Painting hope: EPCALM brings the healing power of art to adult leukemia patients
Healing takes many forms. Beyond medicines, medical procedures, and clinical care, creative expression can offer moments of comfort, joy, and renewed hope to people facing the challenges of illness.
Recognizing the value of holistic care, the EPCALM Foundation partnered with the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation, Inc. (FCAAFI) to conduct an Acrylic Painting for Beginners Workshop on 10 October 2026 at The EPCALM House in New Manila, Quezon City.
Designed for EPCALM-serviced patients, the workshop provided a welcoming and supportive space where participants could explore their creativity, express themselves through art, and discover the joy of painting.
Leading the initiative was Fernando (Nandy) A. Lazo, FCAAFI Executive Director and grandson of the late Fernando Cueto Amorsolo, the country's first National Artist, and widely regarded as the “Grand Old Man of Philippine Art.”
Lazo shared that this was the third art workshop organized for EPCALM patients, made possible through FCAAFI's Bayanihan Art Workshop outreach program. The Foundation generously provided all the necessary art materials free of charge, ensuring that participants could fully enjoy the experience without the added expense.
Development of personal expression. The painting session was facilitated by two FCAAFI scholars who have since graduated with degrees in Fine Arts – Jhon Larren Ambrona and Jericho Mori Layan. Through their guidance, participants were introduced to the fundamentals of acrylic painting, and encouraged to explore their individual artistic abilities.
More than simply learning painting techniques, they were given the freedom to experiment with colors, develop their ideas, and express themselves on canvas in their own unique ways.
Dr. Erlyn P. Cabanag-Demerre, EPCALM Founder and Board Chair, expressed her gratitude to FCAAFI and Lazo, who attended the workshop with his wife, Ma-Ann, for their generosity and commitment to bringing art to the Foundation's patients.
“EPCALM deeply appreciates your partnership and commitment to bringing the healing and transformative power of art to our patients,” she noted.
At the conclusion of the workshop, participants proudly received their finished paintings—a tangible expression of their creativity, effort, and newly discovered skills. Lazo encouraged them to continue exploring their artistic interests beyond the activity, inspiring them to see art not merely as a one-time experience but as a creative pursuit they could enjoy and develop over time.
In recognition of their contributions, EPCALM presented Certificates of Appreciation to Lazo and the two FCAAFI scholar-teachers for generously sharing their expertise, time, and passion for the arts.
Healing beyond medicine. The workshop reflects EPCALM's commitment to providing holistic, family-centered support to adult leukemia patients and their families. Recognizing that the impact of leukemia extends beyond the physical illness, the Foundation's programs address patients' spiritual, medical, financial, psychosocial, and emotional needs throughout their journey.
Within this approach, art-based activities offer another avenue for patients to nurture their well-being, rediscover personal interests, and experience moments of fellowship outside the clinical setting.
They also create opportunities for patients to recognize their strengths, celebrate small accomplishments, and connect with others who understand some of the challenges they face.
For EPCALM, the value of the workshop lies not only in the paintings produced but also in the experiences shared, the confidence nurtured, and the moments of happiness created along the way.
Because healing is not only about treating an illness. It is also about nurturing the person living with it.
Through meaningful partnerships such as this, EPCALM continues to champion a more compassionate and holistic approach to leukemia care—one that recognizes every patient's need for hope, human connection, self-expression, and opportunities to experience the fullness of life, even in the midst of a difficult journey. (By Marral June P. Lico)
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