Iloilo artist made famous through social media never gave up on art

By Emme Rose S. Santiagudo
Correspondent

LARRY M. Casinao — who recently touched the hearts of netizens after photos of him painting on the sidewalk of Jaro Plaza uploaded by student Sal Molinos went viral on social media — used to go house-to-house to peddle his artworks.

The 52-year old did not just go around like a traveling salesman around his hometown Iloilo City, but ventured to the towns of Januiay, Barotac Nuevo, Dumangas, and even the neighboring island province of Guimaras.

“Mabudlay kay ang kontra mo init kag ulan and may mga times nga hina gid ang benta. Maayo na lang may customer ka sa isa ka semana (It was tough, especially that I had to endure the extreme heat and rain. One customer per week would be lucky enough for me),” he said in an interview last week at the Festive Walk Mall Iloilo where he now has space to display his creations.

Mr. Casinao said he managed to finish two years of his drafting course at the former Iloilo School of Arts and Trades, now ISAT-University, before he landed his first job in a sack factory.

But he kept painting, giving away his work to friends and family.

“Ang una ko nga mga painting usually mga landscape. Pero wala ko pa to ginabaligya, ginahatag ko lang sa akon mga kilala kag pamilya (My first set of paintings comprised of landscapes, but at that time I would just give it to my friends and relatives),” he said.

Encouraged that he can earn an income from his talent, and with a family to raise, he started selling his paintings and accepted commissioned work for charcoal portraits.

“I practiced on my own when I had my own family. Ever since I’m in grade school, I have really been fond of art,” he said.

Mr. Casinao, hoping to earn more, decided to display his artworks on the sidewalks of Jaro in Iloilo City after his wife Angelita was diagnosed with a kidney problem four years ago and needed to undergo regular dialysis treatment.

“Daw napinsaran ko naghina ang house-to-house kag may gina-dialysis pa ko. Didto ko kag nagumpisa display sa Jaro and may nagabakal three to five nga painting per week (I decided to display my artworks on the sidewalks because I had to support my wife. Eventually, I get to sell three to five of my artworks in a week),” he narrated.

There, he also met Renaldo M. Libuna, a tricycle driver whom he eventually trained to become an artist, and the two have been working together since.

After Mr. Casinao’s story went viral on social media last week, not only have they been given space for their craft, but they started selling pieces like hotcaks.

“Dasig lang maubos kag actually sold out na gina ang amon iban nga painting. Damo man naga-contact sa akon sa Facebook nga gusto man nila magbakal. Asta tulad, daw indi ko magpati. Grabe gid ang pasalamat ko kay Sal Molinos (My paintings were sold in a short period of time. A lot of people have also been contacting me through my Facebook account. Until now, I still can’t believe it. I am very grateful to Sal Molinos),” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Libuna said he has temporarily stopped plying his tricycle as he is now focused on painting.

Mr. Casinao said he has also been mentoring one of his children, Grade 12 student Lar Mae, to become a painter too.

He is also planning to organize an art workshop soon to inspire more budding artists and gain extra income.

“Sa iban nga mga artists, kinahanglan hindi gid kamo mag-give up kay sa inyo man pagpangabudlay, makabulig gid ang inyo mga nabal-an sa inyo pamilya (To all the other local artists out there, don’t ever give up because through your hard work, you can also help your family),” he said.