Prominent Cebuano artists - Mar Vidal and Kimsoy Yap - are Aekers' equally talented mentors. Their sole purpose to help fellow artists, especially the young talented Cebuanos, to become more successful inspired them to give Aekers a chance to grow and gain recognition in the community. Aekers' artworks - deemed amazing by his mentors and should be taken very seriously - were greatly admired in local exhibits that he had participated, including a group exhibit of professional artists dubbed Cordova Light Moments (August 5-7, 2003). As a guest artist in Kamusta Ka, Sugbo (January 3-19, 2004); Ilaw Mo, Buhay Ko Painting Exhibit (March 2004) where he ranked 20; and HALAD, Cebu Art Association's exhibit.
"During Cebu Art Association's 68th anniversary exhibit and painting competition, Aekers won 2nd place in modern category, and was a finalist in conservative category," Jessaly, Aekers' mother, proudly said. Aekers is a member of Cebu Art Association. Sinugdanan is his first solo exhibit that features his 50 works - from the study plates to his latest inspiration. The exhibit's inauguration will be on December 7 at 4:00pm in SM Art Center, SM City Cebu, with his mentors - Vidal and Yap - as guest artists.
In language, we communicate. Aekers' artist statement communicates the language component of his art. So that even if he won't be there to answer people's questions, his art statement answers for him.