The Visual Poetry of Trauma, Interrupted
Text by Vida May O. Tirol

They are whose rights were violated, whose bodies dishonored, minds distressed, and hearts pained. Perhaps, theirs were lives interrupted, dreams stalled, visions blurred. But let us not see them in this light for theirs are lives yet to build, dreams to reach, hopes to fulfill, journeys to trudge on… again.

They have seen darker days but the children and women at the Bohol Crisis Intervention Center (BCIC) had reasons to put smiles on their faces. What took place during the trauma, interrupted art workshop held at the BCIC last January 8 was filled with fun and laughter. That one rainy Monday, they moved and danced with Holy Name University's Nila Itac, and drew, colored, cut, and stitched with artist Alma Quinto. They also sang a song for those who came to support them. Among those present were Board Member Freda Tirol, the BCIC's prime mover, Atty. Myrna Pagsubiron and Sis.----- of Holy Spirit-Wings, Mrs. Enriqueta Butalid of the Center for Culture and Arts Development (CCAD), Mr. Lutgardo Labad of the Bohol Arts and Cultural Heritage (BACH) Council, Mr. Alfred Valenzona of the Department of Education (DepEd)- Tagbilaran Division, Vida Tirol of the Governor's Office and BACH, Mitzi Ibaya of the BACH, and local artists Jhacky Curambao and Aliza Villamora of the CCAD.

Artist Alma Quinto, the president of the Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na Kamalayan, Inc. (KASIBULAN), Dr. May Datuin, an Arts Studies professor of the University of the Philippines, and Nerissa Pabillo, brought to Bohol the House of Comfort Project, a traveling work in progress that allows women and children in especially difficult circumstances to visualize their dreams by stitching them into quilts. The project, conceptualized by Dr. Datuin and supported by the Japan Foundation of Manila, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) uses art as a medium for healing for those who created it and as a bridge that connects the hearts of its creators and its observers. The works of our Boholano sisters at the center will become part of a bigger quilt, which will be hung at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in June this year during the international exhibit and conference of the trauma, interrupted network. The workshop was locally sponsored by Committee on the Welfare for Women and Children under BM Tirol, together with BACH, CCAD, and BCIC.

As the children and women scribbled, drew, and put colors on the sheets of paper, they put colors on their visions and dreams as well. As tiny circles and colorful lines formed into little flowers, green grasses, bright shining suns, waving school flags, graduation togas, smiling stick figures of family members and brightly colored houses, among others, their dreams were also formed and their hopes felt. And as the cut-out discarded cloths slowly became beautiful visual poetry of what they dreamed of and hoped for, their journey to life began. Again. Theirs were lives interrupted by trauma. Now, it's trauma, interrupted.