Reflection

My love for art was something that grew up alongside me ever since I was young. Seven year old me loved to draw their favorite Disney characters and princesses, now seventeen year old me loves to make fan art of my favorite shows. Upon seeing the theme, my mind instantly thought of Favio Chavez and his Recycled Orchestra. I knew that drawing realistic people and objects would be challenging, but I was willing to take it on. I felt very out of my comfort zone and struggled during the creation, but a constant motto in the life of an artist is to "trust the process." I did, and I felt very accomplished from what I was able to do. I first learned about Favio Chavez in my Spanish class. Our teacher used his efforts as an example to show Latin America's contributions in battling climate change and pollution. In Cateura, Paraguay, Chavez gave the children opportunities for a life outside of selling recycled trash by using said trash in creating instruments for an orchestra. A violin costs more than a house in Cateura, but by using trash from landfill piles, Chavez created multiple violins, cellos, flutes, and many other instruments for the children. Most importantly, he formed the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura to teach these children music and to give them a chance to play for the world outside of the slums. I was very inspired by Chavez's efforts, since in my country, the Philippines, we also have a big slum called "Smokey Mountain." It is named that way since the landfill there piles enormously high, and the garbage there is always burning. My mother told me that there have been many efforts to help the people of Smokey Mountain, but they have all stopped. Us Filipinos love music–especially singing and karaoke–and I would love to see our musical passions extend with a Recycled Orchestra of Smokey Mountain, or perhaps other slums and landfills of the Philippines.