Eric Manuel Presado
Have you ever heard of Super - Kulayeros? They have been in the limelight for transforming some obscure walls of Metro Manila and the whole country into mini-colorful murals. Actually, they are artistic expressions of school children. One of the man behind this massive movement is Eric H. Presado, a special art teacher for ten long years of specially inclined pupils at Mabini Elementary School in Quiapo, Manila. This is not the only nationwide task Presado and his group have undertaken. The members of the Philippine Art Educators of which he is board member, organized Likha National and International Arts held annually at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. They also initiated Lakbay Sining throughout the country. This is a mobile group that hops from place to place every summer throughout the country and gives special art classes and activities to school children. Sining Bata is another brainchild of Presado’s group. This organization opens the road for friendly national art competitions among elementary school children. Sometime ago in connection with the celebration of the year of the child, he made possible the representation of the Philippines in the children’s arts competition in New York. He got a reward for all his efforts when two of his boys brought home two gold medals for winning in the 21st World Children’s Art Exhibition and Competition held in Korea. All these attempts are not without compensation. In the recognition of his efforts, MEC considered him for Guro Award for 1980. Unselfish, this artist-educator is. What he knows and what he has acquired through the years he passes onto his proteges. He derives unexplained gratification in student’s creativity. He frowns on students who remain copycats of tutors and old masters and who exert no effort in exploring the depth of their potentials. For example, his students at PWU came up on time with an entirely new innovation in art ... painting on kites. Have you ever heard of it? Here, scrutiny of brush strokes is beyond reproach from the analytical eyes of critics as the paintings soar in the sky, but then there’s another thing to marvel at . . . how was the idea born?
30 ERIC MANUEL PRESADO | FILIPINO ARTISTS MAGAZINE
