Camille Naredo

TV host Boy Abunda and artist Julie Ann Baltar. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Anna Cerezo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783747901638viber_image_2026-07-11_12-06-51-222.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="TV host Boy Abunda and artist Julie Ann Baltar. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News"/>TV host Boy Abunda and artist Julie Ann Baltar. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA – For TV host Boy Abunda, some chapters of Philippine history should not disappear once the headlines fade.Through art, he hopes these moments can be preserved, questioned, and remembered.This led the King of Talk to commission visual artist and former scholar Julie Ann Baltar to create “BuwayaSerye,” a collection of paintings inspired by the country’s flood control controversy.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/14/-nov-14-timeline-of-flood-control-scandal-according-to-marcos-0938">READ: Timeline of flood control scandal, according to Marcos</a></div>“This is my little contribution to future generations so that we may not forget whatever it is. Nangyari lang na political, pero I think importante rin ang visual art to provoke conversations. Regardless of what you think, what I think, may pinag-uusapan tayo,” Abunda said.“Sabi ko nga kay Julie noon, part of your responsibility as a Filipino visual artist, Filipino painter is to tell your story and to provoke discussion,” Abunda added.The collection features nine paintings, three large-scale works and six smaller pieces, with crocodiles serving as a recurring symbol throughout the series.For Abunda, the project is not simply about politics, but about documenting a moment in Philippine history and encouraging people to continue asking questions.“Capture the spirit of the moment. Huwag natin kalimutan. ‘Yung pagkuwestiyon sa nangyari, ano karapatan natin? Ano magagawa natin? Ano ba nangyari? Dapat pagtanong ay tuloy-tuloy,” he said.<div> </div><div>SECOND CHANCE </div>For Abunda, “BuwayaSerye” is also a way of helping Baltar take the next step in her journey as an artist.“I told her na hindi dahil naka-graduate ka na, gusto kong makatulong kung ano ang susunod. At least, mag-take off ka,” he said.Before creating works that depict the struggles of ordinary Filipinos, Baltar had experienced hardships that nearly forced her to stop pursuing her own education.She recalled a time when financial difficulties made her consider leaving college because her family could no longer afford her daily expenses.“May time na hindi ko na kinaya na ipagpatuloy ang pag-aaral ko because of financial problems. Wala po kasing sapat na pera para sa allowance ko. Mahirap po na mag-aral na every week, nag-o-overthink ako, ‘Hala, saan kukuha sina Mama ng pera?’” she said.Her mother worked as a school canteen cook in Cavite, while her father was a tricycle driver.“‘Yung work po nina Mama at Papa, hindi ganoon kalaki ang suweldo,” she said.A professor eventually introduced her to Abunda, who helped support her education at the Philippine Women’s University.“After ilang days, sinabi po niya na gagawin niya ako na scholar. Nag-continue po ako sa pag-aaral since malaking opportunity,” Baltar recalled.<div> </div><div>TURNING OUTRAGE INTO ART<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783747879659viber_image_2026-07-11_12-06-53-148.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="A part of Julie Ann Baltar&#x27;s &quot;BuwayaSerye&quot; collection. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News"/>A part of Julie Ann Baltar&#x27;s &quot;BuwayaSerye&quot; collection. Anna Cerezo, ABS-CBN News</div>Baltar said the flood control controversy resonated with her because of how it affected ordinary Filipinos.“Sobrang kawawa ng ordinary Filipino. Tayo. Nakakagalit. Nung sumabog issue noon, naisip ko parang maganda gawan concept. Sakto tumawag Tito Boy. Sumigla ako, sumakto sa gusto ko,” she said.Drawing from her background in editorial illustration and realist painting, Baltar worked closely with Abunda to translate his ideas into visual narratives.“Ang galawan po namin ni Sir Boy, magbibigay siya ng concept then i-visualize ko. Gagawa ako ng sketches ng mga concept ni Sir Boy,” she explained.Abunda hopes to mount an exhibit for the collection, but said he currently has no plans to sell the paintings.“What’s next? Sabi ko, let’s do an exhibit. Do I intend to sell? Ngayon ang sagot hindi. Parang ayoko, parang archival,” he said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/30/as-protesters-return-to-ppm-and-luneta-what-has-happened-since-september-21-1142">READ: What has happened since the September 21 People Power Monument and Luneta rallies?</a></div>

For TV host Boy Abunda, some chapters of Philippine history should not disappear once the headlines fade.

For TV host Boy Abunda, some chapters of Philippine history should not disappear once the headlines fade.

Boy Abunda’s former scholar turns flood control controversy into art with ‘BuwayaSerye’

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Boy Abunda’s former scholar turns flood control controversy into art with ‘BuwayaSerye’

Anna Cerezo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 11, 2026 01:42 PM PHT

Read More:

Boy Abunda

Art

Flood control

Julie Ann Baltar

BuwayaSerye

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