the happiest season / 2011

Title: Christmas Violin
Size: 24 inches in diameter
Medium: Mixed Media
Artist: betsisanders 2011

The Wreath ... symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases, like God's love which has no beginning or end. Its circular shape represents eternity, the unending cycle of life, everlasting life.

The Holly ... its branches has thorns which represent the thorns on Jesus' crown when He was crucified. The bright red holly berries symbolize Jesus' blood that was shed for us.

Santa Claus ... symbolizes the generosity and kindness we feel during the month of December.

The Candle ... symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see the great Light, we are reminded of Jesus who fills our lives with light.

The Christmas Tree .... tannenbaum, s German word for fir tree, is often translated into English as Christmas Tree. The fir tree's green color remains green all year round, represents everlasting hope of mankind. Its needles point upward or 'heaven' ward, which is man's thoughts turning toward heaven.

The Nativity Scene .. is a depiction of Jesus' birth in a manger, inlcuding His parents, Mary & Joseph. It may also include a shepherd, the three Kings,and an angel. In most cases, an ox and a donkey are included, which represent the people of Israel and the Gentiles.

The Angel.... announced the glorious news of the Savior's birth.












The Gingerbread Man... makes its appearance during the most wonderful season. The gingerbread man is a biscuit with a ginger flavor in the shape of a person. Our gingerbread men stuffed toys hang in our tree this season.

Tones & Colors / Nov. 8 - 28, 2011

Tones and Colors Group Painting Exhibit at The Art Gallery of the Philippine Heart Center, runs from November 8 to 28, 2011. A vibrant display of fifty pieces of paintings by different artists depicting varied themes and inspirations, is made possible by Mr. Fernando 'Nanding' Sena, in his pursuit of supporting fellow established artists and encourage newbies in the art scene.



Title: Ballet Dancer
Size: 3 x 3 feet
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: betsisanders
Price: Php 20,ooo



Title: Christ the King
Artist: Fernando B. Sena
NOT FOR SALE / Donation



Title: Ang Tatlong Burdadera
Size: 3 x 3 feet
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: Remy Boquiren
Price: Php 270,ooo


Title: Dawn Bamboo
Size: 3 x 3 feet
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Artist: Cesar Montano
Price: Php 60,ooo
betsisanders with Cesar Montano

betsisanders with Ms. Claire Malanyaon (sports artist and artist for Hollywood stars) Ms. Claire has an exhibit at The Manadalay Bay this week in Las Vegas. She paints portraits of sports superstars like Manny Pacquiao and Michael Jordan, Hollywood star Brad Pitt is also one of her clients.
She was Mr. Sena's art student.

... with my mentor and art teacher, Mr. Fernando B. Sena.

i know how it felt

Title: Nude
Size: 5 x 7 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: betsisanders 2011

Overwhelming sadness...

I know how it felt, I know how it hurt.

I used to wake up in the middle of the night screaming, not remembering the dream. I wake up in the morning and realize that she is gone. I close my eyes and try to go back to sleep, but sleep evades me. I know that she in a better place, that her death is the end of her suffering, a relief. Yet it hurts to know that I will never hug her, ever again.

I cry in the shower so no one will hear me scream, I wait for everyone to sleep so I can fall apart. I hide my pain and pretend that everything is okay. I keep silent even when I feel like screaming. I put a smile on my face and pretend to be fine, but every breath I take is painful. It is not easy to be enveloped with overwhelming sadness.

Nude paintings based on originals. The text has nothing to do with the paintings. . .
... I just remembered and wrote how I felt. It still hurts, but life goes on.

My wishes...

To laugh as often as I can,
To giggle or chuckle
...and not whmper, sob or weep
... and hope to never shed another tear.

