When you’ve got Johnny Depp as reward waiting towards the close of a busy day, anything that happens between breakfast and 4 p.m. is tolerable—even a moment of grief.
Yesterday began with a side trip to the 50-year-old Lopez Museum at Benpres Bldg. on Tektite Road to purchase its commemorative book for the bibliophile waiting in Baguio. While the cab drove in circles as I made my purchase, there was a window of time to text some friends who had been giving me updates on the condition of our ailing friend and professor, Brenda Fajardo.
La Gaga, a reference to one of Brenda’s major paintings using a Pinoy Tarot card series and also a fond nickname for her, is still being prepped for a major surgery, a heart bypass, and a fund-raising dinner for her cause has been scheduled by tireless and younger colleague at the University of the Philippines Department of Art Studies, Eloi Hernandez. Going around Facebook is this appeal:
“Brenda Fajardo recently had an angiogram which revealed four blocked arteries. She will need a bypass operation as soon as possible and if everything is in order, it will happen in the last week of March. The recent advice from her doctors in Cardinal Santos Medical Center approximates that she must prepare between P300,000 - P500,000 for the operation, even if she will be accommodated as a charity case. Additionally, 30 units of blood will be needed during the operation (which translates into 30 donors).
"Brenda has approved of the following fund-raising efforts:
"1. Check or cash donation can be given at the UP Department of Art Studies through Cecille de la Paz (delapazcecilia@gmail.com) and Cherryl Navida (che_navida@yahoo.com).
"2. Straight donation to her bank account at BPI Kamuning branch (SA# 3146 1400 63), account name is Brenda V. Fajardo. For monitoring purposes, e-mail Eloi at eloindigoart@gmail.com the amount of your deposit and date of transaction.
"3. Buy Brenda’s work at Tin-aw Gallery through Dawn Atienza or email: info@tin-aw.com
"4. Dinner for the Heart of “Ang Gaga” on March 16 at 7 p.m. at the Upper East Restaurant in Makati City, P5,000 per plate. More information will be forthcoming in the next few days through Eloi, but if you have questions, you may contact her at 0918-908-8224.
"5. For blood donations, contact Eloi or Mary Joan Fajardo ( tel. no. 721-0091) to coordinate with the hospital that you are donating blood in her name. Brenda ‘s blood type is B+, but anyone can donate as long as you are cleared by the hospital.
"Brenda has given a major portion of her life in serving the Department, the College and UP with great dedication as artist, educator and administrator. She has tirelessly dedicated decades in educating, organizing and serving the visual arts community through various organizations such as Kasibulan, Philippine Art Educators Association, PETA, CCP, NCCA and BAGLAN. I hope the visual arts community can rally support for Brenda in whatever way possible."
I knew Brenda was temporarily bed-ridden, but nothing prepared me for the emaciated, frail being who greeted me with a voice coming from a distant place when I opened the curtain separating her from other ward beds.
She had been my teacher in an advanced humanities course, an elective I took in the 1970s. It was Modern Art, a memorable class where I “played” with the likes of Ana Crisostomo (now SobrepeƱa) and Lina Castrence. Lina used to bring her toddler son along to class who’d parade up and down the classroom aisle stark naked, and Brenda continued with her lecture, not at all distracted.
We have friends in common so I’ve sometimes joined them in their trips to her Rolling Hills subdivision home in Quezon City where she’d host a merienda buffet , then complain, “You know, my current weight is 180 pounds. Should I work to hit 200 which is closer or start losing? Hirap na ako tumindig nang matagal.”
Even with the extra weight, she carried herself with elan, wearing flowing skirts that look more like the native tapis and loose blouses that guaranteed she stayed cool. And cool chick she was for I had never seen Brenda flare up nor speak meanly of anyone.
That’s why after my brief visit yesterday, I rushed out and headed for the canteen where I felt comfortable enough to weep openly among strangers, weep for what once was.
Surely, Brenda deserves more.
Photo shows Brenda's work, "Baraha ng Buhay Filipino," courtesy of Tala Gallery.
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