The other day, my friend’s sister posted in FB that her friend a certain Joey Velasco succumbed to heart attack and seizures. I never really put any thought to that announcement until I heard his name again in the news. The country’s President mourned with the late Velasco’s family. Apparently, Joey was a country’s gem in the Arts. His most notable piece of work was “Hapag ng Pag-asa,” his version of the Last Supper where Jesus Christ dines with children.

He was born on March 18, 1967 to Ciriaco and Adelita Velasco. As a youngster, he was drawn to Entrepreneurship but was studying Law in Ateneo when he decided to live in solidarity with  his parents. Less than five years, he fell deep into the depression pit when doctors had to take out one of his kidneys due to an illness. He holed up in a room by himself and asked God to take him. But the Heavens had other plans for him. The Lord handed him a paint brush and he gladly took the challenge. Joey considered himself an instrument of God, a mere paint brush himself and his works are results of Divine Intervention. Just looking at his works, I felt this to be true. Don’t you feel that energy just by looking at the painting? To go to the rest of his works, click on the image above.

He was survived by his wife Queeny and children Marco, Chiara, Clarisse, and Marti.

Eternal rest grant unto Joey, and let Your perpetual light shine upon him. May Joey rest in peace. Amen.