Papemelroti's Robert Alejandro says art is a form of healing, helps people forget problems

Robert Alejandro is a firm believer that art is a form of healing, helping people forget their pain and problems even for little a while.

In an episode of "The Howie Severino Podcast," the award-winning artist and Papemelroti owner said art becomes therapeutic when one is "immersed" and "in the zone" with it.

"If you're really focused sa ginagawa mong 'yon, kinakalimutan mo lahat—if you have pain, if you have problems. You forget it and you just focus on the art or whatever you enjoy doing," he said.

("If you're really focused on what you're doing, you're forgetting everything—if you have pain, if you have problems. You forget it and you just focus on the art or whatever you enjoy doing.")

The perfect example to this, Alejandro said, was when he held a workshop for kids who have cancer.

"Wala naman akong background sa art therapy so tinanong ko 'yung doktor, 'Anong gagawin ko?' Sabi niya, 'Ipa-enjoy mo sila and hopefully makakalimutan nila na may sakit sila, that they have cancer.'"

("I don't have background on art therapy so I asked the doctor, 'What should I do?' They said, 'Make them enjoy and hopefully, they'll forget that they're sick, that they have cancer.'")

"That's exactly what we did. We just had fun and even for a while, they forgot that they were sick."

Alejandro added that it helps one express their feelings without having to say even a single word. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2016, that is exactly how he feels now.

"What's even more important than saying anything is actually listening and (knowing) how they feel," he said. "I hate talking about my condition. I'd rather be drawing and drawing and drawing."

Alejandro reminded the listeners that healing can be from anything else aside from than art.

"For example, other people really enjoy science or math," he said. "Kung ano 'yung hilig mo, 'yon ang importante sa 'yo. Like I would never force a child to do art if hindi nila type gawin."

["Whatever you like doing, that's what's important for you."']

"It can be anything—it can be dancing or whatever," he added.

Alejandro previously hosted GMA-7's "Art Is-Kool." Amid the pandemic, he has been holding free online workshops for art lovers stuck at home.

—Franchesca Viernes/MGP, GMA News