It all started with the train ride and the girl with the pink toes.

This was last week. I have just settled myself on the train seat, furiously sending all my negative energies to the infamous bag inspector, and while I  was straightening the crease on my office blouse and unfolding the helm of my slacks (I didn't know why it folded on its own), I saw this lady's feet and then immediately checked mine which was in its usual unladylike and flaky dry state.  I swore I would have a foot spa this weekend.

And so I did.

(DISCLAIMER: This has no direct connection with what I really want to share with this post.)

The unlucky Ate who was tasked to handle my feet was preparing the foot spa machine when I rummaged through the magazine and newspaper stacks. I don't usually read newspapers but when I do,  I'm almost always blessed with a good read. This time, the article I stumbled upon was about an "Ivatan gypsy artist" whose life was anything but boring.

Meet Pacita Abad:

Pacita Abad (1946-2004)

Stories about artists and their exemplary works are really not hot new topics but I sincerely believe that this one is worth sharing.  I admit that I started to read the article because the title mentioned "House of art atop a Batanes Hill" (thus, this entry's title hehe) but  I didn't know that I will discover the life of one Filipina artist who had an extraordinary passion in her art.

The article started with describing Pacita's internationally-known "Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge" which was built atop a hill in Batanes to commemorate her creations. Eventually, it provided a glimpse on who Pacita Abad was.

I'm a terrible paraphraser so I suggest that you read the said article for a brief overview of her life or check out her site instead. What I would just like to/can share here is just how AWESOME it was that she painted on Singapore's FIRST "Art Bridge" which is the 55-meter long Alkaff Bridge. This artistic endeavour was done on January 2004 and I'm sincerely embarrassed that I have known this just this afternoon. This dumbstruck feeling is seven years too late.  Tsk.

Singapore's First "Art Bridge" -- Photo taken by muzikbug

You might be surprised that this is not the "punchline" here. Aside from the fact that the bridge was so beautifully designed, Pacita painted this bridge while diagnosed with lung cancer.  According to the article, her cancer has already spread to her brain and spinal canal but this did not stop her from pushing through with her art.  What really hit me was that while she was working on this bridge, she goes to the hospital every morning for her radiotherapy as an outpatient and then continues with painting the bridge afterwards. Talk about dedication.

I am so tempted in proclaiming (as based on this video) that this is the first and only art bridge in the world, but since it's already past four o'clock in the morning, I don't have the energy anymore to scour the internet to confirm this claim.  I don't really care if it is indeed tagged as "first and only" art bridge, what I'm really up to is make everyone feel inspired with what Pacita has undergone. And of course, I would like to instill the feeling of pride that another Filipino has made a mark in the whole wide universe.

Go to Batanes and Singapore. These, I will do. Okay, I'm already sleep-typing now.  Zzzzzzzzz. . .