A Filipino artist whose career way back in the Philippines had been troubled with misfortunes has found Saudi Arabia the best place to start anew. “I had a small shop in Gaizano Mall in Cebu, Philippines, that I dreamed of making the means - the platform - with which to free my family from poverty. But after three years of struggle, the mall was burned together with my goals and aspiration,” said Efren C. Amplayo, a 34-year-old artist who now works as sign painter foreman at the King Fahd International Airport (KFIA) in Eastern Province. Efren said he was also deep in debt after that tragedy. “I have a Norwegian customer who ordered two pieces of oil painting and paid me half of the price. Those ordered paintings were also burned.” Efren's Norwegian customer, however, made a deal with the Filipino painter to sell all his paintings to this customer to be sold in Norway. “For two years, I shipped over 200 works of arts to him without receiving payments because I trusted him. Then he decided to cut the shipment and informed me that he will sell all the paintings first and pay me later on. I never heard of him from that time on,” Efren said. The misfortunes did not deter Efren. “I decided then to seek employment overseas. Fortunately, I was offered my current job at the KFIA. Now, I feel that my future will be brighter,” said the Filipino artist who is married with two young children. Efren started painting since he was in the grade school, winning several competitions. Because of poverty, he was unable to pursue his dream of going to college to take up fine arts. “I instead enrolled in a vocational school and took up painting, but again I was unable to graduate due to financial problem. However, I continued painting, trying to perfect my arts,” he said. Efren, who joined KFIA only last year, said he has put behind him all his past unpleasant experiences. “I have set up a small place in Al-Khobar to display and showcase my paintings; and it is attracting many arts enthusiasts.” He said he spends his free time and during weekend at his small shop in Al-Khobar. He specializes in oil portrait on canvass, landscape, modern style, figurative painting, and none figurative paintings. He has also developed skill in charcoal, pastel, oil, acrylic painting, wall decoration, signboards, stickers, and silk screen printing. “I feel that my feet are on the ground now here in the Kingdom. I know I will find my niche in this country with my skill and experiences in painting as my passport toward success,” Efren said.
