Garry Molleno Jr

I grew up in a typical family of carpenters and furniture makers in Batangas City, Philippines. One of my earliest memories is from when I was about 8 years old, and I asked my grandfather if I could help him restore an old piano. He taught me how to strip off the worn paint, and although the chemical we used was sticky and irritating on the skin, I found myself enjoying the work even at that young age.

Over time, I realized that I loved working with my hands and building things myself. While other kids would ask their parents to buy them toys, I preferred making my own. I also found myself deeply drawn to the beauty of nature, especially the afternoon skies. Every time I watched the sky before the sunset, I would think that perhaps God was also a painter because the beauty I saw in nature each day was far more than any old masterpiece — it was breathtaking.

My mother once told me that I began drawing with a pencil on paper when I was around 5 or 6 years old, and my very first drawing was of a figure that resembled a frog. By the time I was 8 to 10 years old, I started reading about famous Filipino artists like Juan Luna and Fernando Amorsolo. My interest in painting has only grown since then. I began experimenting with differen...