The Internet as drawn by Lie Anne

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Marigondon National High School in Lapu-Lapu City is a haven of talents. Contrary to the notion that private schools are always better than public schools, the MNHS stands out in terms of an academic system that has successfully produced achievers and honed skills, specifically that of budding visual artists like 13-year-old Rosalie Anne "Lie Anne" Gonimil.

Amazed to learn at how the school is run using a system of discipline that emphasizes on creating a culture of academic excellence under a public school curriculum imposed by its incumbent school principal, Edgardo Baring, I paid a visit to check on such and stumbled upon the artwork of Lie Anne at the "The Southern Insights" office.

The Southern Insights is the official school publication handled by Mrs. Estelita Pilario.

Lie Ann, a second-year high school student, pictures the Worldwide Web, which she points to in her illustration as the Internet, as more of a distraction to students nowadays and less of benefits though the Web offers tons of help in terms of research.

In the elimination round for an editorial cartooning tilt in Filipino, Lie Ann vied for top prize by presenting her personal views and feelings about being a student in this Age of Information. With the advent of technology, the "mag-aaral" (student) is challenged to hold on to "edukasyon" (education), while smelling the tempting aroma of online games, for example, offered by the Web - a form of subtle seduction that is fueled by "pagkabigo" (failure).

Lie Ann puts it that while the Web offers loads of helpful information beneficial to students like her, it also topples down big dreams with the kind of distraction and destruction it can wreak upon the student populace.

Also a student of the Academy of Arts, Lie Ann hones her drawing skills under the tutelage of UP art professors. She too took up summer art classes at the Cebu Normal University where veteran visual artists abound, and where she was complimented for having "a hand that could give birth to more vivid illustrations kay dili kurog".

It was in grade one when her mother Rosanna noticed of her potential. "She just loves to draw. Kung na-a lang lagi ko'y daghang kwarta, I would want to give her everything she needs in this particular pursuit bisan tuod og ang akong dream para niya is to become a nurse kay mas dali na man lang unta to in terms of employment opportunities, the fact nga my sister and my mother are already in the States," Rosanna said.

"Maghapon-hapon ra gyud na siya'g drawing. Puno ang art pad or drawing book ana niya sa mga sketches and cartoons inspired by Witch and Archie comic book characters," her mom shared.

Because Rosanna noticed that Lie Ann is just too shy to put a foot forward, she encouraged her to join the "Wanted Dead or Alive" poster-making tilt initiated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources this year in celebration of the Water Month.

"She didn't make it, but all of them who joined went home with cash prizes and a book on the environment. Pero ang ako man gud nga goal adto maong ako gyud siyang gi-push to join kay para naa sa'y laing venue nga maka-meet siya ug laing mga artists. Manggiuwawon man gud siya the fact nga bata pa daw siya ikompara sa ubang mga participants and that she feels she has to practice some more before joining a competition as big as that spearheaded by the DENR," Rosanna shared.

Though it is not a forte, as Lie Ann is more interested in animé, she already won in editorial cartooning when she was just in first-year high school.

Aside from her involvement with the Art Club in school, it amazes me that even if her mom claimed Lie Ann is so engrossed in drawing and that it bothers to see her not studying other subjects at home, the budding visual artist/cartoonist belongs to a model class dubbed "School of the Future" where brains and brawns collide.

It even touches me to hear her over the telephone, in an interview, to say "constant practice lang gyud sa drawing skills...don't give up on enriching the talent" when asked how could a young artist like her inspire fellow youths to undertake big, big dreams amid these hard times.

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