri was just 13 years old when he started painting. According to Mommy Marjorie, his health condition was never a hindrance in creating his own art.
“Heri was diagnosed with down syndrome. Isa sa mga complication niya is may dalawang maliit na butas sa puso niya and prone siya sa pneumonia,” Mommy Marjorie explained.
“Minsan nangyari is, gusto niyang mag-paint, tatlong paintings natapos niya in one sitting. So hindi mo siya mapipigilan. Si Heri po kasi, mabait na bata, masunurin. Pero pagdating po kasi sa arts, kahit ako na nanay niya, hindi niya sinusunod. ‘Yung art niya, talagang sa kanyang-kanya,” she said.
At first, Mommy Marjorie wanted to keep Heri’s painting for the sake of memories. But in 2018, a TV personality saw Heri’s painting and offered to buy it.
“Nandun ‘yung stall nila Ms. Christine Babao. Wala akong dinisplay na painting ni Heri pero meron akong isang dala. Sabi niya, ‘May painting ba si Heri? Bibilhin ko.’ Nagbigay siya ng P3,500,” she recalled.
“Nakaka-proud. Nandun si Heri that time, nag-picture kami. Super proud din po siya. Alam niya kapag nakakabenta siya ng painting, medyo mayabang siya,” she added.
Mommy Marjorie confidently said that Heri is a better artist than her.
“Sa totoo lang, mas magaling siya sa’kin mag-paint. Nung nag-start ako, hindi ako ganun magkulay pero nung binigyan namin siya ng primary colors lang, nakagawa na siya agad ng tertiary colors. Nakaka-proud po talaga, sobra-sobra,” she noted.
Mommy Marjorie has been a single mom for 18 years now. She uses her talent to sustain the needs of her one and only son.
“Ang tawag ko sa sarili ko ay accidental artist kasi napilitan akong magpinta simply because one time in 2009, nung Ondoy, nanakawan ako ng sahod from the call center. Walang natira sa akin, ang meron lang is regalo na art materials,” she said.
‘”Yun din ‘yung pinaka-feasible na pagkakakitaan. May nagpapa-tutor. Nagbebenta ako ng kung anu-ano online. Thankful ako kasi ang pinakamalaking nakakatulong talaga sa’min is ‘yung paintings,” she shared.
Heri’s medication costs P500 per day that is why Mommy Marjorie is working hard to give the best medical attention to her son.
“May mga art for a cause kami, merch for a cause sa Shopee to sustain. Wala naman akong work kasi full time nanay-tatay ako sa kanya,” she said.
Heri also experienced several health emergencies in the past due to his condition.
“Nung 2018 kasi talagang I almost lost him. Nung na-ICU siya, talagang nagdasal ako na ipahiram pa siya sa’kin kasi wala naman akong control don, eh. Kung kukunin siya, kukunin talaga siya. Kapag pinahiram pa siya sa’kin, lahat-lahat talaga gagawin ko,” Mommy Marjorie said.
Heri and Mommy Marjorie’s journey is indeed a huge challenge but for her, she wouldn’t trade anything for Heri.
“Marami rin akong sinalihang support group. Shini-share ko ‘yung journey namin ni Heri kasi sabi ko, “Kung ako nakaya kayo, lalo naman kayo.” Kung meron silang partner, meron silang magulang, maraming paghuhugutan ng support. Sabi nga nila, hindi ibibigay sa’yo ng Diyos kung hindi mo kakayanin. Sobrang grateful po ako kasi sa dinami-rami ng tao sa mundo, napilli akong maging nanay ng isang anghel sa lupa,” she said as she looked back at all the hardships they faced.
