Bicol artist Sheila Brobio is using her skills to help children cope with the new normal of schooling.

The Philippines’ popular leaf and paper artist has been selling her paper carved portraits in exchange for bond papers to be donated to Bicol schools for children’s modules.

Brobio had earlier conducted leaf-carving workshops to benefit various schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The talented artist from Brgy. Bungabong, Tabaco in Albay launched the “Paper Portrait in Exchange for Bond Paper” in early September in response to the schools’ needs for material to use for modules.

Brobio, who currently “works from home” amid the pandemic, has been utilizing her time and talent to create personalized artworks in exchange for 4 reams of bond papers instead of money, as shared in a video posted on the Facebook page of Bicol.Ph on September 24, 2020.

Sheila started her craft in 2011 where she usually sells the “paper portraits” for Php 2,000 to Php 4,000. But during this time of crisis, she decided to use her skills to help the schools in producing students’ modules through the paper project.

“Kasi narealize ko ngayong pandemic, lalo na sa probinsiya, naririnig ko sa mga parents na nahihirapan ‘yung teachers lalo na sa mga students sa pagprint o pagkuha ng modules. And isa, mga challenges ay kulang o walang papel. Parang malaki yung demand sa papel,” said Sheila.

(I realized this pandemic, especially in the province, I hear parents saying that teachers are suffering, even the students in printing and producing modules. One of the challenges is the lack of papers. There’s a strong demand for paper)

The “Paper Portrait” project of Brobio has benefited 2 schools in Tabaco as of today and she continues to promote her artwork in order to facilitate more donations of papers to more schools in Albay.

“Sana marami ang ma-encourage na tumulong and in return magkakaroroon kayo ng art piece sa bahay or pwede niyo na iregalo. Meron na kayong artwork, nakatulong pa kayo,” said the talented artist.

(I hope many will be encouraged to help and in return, you will have art piece in your home or can serve as a gift. You can have the artwork and you have helped others.)

Brobio is also skilled in leaf carving which she intricately carves scenic views in the province such as animals, farmers, and soulful men and women in a tree among others. She held the “Dahon para sa Pag-Ahon” workshops in August and September to benefit the online learning needs of 9 schools in the country.

To those who want to help Sheil Brobio to continue with her good deed may contact Tel. 09770576898 or send a message to her Facebook page here.

More stories of Filipinos extending help in the time of pandemic include the non-profit organizations of Peace Kamp, Bangketa Eskwela Foundation, and other charity groups who banded together to provide the online learning needs of the Aetas in Porac, Pampanga.

This Visual Poetry art drive funds Project Malasakit’s public schools learning materials while Palawan non-profit Ink2Link is donating printing materials for learning modules in the province.

Appleboy RJ Garcia is also giving out tablets to Filipino students for use in the new normal schooling.