Art + medicine = hapi wheelchairs

"Nobody says no to Gilda Cordero Fernando," Dr. Joven Cuanang of St. Luke's Medical Center said at  yesterday's Apolinario Mabini Hapi Wheelchairs Parade. He added that it was her "flash of genius" that set the wheels in motion for this project that has seen an exciting synergy between art and medicine. With just a little goading and reminding from her, the 17 participating artists let their imaginations fly, thus giving the start of National Disability Week added panache.   Photos by Babeth Lolarga

The Cordero Fernando and Cuanang tandem should be further tapped for revolutionary and out-of-the-box ideas born out of passionate minds and a deep love for the healing arts.

Aba Dalena and writer Carla Pacis pose beside the former's "Anghel Bulilit."

GCF aboard Marc Cosico's carretela wheelchair

Even the group that provided the music came on wheels!

That's production manager Manny Chaves, second from left, looking not too harassed.

Kidlat Tahimik with his bamboo camera and "All-weather Guardian Angel Salumpuwet"

Agnes Arellano explains what her "Anti-stress Wheelchair" is all about: breasts and nipples made of silicone rubber, recycled from her sculpture molds and turned into acupressure points.

Pancho Villanueva and Ling Quisumbing Ramilo's collaboration

Io Regalado's chair has a wide golden wingspan.

Senior students from the Philippine High School for the Arts put together a cityscape in and on a chair.

Noel Cuizon jokingly calls the welded together wheelchairs as his and Karen Flores's "conjugal property" to underscore the "in sickness and in health" clause in their friendship.

Wendy Regalado smiles beside "Beast Friends Forever."

Robert Alejandro and his "Silver Chariot"

Plet Bolipata is fashionably cocooned in "Winged Icarus."

Don Salubayba's "Trono" includes blinking lights.

May more partnerships arise among the idea persons, the artists, the Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine and The Mind Museum.