Inspired by the stories of my maternal grandfather, a Filipino guerrilla soldier during World War II, Para Mabuhay explores our family history of survival. Among the stories my mother and her siblings share about my late grandfather are his harrowing accounts of enduring the forced march of the Bataan Death March. Although he rarely recounted his experiences in the war, one thing he did share was that his survival was not the result of heroism. Rather, it was a desperate attempt to stay alive by eating any wild grasses or plants he could find to fight immense hunger.
    Para Mabuhay uses carbon pigment from transfer paper to trace the images of native flora from the regions along the Bataan Death March, including Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. Though the types of grasses or plants he ate are unknown, I trace local plants to remember those that might have helped my grandfather survive. The casts of my feet walk with the memory of my grandfather.

Materials: Watercolor, carbon pigment, acrylic, and aqua resin casts on unstretched canvas with hanging attachment
Dimensions: Approximately 80 in x 28 in x 72 in
Date: 2026