Cheche Lazaro revisits life of artist Joey Velasco

CEBU, Philippines - Broadcast journalist Cheche Lazaro checks on the current situation of children painted by the late Joey Velasco in “Hapag ng Pag-asa,” a painting that depicts the Last Supper scene featuring 12 street children as the Apostles in tonight’s episode.

The documentary “Cheche Lazaro Presents: Hapag ng Pag-asa” also recalls the life journey of Velasco.

Almost nine years after it was released, the said painting has become the most reproduced contemporary art by a Filipino. The masterpiece has travelled here and abroad and has stirred the hearts of many people.

Velasco was a successful entrepreneur with a life-threatening kidney disease. After six months of taking up painting lessons, he started making the Last Supper painting using street children as his models, who he personally searched for. He finished his masterpiece after a month and a half.

Three years later, in 2008, he successfully helped each of his models and secured shelter at a Gawad Kalinga village for them. This inspired him to create “Hapag ng Pag-ibig,” another version of the Last Supper with Jesus Christ dining with the same 12 happy street children with the Gawad Kalinga village as the background.

However, Velasco died at the age of 43 in July 2010, when he was still helping the children he wanted to save from society’s harsh realities. What happened to the kids after Velasco passed away?

Don’t miss “Cheche Lazaro Presents: Hapag ng Pag-asa” this Sunday on ABS-CBN’s Sunday’s Best. (PR)