To grab every chance on happiness,
To dance to the music that life plays,
To sing or hum along with life's melodies,

To receive all that life gives me,
To accept, even if it could break my heart,
To learn from these heartaches,

To grab every opportunity to make myself a better,
more caring and more loving individual,
To gain and benefit from life's blessings,

To endure the suffering caused by failed relationships,
To bear the pain from the holes in my heart,
To allow others to mend and fill up these holes,
To heal and forgive fast,

To never be angry, hurt or lonely,
To never despair and lose hope,

To love more those beautiful persons who love me back,

To not fear death,
Instead ... to start living,

To want or desire some things,
.... and let the universe help in obtaining all these wishes,

To pray and always be thankful,
To someday be with those loved ones who have gone ahead,
To take my place, my reserved seat, beside my Creator,

To be remembered by you,
To be kept in your heart always,
To know that my purpose and journey
Has brought some meaning in your life.

So dear friend, stay safe
When the time comes that I cannot b e with you,
Keep me in your heart...
.... and remember that every drop of rain
is a teardrop from my heart.

/ betsisanders 2011

i'll keep them in my heart but not in my life ...

Title: Nude
Size: 5 x 7 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: betsisanders 2011


I have been hurt, disappointed, frustrated. I've had failed relationships and find it difficult to forgive others, those who have wronged me. I have missed numerous opportunities. Some of my dreams & aspirations have died. I felt guilty for what I had done wrong or for those things I failed to do. I am shamed. While guilt is about something wrong that I had done. Shame, as I have learned in a life class, is something wrong with who I am.

For a long time, I blamed myself for everything that had gone wrong in my life. It was all my fault and I cried buckets. I thought I was not smart enough, not pretty enough, not rich enough, not good enough,.... not enough.

At one point, I blamed others. It wasn't all my fault. It takes 'two to tango', two to fight and two to make things right. That was what I thought.

Maya Angelou said "When people show you who they are the first time, believe them."

I had seen them, seen their true faces,
I knew she was self centered, selfish, narcissistic,
I knew she was user-friendly and immoral
I knew that her past time was gossiping.
I knew she was a social climber.
I knew that she was good for nothing, a liar, a leech, a cheat
.... but I gave excuses for her behavior.
I wished that maybe, in time, she will change.
I gave her permission to be in my life.

When I was betrayed and hurt by a loved one, a friend, a sister,
I went into self doubt, felt unworthy and 'not enough'.
I asked ...
"Why didn't I see that? How can I be a dolt?
Am I really that stupid?
Why did I allow them to hurt me ? "

I learned that...
"I am responsible for what others bring into my life.
I am the only one who gets to say what goes on in my life.
If people hurt me, it is because I allowed them. "

I also learned that "When crazy comes into your own family, or within your circle of friends, is it okay to walk away and never have a relationship with them? As a child, I had to stay. As an adult, I have a choice. I released my story. I can have a good relationship with them within myself, not necessarily have a physical relationship. By continuing to be angry means I still care and wish to go back to the way it was."

So, I shall forgive them. I have made peace with them within myself. I have released them to God, Who is the ultimate judge.

How do I know I have forgiven?
...when I don't feel anything anymore
...when I have no more emotions
...when I can talk about the past and not be upset
...it is just as it is.

Finally, I will forgive myself for judging myself. First, let go of the guilt that I did something wrong. Then let go of my shame... That there is something wrong with who I am. ... Just let go and let God.

"When I turn my back, walk away, close my door and keep them shut, it is because I value my peace of mind and myself more. They are not worth my time and my love. I'll keep them in my heart but not in my life." / betsisanders 2011

wake up, get up, show up

Title: Nude
Size: 5 x 7 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: betsisanders 2011


Who you are as a person is what matters ... not where you studied, your diplomas or degrees; not where you live or what cars you drive; not the designer clothes, bags or jewelry you flaunt; not where you shop or dine; not the "who's who" in society you rub elbows with; not even the church where you worship.

When stripped of all these things, what defines you?

Some are defined by their parents, siblings, partners or their children. ... I watched a show where they featured a man, a medical doctor, whose wife and two daughters were raped, murdered and burned to death. He said that his life revolved around his family and now that they have passed, he is lost. He is stripped of everything that defined him.

What matters? What counts?... when everything is gone, when all that's left is you. ... bare, naked, stripped...

What matters is one's personal integrity, honesty, truthfulness, values and principles.

