POLIO survivor Emiliano Santos originally wished to become a lawyer. However, he instinctively knew his family could use the extra hard-earned funds to tap someone to help carry him around. So, he squarely hung on to his next dream: to become an artist.
Now at 62 years old, he has become a visual artist and professor from the Cordillera Region who aims to serve as an inspiration not only to aspiring creatives but also to those who lose hope amid life’s challenges.
Emil’s journey started when he was six years old, with a fever which lasted for days. Due to dire financial constraints, his mother, an elementary teacher, and his father, a security guard, initially sought assistance from an albularyo and manghihilot. By the time they brought him to a medical doctor, he was already paralyzed from the waist down.
The virus had affected his entire body. It disrupted his growth, made his bones smaller and thinner. Eventually, he could not sit straight any longer. Emil never did blame his disheartened parents. He understood that they only wanted him to recover.
Even at a very young age, the eldest of five siblings remained determined to continue his studies. He believed in the power of education.
He was able to attend classes with the continued assistance of family, friends, and even fellow students who took turns carrying him around. Whenever help was not available, he crawled to school past shallow creeks and into the rocky tracks of the mountain.
In high school, he stayed at a nearby two-story dormitory, which still required him to crawl up and down the stairs.
A dormmate, without fail, aided Emil until his father was able to secure a house just behind the campus. His father leased rooms to children of family friends in exchange for helping his son to move around.
While Emil’s dream of becoming a lawyer seemed so far-fetched, Emil’s fondness for the arts paved the way for a new path. From a talented neighbor, he was motivated to draw. This fascination grew as he read the comics printed on old newspapers used to wrap tinapa (smoked fish).
He recalled crawling to the silong (basement) under their house, where he would read and copy these strips using pencils, ballpens, and sheets of bond paper he found in his mother’s bag. With this discovered skill came the desire to learn more and have an official arts education.
Emil utilized oil pastel and acrylic-his favorite medium in his works. Growing up in the mountains, he wished to highlight the beauty of the natural environment.
‘Dumating ‘yung time na kailangan na magsara nung pinapasukan kong sheltered workshop and I had to leave,’ he shared. ‘Gusto kong magpatuloy sa pag-aaral at ituloy ‘yung skills na natutunan ko. Noong panahong ito, hindi ko na iniisip ‘yung tuition or materials, gusto ko na lang makapasok.’
He shared how one institution denied him with the statement: ‘Hindi ka puwede dito kasi puro stairs.’ Since he did not have enough money to pay for a full bachelor’s degree, Emil, then 25 years old, opted for a certificate course in Studio Arts at the University of the Philippines (UP) Baguio. Despite the tedious application process, he passed and was approved to receive a scholarship with allowance. Much like in his younger years, Emil relied on his UP friends to help him around the campus until he earned his certificate in 1994.
Concerned friends and school staff aided him to transfer to the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) College of Fine Arts, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Visual Communication at the age of 32. He later on earned an M.A. in Art Education from UP College of Education at 46.
Emil obtained a job as a contractual graphic artist for UPD office of the vice chancellor for research and dissemination. He continued to paint as a hobby. However, while he was able to sell some artworks, he realized that this alone was not enough to put food on the table.
A friend encouraged him to submit his updated portfolio to the gallery of the Social Security System (SSS) in Quezon City. He then mounted his first solo exhibition, titled Nature and Art. His showcase, which featured both old and new pieces, not only allowed him to sell more pieces to patrons but also gave him the assurance that he was indeed on the right path.
When he visited his alma mater in 2011, he bumped into a former batchmate who invited him to apply to teach at Benilde.
‘Nung naka-graduate ako ng college, gusto ko talaga magturo pero hindi ko ini-expect na mangyayari,’ he said. ‘Gusto ko talagang i-share ‘yung mga natutunan ko.’
Driven by its mission of innovation and inclusion, Benilde welcomed Emil to be among the practicing educators in the Design Foundation Department. His first assignment was to introduce the fundamentals of drawing to aspiring creatives. The educator eventually handled courses on art and color theories, as well as figure drawing.
He reminisced how he was able to seamlessly adjust to his newfound role as a professor, thanks to the help of the hospitable members of the community, from the staff to his fellow teachers.
‘I was really amazed because as a PWD [person with disability], I was warmly welcomed,’ he said. ‘The facilities, especially the restrooms, are PWD-friendly.’
Today, Emil celebrates his 15th year at Benilde as a full-time faculty member. He continues to bring not only his talent into the classroom but also ‘extra’ patience and understanding to better guide the learners.
Being a mentor, for him, is more than just teaching the theories and techniques. It is helping the youth forge their own future. He honors the efforts of the students and believes that character in itself is also a form of art.
‘Kung masipag ka, may patience ka, magbubunga ‘yun ng beautiful things,’ he said.
Currently, Emil, now a father of one, continues to hone his knowledge and skills to become a more effective and supportive instructor. He likewise promotes polio awareness, particularly among parents, so that more people can understand the condition and recognize its early symptoms.
‘Ang kakulangan ko ay hindi naging hadlang para makamit ko ang pangarap ko at sana magsilbing inspirasyon ang kuwento ko para sa mga tao,’ he ended.