The recent circumstances our nation is in as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic have challenged the various sectors in our society to act as one in managing this crisis. In March, the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act was enacted to enable our government to respond and work with our countrymen in dealing with this precarious situation.

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As millions are affected, the quarantine compressed us with the barest of services for sustenance. The skeletal workforce, especially the medical frontliners, have unwittingly become the sacrificial lambs in the national government's gargantuan effort in flattening the curve. Exposed and vulnerable to the threat of the corona virus, these people sacrifice their lives in the name of duty, so that the rest of us will be safe. Indeed, they are our unsung heroes in these extraordinary times.

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The Filipino Portrait Artists Guild showcases 24 recent works by its members in honor of these brave men and women. Done in the safety of their own studios, the artists have tamed their muse and wielded their talents as their way of paying tribute. Creating a work of art as a form of gratitude is an affirmation of the sacrifices our fellow compatriots have done. This exhibit is their way of saying “Thank You” to the regular folk who continue to do their jobs, for people who go out of their way to help, for those who have become martyrs in the name of service and kindness to humanity.

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Complementing the paintings are recent self-portraits by each participant. Serving as their personal record of their present selves during this historical period, the works were done in the barest minimum of drawing media, suggesting that even through a simple black and white portrait, we can draw inspiration and express beauty in our lives even in the most challenging of circumstances.

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This fundraising project, in coordination with the University of the Philippines Alumni Association, Inc., is for the benefit of frontliners affected by the Covid-19 crisis. Ninety percent of the gross profit before expenses of this show will be donated. In these very trying of times, we call on the public to support the cause of our frontliners through this exhibition.