Smile With Nature

 Smile With Nature  

“A glad heart makes a happy face."

Proverbs 15:13-15

San Vicente Ilocos Sur - Heritage Zone of the North RA 11654

Wall Mural Paintings and Photos by Dr Abe V Rotor

 

“A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." 

- Proverbs 15:30

Dr Ana Maria Theresa P Labrador, honorary Senior Fellow of the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, poses before a wall mural at the author's residence in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur.  She is a former director of the National Museum. She is on a field study as anthropologist. 

  

"Light seeps through a tunnel, and casts away darkness, 

as it enters the heart and kindles love and gladness."  avr

 

House guests delight in "climbing" a tree on a wall mural.  Most people have a common goal in life: to find happiness. Everyone can be happy in many ways. Go over the lyrics of Smile. Better still, sing it, listen to the song, play it with a musical  instrument, like guitar, or with the violin accompanied by piano.  My dad used to hum the melody of the song in his old age.  You can imagine the smile radiating on his face.  

     Smile

Nat King Cole

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile.

Songwriters: Charles Chaplin / Geoffrey Parsons / John Turner

Smile lyrics © DistroKid, Tratore

 

Stained Glass Door of Nature

                                Stained Glass Door of Nature 

"A break away from the monotony behind doors." 

Living with Nature Place

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

Dr Abe V Rotor

Closeup of an Aquarium Stained Glass Door at author's residence. 

Aquarium Stained Glass Door

Swing with the smoothness of a flowing stream, meandering silently

among the fish and grass softly down the glen;

Feel the gentle moss and slimy algae, gleaming with the early sun; 

the door, opening and closing, now and then.  - avr

  

Front and back of stained glass panel; separate imprints, same motif.  

Stained glass door swinging, weeds growing, swaying,

with every push or pull;

little red fish darting here and there, hiding, playing,

on this living door and pool! 

 

Doorway to the world of Nature.

Stained glass door and integrated floor-wall-ceiling mural by A V Rotor.

 

“Between every two pines (trees) there is a doorway to a new world.” "Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity" — John Muir

(John Muir , also known as the "Father of the National Parks", was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States of America.) - Internet ~     

DIORAMAS Depicting the Philippine Grains Industry at NFA Grains Museum (In celebration of International Museum Day May 18 2022):

Part 3: 

 In celebration of International Museum Day May 18 2022:

Dioramas Depicting the Philippine Grains 

Industry at NFA Grains Museum

A diorama is a three-dimensional scene of an event or subject with a theme presented stage-like, complete with backdrop, props and virtual reality effects. The scene is usually built behind glass for protection and environment control. 

Dr Abe V Rotor

.Living with Nature - School on Blog (avrotor.blogspot.com) 

Also open Naturalism -the Eighth Sense

   

Masagana 99 Diorama

The flagship of the Marcos administration, Masagana 99, a nationwide rice production program made the Philippines a net exporter of rice in the later part of the seventies. Prominent characters behind the program are shown in the diorama led by President Ferdinand Marcos, First Lady Imelda Marcos, Agriculture Secretary Arturo Tanco, and NFA (then NGA) Administrator Jesus Tanchanco. Witnessing the launching ceremony are cabinet secretaries and guests.

 

Banaue Rice Terraces Diorama

The Rice Terraces in Banaue in the Cordillera region has been declared World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1995. There are terraces believed to be as old as the Pyramids of Egypt, and much older than the Great Wall of China. Science is still studying the sustainability of these terraces not only in terms of productivity, but as as engineering masterpiece for which the Banaue Rice Terraces is dubbed "the 8th wonder of the ancient world." 

    

Encomienda System Diorama

The Encomienda System dominated agriculture during Spanish rule over the islands for more than three centuries. The encomienderos were the friars and Spanish officials who are similar to hacienderos. Although the system underwent land reform, it still persists to this day under corporate umbrella such as the case of Del Monte pineapple plantation. Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac still retains some features of the system.

