Social media serves as good exposure to share your talents and skills. This commuter was able to help a driver further share his artistic talent when she hopped in his cab.
https://twitter.com/defyingGABity/status/977528383713062912
Gab Balinas initially thought she’d encounter a typical taxi ride home, but instead, the trip turned out to be something memorable. She was astounded by what she saw once she entered – two framed portraits strapped behind the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat.
It took me a while to connect the dots, because the art looked extremely familiar and the entire situation was a little surreal. I admired his skill and dedication – balancing this kind of art on top of being a taxi driver is no joke. It was such an honor to actually meet him. He didn’t say anything about his works until I made a comment, and then he started to talk about his profession and story.
Balinas narrates to WHEN IN MANILA the small conversation she picked up from his cab driver.
Kuya Rolando is a self-taught artist, needing only a photo for reference. I’m not sure how long it takes, but that can’t possibly be done in a single day even if you had all the time to work on a single portrait. He also had a stall once about 5 years ago, but he and a few other vendors were run out when urban expansions were being made. The nostalgia and sadness as he shared that story… not even his light tone and the jokes he’d pull in here and there could hide that. Kuya was very kind the entire ride and I could see how passionate he is for his trade. He told me had a lot of customers during major holidays, but it also kinda felt like he was still flailing for more.
Balinas shares how Rolando Charcol (the cab driver)’s commissioned portraits are a bargain already.
He prices the small portraits for 500 pesos and the big ones for 700 pesos – a sinfully low price for this kind of quality, which he even supplies its frame for free. I only wish he would charge higher, it’s almost scandalously low. I’m very happy he’s gotten another chance in the spotlight, and I really hope and wish and pray he gets the recognition he deserves. Hopefully, this will give him a better chance of being seen, maybe even scouted.
Have you encountered riding in Kuya Rolando’s cab or encountered his artwork, too? Let us know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: WheninManila.com does not own any of the photos above. Credits go to Gab Balinas.