So, when there is nothing left to define you... "Wake up, get up. show up to the world ... with integrity... kindness and gratitude".


/ betsisanders 2011



[ my version of original nude paintings ]

an expression of my life's purpose

Title: 'an expression of my life's purpose'
Size: 5 x 7 inches
Medium: Acrylic on Museum Wrapped Canvas
Artist: betsisanders 2011

"an expression of my life's purpose"

A benefit of age, of being golden,
... is knowing how to ignore what others think or say;
... is being courageous to stand up on my own
and not be intimidated with other people's opinions;
... is doing what my heart desires;
... fulfilling my dreams now;
... realizing that there isn't much time left
and that my end is near.
So, dear friend ...
... I leave you my art,
for you to keep in your heart,
where I shall remain forever.

LOL lots of love, betsisanders 2011

Say it with flowers ...

Title: Say it with flowers
Medium: Acrylic
Size: 3 ft x 3 ft
Artist: betsisanders 2011

What follows is a poem by Fernando Pessoa. [Pessoa was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language. (June 13, 1888 - November 30, 1935)

A Poem by Fernando Pessoa

Listen, Daisy, When I die, although You may not feel a thing,
you must tell all my friends in London how much my loss makes you suffer.
Then go to York, where you claim you were born (But I don't believe a thing you claim),
To tell that poor boy who gave me so many hours of joy
(but of course you don't know about that) that I'm dead.
Even he, whom I thought I sincerely loved, won't care. . .
Then go and break the news to that strange girl Cecily,
Who believed that one day I'd be great. . .
To hell with life and everyone in it!

>>>>>>>>

I found the ending of the poem quite funny. The poem has nothing to do with this blog. I just thought I'd quote it. ... and let you analyze it, or perhaps, not analyze it at all. Just laugh at it like I did.

>>>>>>>>


Forgiveness .....

I have experienced pain from a relationship with a friend from high school. The memory of the pain sits deep and gnaws inside me. I do not forgive because I feel that if I do, I am setting her free or I am forgetting the wrong that has been done. She has to pay for the hurt, the damage, the anguish that she has caused me. She betrayed my trust and disrespected me.

This evening, after I watched a movie with my boys, Alvin and I were walking leisurely at the mall, while I savored the frozen yogurt... I chanced upon the husband and daughter of my 'frenemy'. She is back in the country. My smile quickly turned into a frown; I found myself walking fast and walking away; my tranquil heart started to beat faster; there was turbulence deep inside my chest. Adrenaline and norepinephrine surged. It was either a fight or a flight. I chose to flee and run away.

I kept on repeating these words in my mind. "If you don't like something, change it, If you can't change it, change your attitude." This was posted in one of my friends status updates and I memorized it. It has been six hours since, and I am still saying these words in my head.

I was very upset. I wanted to paint, but it was past midnight. So, I opted to read instead... to keep myself busy, to distract my mind, to try and be calm. I read Marianne Williamson's Facebook status. She wrote and I quote, " Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. This isn't theory, it's an unalterable fact, a law of the universe. So don't worry if you can't see the result of your forgiveness just yet; know that any mental breakthrough from fear to love generates a cosmic engine of miraculous breakthrough as sure as the sun's rising or setting. That faith on your part, your knowledge of spiritual law, will be a force magnifier that brings the miracle into manifestation more powerfully and quickly." This is from ACIM , A Course in Miracles. .... I posted it on my 'wall'., turned off the computer, prayed the rosary and forced myself to sleep.

Sure... forgive... I still battle with forgiveness.

.... I still hold on to anger. This anger that takes away my joy, my happiness... disturbs the calm that I have worked for and achieved.

I need to forgive and forgive fast...NOW!

Jesus, please help me.

>>>>>>>>

I have this tiny white teddy bear angel with a small halo on its head, with its front paws together and rear paws bended, and when you press on one of its paws, it would start saying its evening prayers.

"Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. "

>>>>>>>>
The poem, the blog, not even the teddy bear angel, have anything to do with the painting. It's just one of those days when some things do not make sense. Remember the sermon of the flower? keep it in mind, it helps.

Goodnight everyone =]=]=]