  

Yakan Rice Culture Diorama

Rainfed (sahod ulan) farming dominates the uplands and hillsides. Good harvest depends on generous amount and distribution of rainfall during the monsoon. Since ancient times festivities were made to implore providence for bountiful harvest as shown in this diorama. Harvest festivals were likewise offered as thanksgiving. This practice still exists especially among the minorities like the Yakans of Mindanao.

  

     

Harvest Time Diorama

Harvest time in the Philippines marks the end of habagat or monsoon and the start of amihan or Siberian High when cold wind from the north nurtures the ripening of grains turning whole ricefields into rich golden color. Soon haystacks or mandala rise like mushrooms dotting the harvested fields. Children fly kites in the open field, a  memorable experience of childhood on the farm. Rustic scenes at harvest time have been captured on canvas by Filipino artists led by national artist Fernando Amorsolo.  

 

    

Margate System of Rice Planting Diorama

The system significantly increased rice yield in the fifties and sixties through a methodical approach, like straight line and equidistant spacing of seedlings, and thorough land preparation. The system retained the quaintness of farm life like a housewife bringing food to the planters, and neighbors lending a hand in the spirit of bayanihan or cooperation. Its basic features have been adopted by the Masagana 99 program in the seventies.

 Author poses with the museum curator Ms Josephine C Bacungan (at his left), and members of the Rotor Family. Established in 1983, the museum served as show window of the grains industry until 1986 the year of the Edsa Revolution. The museum was re-opened in 2016 through the initiative of NFA Region 3 staff headed by Director Amadeo De Guzman. 

Bringing Nature into the City on Wall Murals

                Bringing Nature into the City on Wall Murals  

“If You Truly Love Nature, You Will Find Beauty Everywhere”

 – Vincent Van Gogh.

Mural paintings by Dr Abe V Rotor

                          

  Convergence in Nature Canvas Mural (9ft x 10ft), 2010

Courtesy of Dr Kristine Molina-Doria and Family

Tropical Rainforest Wall Mural (8ft x 12ft) St Paul University QC

Mossy Forest Wall Mural (8ft x 10ft)

St Paul University QC

Valley of Life and Peace Wall Mural (8ft x 10ft) SPU-QC

Doves Meet Sunrise Wall Mural (5ft x 6ft)

Composite Landscape Mural (6ft x 12ft)

Haystacks, detail of mural (4ft x 8ft)

Siargao Falls, Surigao (corner wall mural, 10ft x 20ft)
St Paul College Surigao

Nymphaea Lilies and Agoho Trees, detail
of wall-ceiling complex mural (5ft x 15ft) 2001

SPU-QC

Ruins of Colonialism, acrylic on wood (8ft x 8ft)

SPU-QC

Children at Harvest Time, detail of mural (5ft x 10ft)
acrylic on canvas 2006

Banca Ride, detail of mural, acrylic (5ft x 10ft) 2000 

Nesting Fish, detail wall mural in acrylic, author's
residence, San Vicente, Ilocos Sur (6ft x 8ft) ~

“Trees give peace to the souls of men.”

Trees for Peace 

“Trees give peace to the souls of men.” - Nora Waln

Paintings by Dr Abe V Rotor

Convergence in acrylic by the author 2022

Tree of Liberty in acrylic by the author

"All I need to do is to climb a tree,

   and all the world knows I'm free." avr

“You were born with wings, why prefer to crawl through life.” - Rumi

 

"White doves, emissaries of peace;

         Trees, living monuments of peace." avr

 

 

Somewhere between the valleys and mountains,

caves and cliffs, streams and rivers;

man craves for something beyond his Being,

        in verses and songs - and prayers.  - avr  

  

 

Wonder how birds in the sky see us down,

how minuscule we are, like their kind;

wonder how we look at them in the blue sky,

worlds apart we say yet we are one.  -avr

 “The bird who dares to fall is the bird who learns to fly.” - D. W. Journals ~