Pangasinan artist creates mosaic art using paper puncher

An artist from San Quintin, Pangasinan named earned applause online for her intricate artworks made from small pieces of discarded paper from using a paper puncher.

As seen in Kuya Kim's report on "24 Oras," Tuesday, Jereka Decano has pieces that feature Taylor Swift, Mimiyuuuh, the Mona Lisa, and Apo Whang-Od.

But what she was most proud of is a portrait of her mom and dad. 

"Sa paggamit ng hole puncher po naiiwan po 'yung mga pinagbutasan po na papel. Why not po gamitin po siya sa paggawa ng mosaic art?" Jereka said.

The paper puncher is one of the common office supplies we use every day. But how was it invented?

Kuya Kim said that many can be credited with the invention of paper punchers. One of them is the German Friedrich Soennecken, who also invented ring binders.

On November 14, 1886, he filed a patent for a device he created that he called the "paper punch for binders," which he uses so that he can better punch holes in the papers of the binder he is making.

In 1885, the American Benjamin Smith filed a patent for a tool he called the "conductor's punch."

The hand-held device that only makes one hole is used by railway conductors to punch holes in tickets.

Meanwhile, because of Jereka's commissioned hole punch artworks, she was able to save for the maintenance medicines of her father, who has high blood pressure.

"Sobrang happy po nung nalaman ko na maraming tao pong nakaka-appreciate sa gawa ko," she said.

—Carby Basina/MGP, GMA Integrated News