Admirers mob Vice Ganda

MANILA, Philippines — Don’t hide yourself in regret/Just love yourself and you’re set...

Issued in 2011, Born This Way, Lady Gaga’s imperative on self-love that Jordan-based prized artist Elmer Dumlao thematically shares in his art piece titled Inborn (2012).

Whether Dumlao hangs it in a corner of the Zara Gallery in Amman, Jordan or Art Center of Megamall in Mandaluyong City, it grabs the attention of Filipinos who mob and end up name-calling her as “Vice Ganda.”

Paulina Luz Sotto-Llanes (third from left) cuts the innovative gallery curtain with (from left) Al Perez, Father Regent Edgardo Alaurin, Anita del Rosario, College of Fine Arts and Design Dean Cristie Que, Raul Isidro and 27 others.

Created after the real-world release of Mother Monster’s boppy chart-topper, giving zing how she queered the LGBT community forever, Dumlao re-exhibited Inborn in his Full Cargo retrospective last April 1 to 11 at the Art Center.

Glimmering of wit with flashes of visual inventiveness, Inborn is a wildly imaginative and delightful depiction of Dumlao’s unconventionality and provocative original man as animal (“animan”) series.

A hanging cutout of a posed one-foot genderless zebra wearing high heel dressed up flamboyantly in paint, silver-colored natural fibers and industrial hardware, Vice Ganda is in reference to the comedy phenomenon’s equine association and her mindset of acceptance of our nature.

“Wala akong na-encounter na nangutya sa kanyang kakaibang itsura. Darating ang panahon na sino ka man, ano man ang iyong kasarian ay katanggap-tanggap at may karapatan sa lipunan,” embraced Dumlao who untiringly manned the exhibit.

With Oak Tree behind them that the Healing Galing host purchased are (from left) director-producer Nestor Tan, Elmer, Marissa Pe Yang, Dr. Edinell Calvario and Cid Reyes.

Dumlao’s first exhibit in the Philippines brimmed with celebrities including Paulina Luz Sotto-Llanes, Fr. Sonny Ramirez, UST Fine Arts masters Cid Reyes, Raul Isidro, Al Perez, Herber Bartolome and Dr. Edinell Calvario as organized by president Marie Pe Yang of beneficiary UST Atelier Alumni Association, Inc. Julius and Tintin Babao sent their best wishes.

Cultural icon Gilda Cordero-Fernando, who visited the showcase and meditated on each otherworldly beauty that brought her misty-eyed, raved in the guest book, Magnificent!  

Dumlao’s comment betrays the full story, “Pangarap kong maging isang big icon si Inborn.”