Juno Parungao paints the blueprint of your soul

We became aware of the name Juno Parungao first in relation to an exhibit at the Shangri-La Mall when she held an exhibit of Gem Stones together with Prof. Lito Casaje of La Consolacion College in 2009. She also told us that she appeared in a play of  Casaje’s Dramatis production, on the subject of possession. Later, we saw her at the SMX Convention Center in 2012 and at another exhibit; then at the election of the Director’s Guild of the Philippines officers at Sequioa Hotel; and more recently at the Solidaridad Bookstore honoring Prof. Casaje’s writings. 

It was obvious that Juno moved around in different circles — showbiz, theatrical, scientific and psychic. Her latest interest seemed to be the most interesting of the lot. It involved astro-portraiture with Juno as the astro-portraitist.

Together with a friend, we met with Juno and asked for a demonstration of her art. Instead of working the traditional way, Juno paints what she calls the blueprint of the soul. And how she comes up with this blueprint is as interesting as the final artwork itself.

Juno possesses psychic power but doesn’t read minds, nor casts spells, or sees ghosts and other apparitions. Her powers come from reading astrological birth charts. All of her astro-portraits begin with a reading of her client’s birth charts with a process known as charting.

“It’s very scientific,” she explained to us. “Companies abroad use charting for hiring. Its methods have been around for the longest time. Popes have been using charting; disputes and conflicts, even wars have been scheduled according to the stars.”

Juno was introduced to charting by the owners of the Art Circle Gallery, after which she devised her own system of combining art and science. Through charting, Juno is able to address her subject’s current struggles and issues.

“In the past, charting required lots of trigonometry,” she claimed. “Today, it is simpler because of the new technology. Through charting, the location of certain heavenly bodies in the sky at the moment of birth, Juno discerns her client’s predispositions and tendencies. “I use that as a springboard for my conceptualization and abstraction of the soul — as I call it.”

After reading the chart, Juno would commune with her subject. “I get vibrations from the chart, calm myself and meditate. Then I sketch.” This is where the art comes in. At first glance, Juno’s portraits share a common element — circles. “Circles are sacred,” Juno maintained, “They represent the wholeness of a person while the smaller circle represents the location of the sun in the birth chart.” Each artwork has come out as varied and unique as are her clients.

Juno credited her astrologer friend Kitten Alcantara for giving her the idea to combine astrology with an art form. She helped Juno open her first exhibit at Art Circle Gallery. To date, Juno had done close to 50 astro-portraits, including various names from show business, the arts and business. Her next exhibit at the GSIS galleries will feature Prof. Casaje, Epi Quizon, Fernando Seña, Conrad Benitez, Heber Bartolome, Gavi Evangelista, among many others.

We viewed a CD of some astro-portraits and asked Juno for comments. One of Quizon’s attracted us with its combination of bird, water and sun, with the colors green and blue. Juno said Epi is an Aquarian, therefore a bird (griffin) diving into the waters. The  mythological creature has the body of a lion, and head and wings of an eagle. It is thought to be the King of all creatures. We thought, what a wonderful reading to combine strength in art.

Another astro-portrait was that of Juno’s friend writer- novelist Casaje, who found him, born under the sign of Taurus the bull, to be firm, committed, dependable and many times stubborn.

Evangelista’s astro-portrait attracted us because it appeared to be a tree that was dancing in the wind. Born under the sign of Sagittarius at 12 noon, Juno saw him to be full of enterprise and versatility (Evangelista owns a gym), ambition and optimism.

These works and all the rest will be on exhibit at GSIS Galleries beginning Feb. 20. For more information, visit www.arttempomanila.com.

(E-mail your comments to [email protected], or text us at 0917-8991835.)