JEA NUÑEZ.

𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝. (𝟏 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝟕 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬)💛
My large painting was sold to a descendant of the Thai royal family, and 7 out of my 10 impasto postcards also found their rightful owners. The remaining three were never even offered for sale on the last day of our stay because we ended up doing an art trade with fellow artists instead the night before. 🥹

Leaving for Thailand right after the 7.8 earthquake in Gensan was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made. Part of me wanted nothing more than to stay home with my family. But when I weighed everything, I knew that if I backed out, all the sacrifices, expenses, and preparations would go to waste. If I pushed through, there was a chance I could sell my work and help our situation.

Back home, The Art Studio Gensan remains temporarily closed because aftershocks are still being felt. As parents ourselves, we understand the fear of not knowing what will happen next.
Our house suffered major damages and is no longer safe to live in when I left it. We had to borrow over a hundred thousand pesos just to begin making it safer so our children can finally come home from Surallah after evacuating hours after the earthquake.

Looking back now, every sacrifice was worth it.
There were moments in Thailand when I could barely hold myself together. Susana and I would cry from trauma, from worry, from the helpless feeling of being far away while our family was facing so much back home. There were times when I wanted to book the earliest flight home and forget everything else.
But I knew why I was there.

I needed to sell my artworks. I needed to create opportunities. I needed to build credibility for my studio and continue growing the brand I have worked so hard to establish.

If I seemed distracted, anxious, or absent-minded during the first few days of our stay, it was because my heart was still back home. One moment I would be fine, and the next I would relive everything that happened. Every sound, every call, every moment of uncertainty.

I know some people will judge my decision especially those who won't live not until they badmouth me in order to lift themselves ul.
Some may think I should not have left. Others may choose to misunderstand my reasons. But at the end of the day, I did what I believed was necessary.
I am coming home not only with pride for General Santos City and the Philippines , but also as a mother and a wife who will do everything she can for her family.

And for that, I have no regrets.

"Paldo tayo sa Thailand"
And this is for my family.
See you later, Gensan.

Tara! Mamintura ta!
Daghang salamat for the opportunity, Art Show Philippines🎨

Plein Air over chismisan at Bangkok, Thailand Art Walk🎨

Calling all our friends in Bangkok, Thailand! 🇹🇭
Come check out the Art Show Philippines booth at Art Commune, located on the 3rd-floor balcony of CentralWorld.
We are showcasing a variety of original artworks and merchandise created by talented local artists from the Philippines. Plus, you can grab beautiful 4x6 Hand-painted postcard-sized artwork for just 600 baht.❤️

See you!

𝐌𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐑𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐨𝐤, 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝.😭😭😭

It is a moment I never imagined I would experience, especially during one of the most difficult weeks of my life.

I haven't shared much about this trip until now.
The truth is, it felt difficult to post about being in Thailand while so many people back home were struggling in the aftermath of the earthquake. Our flight had been booked months before, and the earthquake struck just a day before our departure.
That same day, after making sure my husband and children were safely evacuated to Surallah, Susana and I traveled to Davao (re route) to catch our flight. I went with a heavy heart, but I knew I needed to be there. Deep inside, I was hoping that I could sell my paintings during the exhibition and somehow help my family begin rebuilding.

The journey was not easy. I barely slept. Even after arriving in Manila, I kept feeling phantom tremors, as if the ground was still moving beneath me. My mind remained in General Santos City, thinking about our damaged home, my family, and the many others whose lives had also been affected.

Being in Thailand did not make those thoughts disappear.

In fact, it became even more painful knowing that we were safe while so many people back home were facing uncertainty. For days, I tried to stay strong, but eventually, yesterday early in the morning, I finally broke down. The flashbacks of the earthquake, the worry about our home, and the pain of seeing our community suffer all caught up with me.

I remember crying during a call with Dra. Dada Gagwis yesterday early in the mornjng. At that moment, I felt overwhelmed. I'm worried about our house. I'm worried about our children. I'm worried about our studio, because bills are running yet we cannot operate yet for everyone's peace of mind.
I questioned whether I had made the right decision to leave. Every time I talk to my husband over the phone, I do my best to hold back my tears. I know that if I start crying, my husband might too.

When the exhibition opened, selling a painting was no longer my biggest concern.
People rarely look at my work. Some asked questions. Some seemed interested. More than an hour passed, and I quietly accepted that perhaps none of my paintings would be sold that day.
Then he approached my painting.

When I introduced myself as the artist, he looked genuinely surprised and delighted. He turned to the Philippine Ambassador and exclaimed, "I found the artist!"

He told me that even before the exhibition opened, he had already been drawn to my painting after seeing the preview materials shared with the guests. Long before we met, he had already decided that he wanted to purchase it.

At that moment, I could no longer hold back my tears.

It wasn't simply because a painting had been sold.
It was because after days of fear, exhaustion, uncertainty, and heartache, that moment felt like a reminder that there was still hope. It felt like a reminder that despite everything that had happened, despite all the things beyond my control, I had not come all this way for nothing.
A few hours later, my remaining 2 4x6-inch paintings were also sold.

By the end of the event, I was completely sold out in an exhibition attended by ambassadors, diplomats, and guests from different countries.

As artists, we often share our finished works but rarely the struggles that happen behind them. This trip carried far more than paintings. It carried worry, sacrifice, sleepless nights, difficult decisions, and the desire to do whatever I could for my family.
This experience reminded me that sometimes we keep moving forward without knowing how things will turn out. We simply take the next step, trust the process, and continue showing up even when our hearts are heavy.

The earthquake may have shaken our home, but it did not shake our determination to rebuild.
And sometimes, when everything feels uncertain, life gives us a small reminder to keep believing.
For me, that reminder came in Bangkok, through a painting, at exactly the moment I needed it most. 🎨🇵🇭🇹🇭✨
Thank you very much for this opportunity, Art Show Philippines🥺❤️

TARA! MAMINTURA TAAAAAA!!!!😭❤️

Hello everyone. I am offering some of my paintings at greatly low prices to help our family recover after the strong earthquake that struck here in General Santos City. (Prices are in the comment section)

Our home was severely affected and is currently no longer safe or livable, especially for our children. For their safety and our peace of mind, they have temporarily evacuated to their grandparents' home in Surallah while we figure out our next steps.☹️😞

As an artist, creating and sharing my work has always been my way of connecting with people. Today, I am opening my collection and selling some of my paintings to help raise funds for the rebuilding of our home.

Every purchase will go directly toward repairs and rebuilding, helping us create a safe place for our family once again. If a piece speaks to you, I would be deeply grateful for your support.

Thank you for your kindness, prayers, shares, and support during this challenging time. Every gesture, no matter how small, means so much to our family. ❤️🎨

Update: 2 paintings sold😭❤️

Saturday morning at The Art Studio Gensan❤️

Gensan Summer Youth Festival 2026 On-the-spot Painting Competition 🎨
City Mayor's Office - Youth Affairs and Development Office Gensan
Veranza
Competition duration: 9:30am-6:30pm
Congratulations everyone!❤️
See you again next year!