DRAWING

Before I became an engineer I worked as a layout artist/illustrator of a children’s’ magazine. I was illustrating famous children stories of well respected children story writers. My job then has gone beyond being an artist. I got to spend time visiting the houses of the writers to pick up the manuscripts and on the side having cookies and tea with them. We also discussed on how I should illustrate the stories. Even though I was not well compensated then, I enjoyed the work so much that I did not consider it as work. Why I enjoyed it? I guess that was my childhood passion.

I used to collect comics in grade school years which inspired me to make my own comics. I remember letting my cousins to read my comics for a fee of 10 centavos. They needed to keep reading everyday because I made sure that every comic book that I made is to be continued. I explored more on charcoals and painting when I was in High School. I remember attending courses on weekends. Father Ben, the school chairman at that time if I am not mistaken gave me a job of painting posters for the church and he got to pay me.

I was good in math as well. Mr Bien Santos (No relation), the high school guidance counsellor, gave me a job of tutoring students who were failing in algebra, trigonometry and geometry. There were few of us in high school who were good in math and were earning money because of tutoring. Anyone in Facebook, raise your hand. My love for numbers leads me to the direction of pursuing a career in engineering. I was thinking then that Civil Engineering combines drawing and numbers.

After graduating in college, while waiting for the result of the board exam, I landed a job as an artist/illustrator in the Children’s Mag as I mentioned above. One day, a friend of mine who was a fellow artist and I tried to apply for a job in animation. Both of us have been accepted. I turned it down because I already pass the board exam and got a job offer as an engineer. My artist friend is now based in California and had done Mulan, and some Disney Animation. I pursued the career in engineering for more than a decade which served as a significant gateway for my family to migrate in New Zealand. I enjoyed being an engineer as well, which I have established my career and took up masters in hydrology.

I have been a full-time engineer until now but I have never given up drawing. It might not be my bread-and-butter but I have been known to be good at it. There have been hundreds of times that I helped out my cousins, nieces, kids in the neighbourhood, the children of my work colleagues with their assignments which involved drawing who I am sure are grownups now and may have kids of their own. Anyone in Facebook, raise your hand. I did not expect anything from them but I wouldn’t mind seeing a sandwich on my office table or a smile every time I meet them.

In order to find out what you are made of, one should examine his childhood passion. I am pretty sure that God-Given Gifts coincide with why you exist. And that’s how it is to have a purpose driven life. I always ask myself, “Now that I got it, what am I doing about it?” How can I make it significant?

Now back to drawing? Where am I now with this? How do I make drawing significant? I am an engineer. I am a Dad to JC too. JC needs guidance and drawing is an effective tool in reaching out to him. JC loves drawing. We have the same passion. As a Dad, JC is my mission. And that’s how it is significant for now.