"C O U R A G E. T O. I M M I G R A T E
(L A K A S. N G. L O O B. M A G. I M M I G R A T E.)"
Written in English
This painting tells the story of how my parents bravely and courageously
immigrating from the Philippines to Canada
gave me the courage and bravery to immigrate as well.
When the time came for us to move
from Saskatoon, our birth town to
Calgary, our hometown.
We knew we could do it and we would be okay even though we were scared.
My family along with many other families in the
Filipino- Saskatoon Community had shown me it was possible.
You all influenced and shaped who I am today.
Your ripple effect of choosing to pave a new path of life,
positively shaped the community in Saskatoon and therefore anywhere we all may go.
I take the lessons I learned from all of you and try to practice them daily.
It shaped how I teach, how I live and how I love and care for others.
I am me because of the strong Filipino traditions and teachings I learned at
Home, Tagalog School, Community parties, Folkfest community and our interconnected relationships.
As many people of our community are no longer with us today and are loving and supporting us from heaven or have immigrated to different places all over the world
I want you to know that their memory has been imbedded in this painting
because you reading this and remembering them is the feeling of why I painted this.
I took the memories of a lifetime and put my heart, soul and adventure into it.
I painted this as a 8 ft x 8 ft mural at the Calgary Home and Garden Show in February 2024 under the mentorship of Rachel Lyon. She provided me with guidance and teaching to genuinely tell my story. She is an excellent mentor who champions others in the art community. With out her and the opportunity at the Calgary Home and Garden Show this painting would have never happened. Thank you. I am forever grateful for your belief in me.
The flowers are strong symbols of the places that have shaped and influenced who we are. The white flowers represents the Philippines National flower the Sampaguita
that symbolizes strength and hope.
The orange/peach flowers represents the Saskatchewan Provincial flower, the Prairie Lily
that symbolizes renewal.
The light beige flowers represents the Alberta Provincial flower, the Wild Rose
that symbolizes immortal love and union.
The four leaves represents my heart, soul, adventure and dream.
The sun is a reminder that even behind the clouds the sun will always shine.
Lastly I leave you with the reminder that:
"When we come together we can create beautiful things." -Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
Written in Tagalog
Ang pagpipinta na ito ay nagsasabi sa kuwento kung paano matapang ang aking mga magulang
dumayo mula sa Pilipinas patungong Canada
nagbigay sa akin ng lakas ng loob at tapang na mangibang-bayan din.
Nang dumating ang oras na kami ay lumipat
mula Saskatoon, ang aming kapanganakan sa
Calgary, ang aming bayan.
Alam naming kaya namin at magiging okay kami kahit natatakot kami.
Ang aking pamilya kasama ang marami pang pamilya sa
Ipinakita sa akin ng Filipino- Saskatoon Community na posible ito.
Inimpluwensyahan at hinubog ninyong lahat kung sino ako ngayon.
Iyong ripple effect ng pagpili na maghanda ng bagong landas ng buhay,
positibong hinubog ang komunidad sa Saskatoon at samakatuwid kahit saan tayong lahat ay maaaring pumunta.
Kinukuha ko ang mga aral na natutunan ko sa inyong lahat at sinisikap kong isagawa ang mga ito araw-araw.
Hinubog nito kung paano ako nagtuturo, kung paano ako nabubuhay at kung paano ko minamahal at pinangangalagaan ang iba.
Ako ay ako dahil sa malakas na tradisyon at aral ng Filipino na natutunan ko sa
Tahanan, Paaralang Tagalog, Mga partido sa komunidad, komunidad ng Folkfest at ang aming magkakaugnay na relasyon.
Tulad ng maraming mga tao sa ating komunidad ay wala na sa atin ngayon at nagmamahal at sumusuporta sa atin mula sa langit o nandayuhan sa iba't ibang lugar sa buong mundo
Nais kong malaman mo na ang kanilang alaala ay nakatanim sa pagpipinta na ito
dahil binabasa mo ito at naaalala mo sila ay ang pakiramdam kung bakit ako nagpinta nito.
Kinuha ko ang mga alaala ng isang buhay at inilagay ang aking puso, kaluluwa at pakikipagsapalaran dito.
Ang mga bulaklak ay malakas na simbolo ng mga lugar na humubog at nakaimpluwensya kung sino tayo. Ang mga puting bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Pambansang bulaklak ng Pilipinas na Sampaguita
na sumisimbolo ng lakas at pag-asa.
Ang mga kulay kahel/peach na bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Saskatchewan Provincial na bulaklak, ang Prairie Lily
na sumisimbolo ng renewal.
Ang mga murang beige na bulaklak ay kumakatawan sa Alberta Provincial na bulaklak, ang Wild Rose
na sumisimbolo sa walang kamatayang pag-ibig at pagkakaisa.
Ang apat na dahon ay kumakatawan sa aking puso, kaluluwa, pakikipagsapalaran at pangarap.
Ang araw ay isang paalala na kahit sa likod ng mga ulap ay laging sisikat ang araw.
Panghuli ay iniiwan ko sa iyo ang paalala na:
"Kapag nagsama-sama tayo, makakagawa tayo ng magagandang bagay." -Krystelle Celestino Wurtz
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