“May the Philippines bloom forevermore”

Local Baguio artist Sheila Paren proudly shares her paintings on local Facebook group “SaBaguio” highlighting the Philippine map that she created using blooming flora and fauna, her inspiration stemming from Baguio City’s Flower Festival or Panagbenga.

In a recent interview with Paren who had started painting as a child and furthered her hobby in the year 2016,  She had aspired to create a painting that reminded her of home during her stay in Estonia and how the Philippines as a country has continued to bloom in a progressive manner. Paren highlighted that her paintings aim to promote peace and happiness to those who see it and remind her fellow countrymen that despite what challenges we may face there is still beauty in our everyday lives. 

“Most people when they see flowers or plants, it promotes happiness and peace, and that’s what I want to show people that whenever they see the Philippines through my art, they can always see something beautiful in it despite the different challenges that we are facing,” she elaborated.

As of today, her artwork has been featured by numerous outfits like Philippine Star, GMA Regional TV News, Philippine Daily Inquirer, UNTV Radyo La Verdad, RNG Luzon, Manila Bulletin, and etc. Paren continues to create paintings and artistic pieces made with flowers, some of which she sells to interested art enthusiasts as a way to remind them of home. – Grian Villanueva, Joshua Caramoan, and Manette Agbunag