Bulusan: Dee Jai, an artist hailing from Bicol, is using the power of art to help heal the trauma of survivors in the wake of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, which devastated the region on October 22. The artist observed children engaging with their artworks, seemingly unaffected by the muddy conditions surrounding their makeshift art station in Bulusan, Libon town in Albay.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jai’s attention was drawn to a child’s drawing of a colorful flower, a stark contrast to the prevalent themes of water and storm clouds in other artworks. The child explained that she drew the flower because flowers were no longer visible amidst the mud and floods. In a community struggling to recover from the typhoon’s devastation, art intervention emerged as a crucial tool to alleviate trauma.

Jai, along with the Youth Ambassadors of Albay Province, arrived in the affected areas with food supplies and art kits, determined to bring positivity to the typhoon-stricken villages. “Art transcends aesth
etics and fulfills a deeper purpose. It has the ability to heal individuals and, even more so, to uplift communities,” Jai stated, underscoring her belief in the transformative power of art.

Her art relief program in Libon is part of the Tindog Albayano initiative, a relief operation supported by private citizens and organizations to assist Kristine’s survivors. As Albay’s provincial art consultant, Jai has previously conducted free art workshops for vulnerable groups, but this marks her first direct engagement with disaster-ravaged communities.

Psychologist Salvacion Laguilles-Villafuerte from Bicol University highlighted the effectiveness of art interventions in coping with trauma, particularly for children. She noted that expressive arts allow children to engage in activities they can control, providing a contrast to the helplessness associated with the trauma they experienced.

For 12-year-old Xian Dave Palivino, the art intervention program in Baranggay Masarawag, Guinobatan town, offered significant s
tress relief. “Activities like this are great for relieving stress. We felt happy after what happened to us,” he shared.

Jai, with her background in psychology, emphasized the importance of understanding the survivors’ thoughts and emotions, even when they cannot fully articulate them. Reflecting on the impact of the interventions, she shared an inspiring story of a child’s drawing transformed by a peer’s encouragement to “Think positive.”

Jai’s commitment to her mission is fueled by her own experiences. Diagnosed with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) arrhythmia in 2021, she underwent a costly heart procedure. The support she received during this time inspired her advocacy for the healing power of art. “Gratitude is my driving force. It has humbled me and made me want to do more and spread good karma,” Jai explained.

As Jai and her team continue their efforts across Albay, she calls for sustained support to keep the advocacy alive. “I hope we can keep that hope alive,” Jai expressed, as she endeavors
to bring her art intervention program to the hardest-hit barangays. Her work serves as a reminder that beauty and healing can be found even amid disaster.