Kuwento Ng Alon with Department of Tourism, Intramuros Administration, together with the Naval Reserve Command, Naval Reserve Forces NCR, Naval Reserve Center NCR, Naval Reserve Public Affairs Unit, and Art Lounge Manila, will welcome the National Arts Month with an art installation by celebrated missionary visual artist, and Philippine Navy Reservist, Kristine Lim.

The art installation is part of the Kuwento Ng Alon international exhibit tour. This will also serve as the kick off of the 2nd leg of the exhibit and its global tour. The international tour is with the cooperation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Foreign Services Institute. It will be visiting 10 counties outside the Philippines namely Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, China, UK, France, USA, Canada, Dubai.

About Kwento ng Alon

Ian Belleza

Kuwento Ng Alon represents the stories of the Filipino people. In an allegorical art installation, the drift woods represent these stories: stories brought by the waves of the water, the waves of the wind, the waves of our echoes, the waves of our heartbeats. Our archipelago of more than seven thousand islands, is connected by these waves figuratively and metaphorically. And Filipinos all over the world and from all times, traveled by them, as we dream, as we hope and pray, and as we literally spread out through the world in search of what most of the time, we thought would be a better life; only for most of us to realize that we need to beg the same waves to carry as back home for we already have the best and what we are in search for in our motherland.

Kuwento ng Alon (As Told By the Waves), is the story of our people, rendered through the union of song and in visual art; as I interpret the music of composer, song writer and record producer, Jonathan Manalo. It is ultimately a story of not only what’s entirely immaculate about us; but more so, stories of affliction, grief, distress and sorrow; and how these becomes the very tools for unyielding and steadfast grace, faith, hope, joy and love to burgeon and flourish. These kinds of raw and unfiltered narratives carried by the waves to be shared to the world is what inspires, uplifts, and shows everyone all that we are. We are proudly Filipinos that can touch lives and move the world by being true to ourselves. Our stories, whatever it may be, are God’s stories. Our tests are powerful testimonies; destined to be told for a great purpose in such a time as this.

“The ugliest and trashiest part of our story is the most beautiful part of our testimony. This is the Kuwento Ng Alon art installation at the Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila. This is your story.” – Kristine Lim.

Krsitine Lim, Artist on a Mission

Being able to draw before learning how to write foretold what Kristine Lim was born for. Lim graduated Cum Laude from a globally recognized and prestigious university in the Philippines, University of the Philippines Diliman, College of Fine Arts with a major in Visual Communications.

As a University Scholar for four consecutive years, she passionately explored her chosen path which has always been her calling. Hence, she grew as a multi-disciplinary artist, with painting, drawing, graphic design, film and digital photography, and digital art as her areas of interest. Over the years, she has come to understand what visual art means for her. Art is a God-given skill to relay and do something beyond what the artist wants to convey and where the message goes past all known words and lexis. There is no right or wrong interpretation. Every exposition counts, especially, if it positively impacts and transforms the viewer’s life and disposition.

This ARTIST ON A MISION has captured the hearts of many after her successful solo art exhibit called “Almost There,” which marked her official return to the art scene after being on hiatus for years. The death of her son and the near-death of his twin brother was the pivoting point of her life to live not for others or herself but for God. It was a wake-up call to go and do what she wants and this time, for God, she will no longer hold back. It was sponsored by and held at The Manila Hotel and The Diamond Hotel, both respected and described as world-class in the hospitality industry.

Her show was well-received and was officially sold-out before the event even started. High-profile art collectors, as well as, elite members of the society and even international-based collectors were captivated by Kristine’s works and immediately acquired her paintings. Her comeback art exhibit paved the way to better opportunities both in and outside the Philippines. Additionally, her exhibits abroad for the next couple of years have already been lined up. FAMAS Digital Philippines, an institution and legacy in the entertainment industry, had commissioned her to be the official Artist to paint and immortalize their Special Awardees for 2020, mirroring Lim’s distinct art expression which is patriotic yet modernized and full of diversity.

Kristine always aims to consistently represent God and her country by bringing with her other Filipino Christian artists to do exhibits and mission works wherever she goes. For her, her accomplishments aren’t for her alone but for her fellow Christians and fellow Filipinos as well. 

She has been a missionary since High School and has been teaching art workshops to orphans and marginalized sectors of the community. She founded and spearheaded the ARTISTS on a MISSION Workshop and LITTLE ARTISTS on a MISSION Workshop. She uses her art to help and support NGOs and LGUs and other missionaries like herself. 

Succinctly, Lim is an advocate of Edenic Living and Sustainability. She is currently a volunteer as the Director of Culture & Arts for Sustainable PH, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainability and becomes the forefront of Greenovation in the Philippines. Lim is also one of the founders and the Vice President for External Affairs of Christian + Collective, an initiative she and her fellow Christian artists created to further evangelize the word of God through arts. Lim can also be appreciated as a writer; she has her own column at SustainablePh.org called “Created to Create”.

Now a wife to Jasper and a mom to Justine, John (+), and Judah, Lim stays true to her faith as a Filipino Christian artist and missionary despite and in spite of unpredictable circumstances. As she always says, “An artist is not just someone who creates art. A true artist is someone who can create meaningful pieces that impact and change lives; because it is not self-serving. It is purposeful.”.

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