Sometimes, hobbies can unexpectedly appear in the blink of an eye for a good reason. In Rene Milan’s case, no one influenced him to start drawing—rather, the interest slowly grew within him over time.
Who would have guessed that a few years later, he would use art to highlight the significance of women? Or that art would be his tool for helping and educating children?
Milan, a full-time visual artist from Davao del Norte, is entirely self-taught. While much of his inspiration stemmed from Filipino cubist Vicente Manansala, muralist Carlos “Botong” Francisco, and contemporary painter Norma Belleza, his biggest inspiration is his mother, Rosita Milan, who worked tirelessly to support their family.
“Dahil sa mama ko, siya ang inspirasyon ko. Kita at ramdam ko ang hirap at pagsisikap niya para maitawid kami sa gutom at kahirapan. Pagod na siya pero lumalaban at nagsisikap [pa rin] para sa pamilya.”
[“It is because of my mother; she is my inspiration. I saw and felt her struggles and efforts just to put us out of hunger and poverty. She was already tired but she did not stop fighting and striving hard for her family.”]
Using acrylic, Milan experimented with different art styles, including cubism. His works “Palangga”, “Kristo”, and “Faith to Launch Out” are prime examples of his early exploration. However, it was his mother’s life and his own search for a niche that inspired the creation of his “Sa Loob ng Bestida” series.
“Sa Loob ng Bestida” is a collection of artwork that showcases Filipino dresses from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao while highlighting the role and contributions of women in society.
Milan’s collection, however, is not merely an exhibition of dresses portrayed in diverse colors and shapes, originating from various Filipino cultures—each piece has a story to tell and emotion to uncover.
“It is all about who is inside the bestida—the dress. Sino siya? Ano ang buhay, istorya, at pagkatao niya?”
[“It is all about who is inside the bestida—the dress. Who is she? What’s her life, story, and identity?”]
Milan grew up in “a very poor but happy family” in Tagum City. His humble beginnings taught him to appreciate even the smallest things, which in turn sparked his curiosity and ambition.
“Napakahirap ng buhay at [nakita] ko ‘yon sa sitwasyon namin lalo na sa pagod at hirap ng mga magulang ko. In that point of time, natuto akong i-appreciate ang mga bagay-bagay gaano man ito kaliit o kakunti. Nagsimula akong mangarap,” he expressed.
[“Life was hard and I witnessed it through our family situation, especially with the sacrifices of my parents. In that point of time, I learned to appreciate things no matter how small or few they might be. I started to dream.”]
It was in elementary school when Milan’s appreciation for art first thrived. He was always filled with eagerness when he was given assignments and class activities that involved drawing but, the turning point in his artistic journey came when he pursued a Commerce degree at Aces Tagum College.
During a Marketing Day event, as a major in Management Accounting, his class was tasked to create an original product they could sell. Due to his family’s situation, he decided to do a do-it-yourself project instead by creating artwork made from his recycled uniform, oil pastel, and DIY frame made by his father.
“On the day of the event, akin lang ‘yong kakaiba, hindi pagkain. The good thing lang is [sold] ang mga gawa ko,” he recalls, stressing that the art industry does indeed have financial potential, contrary to popular belief.
[“On the day of the event, only mine was different. The good thing was that I was able to sell them.”]
Milan worked as a manager in a private company for 8 years before becoming the executive assistant to the city councilor of his hometown. Although his term was supposed to last 3 years, he stepped down after 6 months to pursue a full-time career in the arts in 2020.
“Marami lang talagang beses na naghahanap ang kamay ko ng paint brush, namiss ko ang pagpinta,” he said whenever he felt the longing to do art.
[“There were just many times when my hands were searching for a paintbrush; I missed painting.”]
Recognizing women’s empowerment through paintings is not just Milan’s forte, he also finds fulfillment in educating and helping children. In 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he launched the #ProjectLikha initiative in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.
With the help of humble supporters, he not only gives toys, slippers, school supplies, and food to Indigenous children but also teaches them art. The project supports the Indigenous children and their parents, as well as schools in the municipality.
Hobbies and interests are more than just ways to spend leisure time for pleasure; they can also serve as tools for raising awareness of a cause. Milan manifested this through his “Sa Loob ng Bestida” series and #ProjectLikha advocacy—proving that art can empower women and support children’s ambitions and education.
Milan’s journey to achieving these manifestations revolves around sheer dedication. While some artists stretch a single task over several days and months, he refuse to leave an artwork unfinished for more than a day. To do this successfully, however, he makes sure he is well-rested. For him, rest is essential for creativity.
“Aside from rest, artists must also go out and have fun. Breathe some fresh air [and] spend great and quality time together with [their] family. Work hard but never forget that artists are humans as well. Let’s enjoy what God has blessed us with,” he says.
Milan consistently demonstrates his dedication well. Proof of this includes the fact that several of his works were used in designer runway collections at the House of MUSA – The Musa Fabric by Joy Soo; twice during New York Fashion Week in June and September 2022 and once during Thailand Fashion Week in July 2024—feats that he considers among his proudest.
When asked about the valuable lesson he learned as an artist, Milan says, ”Artists must save money and must know how to handle their finances. Kapag may pumasok na pera, the first thing to do is to set aside a portion to save. ‘Yong sobra ‘yon na ‘yong i-budget mo for your needs and other expenses. Dahil not all the time merong papasok na commission o kaya sales from our work.”
[“When money comes in, the first thing to do is set aside a portion for savings. The remaining budget should be allocated to your needs and other expenses, as money or sales from commissions won’t always be consistent.”]
Presently, Milan is working on medium- and large-sized commission works titled “Awit ng Masaganang Pagsasaka”, “Sarimanok”, and “Blooms”. He also held his most recent exhibition “Divine Connections” from October 25 to November 6, 2024, at Art Camp Makati.