Painting the Stories of the Philippines: An Interview With Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
By Lea Byrnes Art
One of the most amazing things about art is the way it builds bridges and breaks barriers between people. Paintings have the power to connect people from all over the globe, telling a story through a visual image. Art gives us a glimpse into the lives and experiences of people whose stories we may otherwise never get to hear. The paintings of Joselito De Guzman Tamondong, a gifted visual artist from the Philippines, are a beautiful example of compelling and powerful artwork. Joselito was born on November 13, 1981 in the mountainous region of Binangonan Rizal in the Philippines. This area is known for its gorgeous landscapes and natural beauty, which inspired Joselito as a young artist. “I like to do realism and surrealism,” he says, “I also like to do landscapes, figures, still-life, and others… [In] my life and here I am happy with the talent gift of our Lord God.” Joselito says his artistic journey began as a young child, when he would come inside from playing with friends and spend his free time drawing and sketching.
Design by Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
Even as a child, Joselito quickly recognized that he had a passion for art. “Every time I would come home the first thing I would look for is a paper and pencil,” he shares. He practiced sketching things he saw in the world around him, such as mountains, flowers, trees, and cartoons that he saw on television. Even today, Joselito tells us that as long as he has a pencil and paper to sketch with, he’s happy! “Art is life,” he shares, “...and I want to show and share with the world what I know about art.” Over the years, Joselito has truly become a master of his craft, bringing vivid worlds to life through his detailed acrylic paintings. Many of his paintings are very large, spanning as wide as 8 feet. Each painting is carefully crafted with incredible attention to detail and bright, saturated colors. His work takes the viewer on a journey of life in the Philippines, with images of people, landscapes, family, and farming. Some of his work also provides commentary on various political, economic, and environmental issues.
Photo of Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
Joselito studied fine art at New Era University in the Philippines, but never finished the program. Instead, he began working in a gallery and teaching himself the principles of painting, such as proportion, shape, and color mixing. “It wasn’t that easy,” he says, “...but I succeeded and I did it, little by little, until the day came when I tried to participate in painting contests here in our town and other towns.” He began winning awards in various categories and competitions, including one for his massive masterpiece, “Different Dreams, Desperate Spirits and Goals Towards Development Full of Hope”. This gorgeous painting is 4 feet x 8 feet and was created with acrylic paint on canvas. Inspired by the theme of a provincial art competition in 2022, this work was selected as an honorable mention.
This painting features a large image of Dr. Jose Rizal, a renowned figure in Filipino history. Dr. Rizal is considered the national hero of the Philippines due to his role in helping the Philippines gain their independence from Spain. Born in 1861 towards the end of the Spanish colonial period, Rizal was eventually executed by the Spanish government during the Philippine Revolution. As a highly intelligent, multi-talented author, his writings helped inspire this revolution which led to Philippine Independence. In Joselito’s painting, Dr. Rizal is the central figure, holding his hands open to the people. Joselito says that this imagery represents how “...we should be open-handed to our neighbors, especially to those in need; not just to our countrymen who are poor or beggars that we often see on the road.” The painting also features a variety of landmarks or identifiers for each town within the province. This painting echoes Dr. Rizal’s message of hope and unity for the people of the Philippines.
“Different Dreams, Desperate Spirits and Goals Towards Development Full of Hope” by Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
Additionally, in this painting we see a tree growing out of Dr. Rizal’s chest. Joselito says that this symbolizes our dreams, and how our dreams should not only be a matter of the mind, but also of the heart. Like a seed, a dream must be carefully tended to; and we must take care of it until it grows stronger and larger as its branches multiply. Like a strong tree, our dreams can also grow and take root. Another element of this painting features a girl releasing a white dove, representing Filipino freedom. “It just means that we are free to do what we want,” Joselito says, “...especially for the development of us and our people. There is also a child holding the Philippine flag; it means that we should all be proud citizens of the Philippines, or Filipinos. There is also the girl and the man planting a plant, which means that this is our new beginning; to desire development.”
Another powerful painting by Joselito depicts what life was like in the Philippines during the 2020 worldwide pandemic. This painting won third place at a 2022 competition in Binangonan Rizal. About the pandemic, Joselito says, “During that time the prices of goods increased; such as food, transportation fares, fuel, and other goods.” In the painting, we see many symbols of this inflation. The bodies of the fish are made out of currency, as they swim in a sea polluted with a face mask and plastic bag. There are also colorful balloons with text detailing the inflation, with a red balloon that says “Price Hike” and other balloons that list a few of the items affected, such as various food products and Diesel fuel.
Design by Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
“There are also birds flying wearing masks,” Joselito says, “...meaning that at that time, we can only leave our homes wearing masks and that is our freedom. Follow, because that is the protocol to the people.” About the graduation cap, cell phone, and degree which are pictured hovering over the boat, he explains, “Even the students’ studies were difficult then, because only in online classes could they learn, using gadgets.” Inside the boat, we see a mother holding her baby. The mother’s head is a clock with a mask over it, which Joselito explains, “...the meaning of which is as if she is asking how long I will have to wait for this pandemic to end. And the child with a head like a milk bottle means that the parents still have to work hard to provide for the child’s needs.” The symbolism behind the hut is that it represents how many of the people affected were poor people living in small homes. “You can also see them riding in the boat, which means fighting against life, even if we go through this kind of trial or difficulty,” he adds. The bean sprout in the boat is symbolic of the new destiny of the people.
“Peaceful Morning (Father & Son)” by Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
This type of painting is profoundly impactful and truly belongs in a museum, commemorating that time in history and the effect it had on this region of the world. Joselito’s talent goes beyond simply painting a pretty picture; he is a master story-teller with his brush. Using paint on a canvas, he gives us a glimpse into the lives of the people of the Philippines. Another beautiful work of his is titled “Peaceful Morning (Father & Son)”, which features a young Filipino man carrying his son in a basket in a lush green field. This stunning work is 24 x 30 inches and created with acrylic paint on canvas.
In his painting titled “HAIN”, Joselito depicts a spread of cultural dishes that are common in Filipino cuisine, including fish, peppers, tomatoes, and rice. The food is arranged beautifully on a banana leaf, which is a Filipino tradition. “Hain” is a common root word in the Filipino language of Tagalog, which is related to the offering or serving of food. With vibrant colors and incredible attention to detail, Joselito once again commemorates a part of his culture with true artistry and skill.
“HAIN” by Joselito De Guzman Tamondong
As a largely self-taught artist, Josellito says that the biggest challenge in his artistic journey has been mastering proportion, color, distance, and depth to achieve a sense of realism in his work. “I’m still learning [with] every stroke of paint on a canvas,” he says. There is no doubt that his years of practice have paid off! To aspiring artists, his main advice is, “Be patient in drawing or painting, and study all styles carefully; especially those you like. The day will come when you will achieve what you want in your work.” Joselito cites artists like Da Vinci, Angelo, Van Gogh and famous artists from the Philippines as his sources of inspiration.
About how his own art impacts the world, he shares, “...we artists can also give pleasure to other people especially when our artworks are already hanging on their own walls, and we have also contributed a lot to society.” By sharing his work and his message, Joselito’s artwork has now impacted not only his local community, but also the community around the world. When it comes to his plans for the future, he says, “I will improve my painting even more, because I know that this is a gift from the Lord God.” Joselito’s gift is certainly undeniable, and his paintings will continue to spark inspiration and hope for many generations to come.
