Christmas cards that touch the heart

Believe it or not, but the Christmas cards that you see on this page were done by disabled artists using not their hands (they are unable to, due to a debilitating illness or an accident that has rendered them useless) but with their mouths and feet.

They are members (16 so far) of AMFPA (Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, Inc.), a “self-help/not charity” group organized in 1956.

I don’t know how they got my mailing address but every year for more than two decades now, I usually receive a complete set (eight cards with envelopes, three gift tags and one pocket calendar) around this time of the year with a note that says, “The festive season is nearly upon us. With all the new technologies available in the market, a card at Christmas and New Year with the personal touch is still one of the nicest ways to remember a loved one or a friend. Your support is important to us to earn our living. You will give us a great inspiration to overcome our disabilities and to achieve our dreams”   — that is, if you buy the cards.

According to the brochure, that letter was written by mouth artist Jovy Sasutona using a pen held by his mouth. Born normal (I mean, all body parts intact) on Oct. 7, 1963, Jovy lost the use of his hands in a diving accident. He learned to write and paint with his mouth. He designed a Christmas card called Golden Years that won first prize in the International Art Competition of AMFPA in Vienna in 2007.

Another member, Amado Binuag Dulnuan, was born without arms but that didn’t stop him from pursuing his passion. A college graduate, he specializes in watercolor and has won many prizes including the first prize for creativity in London.

The “Artists without Hands at Work” are self-supporting, encouraged as they are by the association to be independent, earning their keep through the sale of their paintings (they do more than just Christmas cards) which are reproduced as cards, calendars and other souvenir items.

The AMFPA letter ends with this reminder: “Unwanted cards may be returned in the envelope in which you received them. Of course, you have no obligation whatsoever. On behalf of my fellow artists, I would like to thank you for reading this letter and may I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Healthy New Year!”

Of course, I never return “unwanted cards” because I want them, I love every piece of them, and so do the friends I send them to. Besides, one set costs only P455, which is quite a bargain.

(Note: The office of AMFPA is at the ground floor Unit B of Crismor Building, #29 G. Araneta Avenue, Barangay Santol, 1113 Quezon City. Phone numbers are 716-4719, 413-3071 and 448-6237.)

Born without arms, Amado Binuag Dulnuan ( is a prize-winning foot painter who specializes in watercolor. His work has won him, among other prizes, the first prize for creativity in London. His fellow AMFPA member, mouth painter Jovy Sasutona, lost the use of his hands in a diving accident. His Christmas card entitled Golden Years won first prize at an art competition in Vienna.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfareor follow me on http://www.twitter/therealrickylo.)