KULAY (pronounced KOO-lie, en. Color) - An inspiring photo exhibit in aid of a sister's battle against cancer

KULAY is the Filipino word for color. This is also the title of London based Filipino photographer and artist Elija Paul Villanueva's photo exhibit. The exhibit will be open to the public from the 19th until the 23rd of November, 2012 from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM. KULAY is being hosted at the Philippine Embassy located at 10 Suffolk Street, London SW1Y 4HG.

Playing with color

"Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions" - Pablo Picasso

 

(The above images are taken from the numerous artistic creations of Elijah which may or may not be part of the exhibit)

A selection of Elijah's creations

The images below are a sample of Elijah's creations.

(The above images are taken from his numerous artistic creations and may or may not be included in the exhibit)

Elijah an artist, an inspiration, and a loving son and brother.

The following is quoted from www.elijahpaulvillanueva.com and was first published at www.fil-event.com penned by Bernadith Tabinas.

"HE IS NO ORDINARY MAN. A freelance photographer, a disc jockey (DJ) with his own program, Buhay Abroad, at Radyo Pilipino UK, youth leader and is the incumbent Mr. Philippines-UK.



But to him, life then was never easy. He grew up in San Juan City, and was raised in a very practical type of living his father was a driver while his mother earned little from a small business.



To sustain his familys needs, his father went abroad and started dreaming big. Sadly, he was a victim of illegal recruitment and when sent home, he suffered on a severe illness and underwent heavy medication. Instead of being discouraged, this became his motivation to study well, with his aunts supporting his studies. Having his parents and these people around, he became so determined to work hard to pull their family out of poverty.



As a student, he was very active in participating into various school activities. He was a varsity player, a council president, a theatre actor and was even in the field of music and arts. He finished his secondary education in an exclusive private school for boys Aquinas School, San Juan City as a scholar of the Dominican priests and nuns. He never failed to show how grateful he was to them for graduated with flying colors. To continually support his studies, he applied for Government scholarships, worked part-time in a callcenter and even took his luck as an extra on few commercial shoots. His being business-minded started from selling cellphone accessories at school into having his own small store for school supplies. He entered college and took Bachelor of Science in Nursing in Dominican College, San Juan, Despite a very busy schedule, he still managed to maintain a good scholastic standing. He graduated as Cum Laude and garnered a lot of awards and recognitions.

Even then as a student, he had been engaged into social functions and activities for the youth all over the country. This gave him the chance to be shown on television and to become an anchor in a radio station through Condederation of Student Governments of the Philippines at AFP Radio Station. His big break as a student-leader came when he was chosen to represent the Philippines for an international youth event held in Korea. This rare chance enabled him to meet people of different races and let him mingle with high officials in Korea through National Youth Commission Philippines. What made it greater was when he was selected as the leader among 22 candidates.



May it be commonly said, but this man is a true manifestation of the saying, POVERTY IS NEVER A HINDRANCE TO SUCCESS He has this very strong will to work hard for his dreams, the courage to take the risk and go beyond his limits. Furthermore, he has a good heart. He is a primary sponsor to charities and youth events in the Philippines and really finds time to reach out to anyone in need. It is said to be his little way of being grateful to those he owed much of help before.



He finished Level 3 and 5 (DIploma in Leadership & Management) at Braintree and Currently he is studying BA (Hons) Business Management at London."

 

Thank you to Fil-Event.com

We would like to thank Malcolm at www.fil-event.com for kindly adding Elijah's exhibit Kulay to their list of events here in the UK.

Please view the details of the listing here.

Once again thank you to www.fil-event.com for helping and continuing to support the promotion of Filipino cultural events in the UK and around the world.

A loving brother's appeal

Dear Friend,

My 19-year-old sister needs angels like you to help her fight the battle of her life.

In June of this year, my only sister, Myla, was diagnosed with stage 3 to 4 lymphoma cancer, which attacks the body’s lymph nodes and rapidly spreads the cancer through the bloodstream. A CT scan has revealed cancerous tumors in her lungs, all the way down to her lower abdomen.

A cum laude candidate for her BA Business Management at the Dominican College in Manila and an active youth leader, Myla has since stopped going to school and has been undergoing 12 chemotherapy sessions. She will soon start radiotherapy to kill malignant cells in her body.

The average post-diagnosis survival term for a lymphoma cancer patient is two years. But my sister, a spirited young woman with a passion for life, is determined to beat the odds. Despite her condition, she has remained the vibrant, outgoing, extremely positive and uplifting person she has been throughout her young life.

I would like to appeal to your generous spirit in giving Myla the hope, encouragement and material support she needs to fight this uphill battle.  My sister has just undergone her fifth chemotherapy session and has seven sessions more scheduled. Myla greatly needs benefactors like you to help cover her medical expenses, which have been adding up since her cancer diagnosis.

I have been working doubly hard as a freelance photographer in London to finance my sister’s medical expenses and to support my family in Manila. My mother has stopped working to take care of my sister and my father’s income as a tricycle driver is hardly enough to meet living, let alone, medical expenses.
My sister’s battle has become my battle. It is my greatest hope in life to give this absolutely beautiful young woman a chance to live out her dreams and to continue touching people with her warm spirit and luminous presence.

Living in London the past three years, I myself have dedicated my life to serving the Filipino community here, as a photographer and radio host, lending my humble talents to our growing community’s projects and events in the UK. I make this appeal on behalf of my sister in the same spirit of solidarity and community that has made me welcome and lovingly embraced here.

Any amount you can share with Myla would be a great encouragement to her and to our family. Your kindness and generosity would forever be appreciated and remembered by me, my parents and siblings, and, of course, by our beautiful Myla.

For more updates and information about Myla’s battle against lymphoma cancer please log on to our website and help support our cause by liking her Facebook page : www.mysistersbattleismybattle.com

Thank you very much.

Elijah Paul Villanueva

Exhibit Opening Times

Below is the updated opening and closing times of the exhibit. On day one Monday the 19th the exhibit will be open from 6:00PM until 9:00PM. There will be an opening ceremony the details of which will be posted here as soon as we have it. On Tuesday the 20th the exhibit is open from 9:00AM until 6:00PM. This would give everyone a good opportunity to come and view the talents of Elijah as there is an option to come during the day. From Wednesday the 21st until Friday the 23rd the exhibit opens at 4:00PM and closes at 6:00PM. On Friday the 23rd there will also be a closing ceremony to mark the end of the exhibit. We're looking forward to this event and we hope it will help Elijah help his sister through his talent and art.

TIME TABLE

DATE	DAY	TIME	PROGRAM
November 19	Monday	6:00 PM – 9:00 PM	Opening
November 20	Tuesday	9:00 AM– 6:00 PM
November 21	Wednesday	4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
November 22	Thursday	4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
November 23	Friday	4:00 PM – 6:00 PM	Closing