Sergio lives in the minds and hearts of Filipino children, even sometimes before they can say his name. In the art scene, he is renowned and much has been said about his works: graphic design, photography, sculpture but none more than his paintings and children’s book illustrations. For two years running since 2007, Sergio has been awarded by the Philippine Board on Books for Young People the PBBY-Alcala Silver Prize.
For the Bohol Artists’ Summit, he came with an agenda, a clear, revolutionary spirit. “By relating these concepts to fellow artists, I hope they will be inspired to think out of the box and initiate positive changes in their respective fields as well.” There was definitely a lot to learn in the creative-generation of nationalist and patriotic messages from a man who digests Filipino culture and tradition to make his art.
Whether because of an initiative of his own or on commission for a children’s book, Sergio is never restricted by a theme or manuscript. His true artifice is in freedom by definition, being bolstered by the skeletons of a story. By pointing to invisible realities that aren’t mentioned by the author, “The illustrations somehow become independent of the manuscript. A never-ending interplay of meaning is achieved.”