ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joselito
“Joey” Salvador Alvir Velasco is a 39 year old
Filipino entrepreneur. He would not out rightly call himself a painter and
a sculptor, much more an author. But he breaks into an impish grin when he
calls himself a “heartist.”
He fondly remembers holding more art tools than pens as an elementary student
in Don Bosco Mandaluyong. It was there where he learned to use the copping
saw and turned scrap woods into puppets and “Bulldog Beware” signs.
As a high school student in Don Bosco Pampanga, he did figurine casting and
kilning at the incinerator where he volunteered to work. Later from 1983-1987
he dabbled in frame making in the carpentry shops of Don Bosco Canlubang.
The late Fr. Chito Dajao, SDB was his mentor in the arts while Norman Sustiguer
introduced him to Verdaccio or Grisaille painting. He attributes the rest
of his technique to his child-like curiosity, experimental creativity and
strong desire to bring meaning to people’s lives.
He acknowledges that more important than the skills he learned from the Salesians,
his profoundest gain is acquiring a heart for the poor. Both his painting
and this book convey the message of being life-giving especially to the unfortunate.
Happily married to Marie Queeny Puno Suñga for 11 years, Joey is a
father to four kids. He considers this book a legacy to his own children to
remind them of the values of charity and compassion; that fullness of life
is possible also on earth through the sharing of our God-given gifts.
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