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Sunshine Plata: A Trailblazer in Coffee Painting

Sunshine Plata: A Trailblazer in Coffee Painting
by Mark Pere M. Madrona

Sunshine Plata, a 28-year-old fast-rising painter, still recalls how she discovered using coffee as an art medium in 2000. A sophomore Psychology student at University of Santo Tomas at that time, she said she felt the need to look for an affordable alternative to oil for her paintings.

"I'm no longer comfortable with the thought of letting my parents finance my not-so-cheap art materials. I looked for a medium that lasts long and would fit in my meager budget as a student then," Plata said.

An obscure item displayed at a Ripley's Believe It or Not exhibit in Shangri-La Manila later that year ended her search. "Among the collections there, I saw a 19th century framed paper bearing a coffee-printed signature. I realized that that item has been preserved for over a century already, maybe using coffee for paintings would work well too," she said. Toward the end of that year, she was able to finish "Ustedyante," her first coffee painting. A portray of UST's campus buildings, the 9" X 5" artwork was made on a sketch pad. It is now hanging on the living room of the Platas Marikina residence.

Sensing a renewed passion for painting, Plata said she tried to transfer to UST's Fine Arts program. Though switching courses would mean being delayed by a year or two for graduation, she said her parents Reynaldo and Consolacion had always been understanding. She took the shifter's exam for Fine Arts and when she didn't pass it, she said she felt bitterness for not getting what she wanted. "But I realized that maybe, it isn't really for me. So, I continued with Psychology and graduated in 2002," Plata said.

Describing herself as an "average" Psychology student, she said her performance during her college days dissuaded her from taking up medicine - which was her family's wish for her. Instead, she became a pre-school teacher from 2002-2007 at Antipolo's Rosehill Preschool. "I have always admired the sincerity and innocence seen among children" she said. But even her love for children can't contain the painter in her. Just when she's already due for promotion, she quit her job to focus on painting.

"When your passion knocks on your door, you cannot simply turn it away. Your passion would always haunt you. Hindi ka na nyan titigilan," Plata said. She said all she aspired for in her career is to have at least one show in her lifetime. "If you enter God into the picture, He'll make great things happen. Dream and your dreams would fall short compared to what He can give," she said. She never fails to go to mass everyday as a homage to the Creator.

Plata had her first solo exhibit last January 2008 at Instituto Cervantes' Casino Espanol de Manila. She said her entire family together with their friends were very supportive during the exhibit dubbed as LSD (Look, Smell and Discover) trip by Caffeine. Even her once-doubting father had become swayed that she can do it. "Me and my wife weren't really convinced at her craft initially. First, she's not a Fine Arts major. Looking back, I realized that maybe, I just don't know how to appreciate art then," Mr Plata said.

He recalled one incident where he unintentionally may have offended his daughter. “It was 3AM then when I saw her using my imported Maxwell House Coffee for a painting. I told her, Bakit mo ito ginagamit para lang dyan?” Mr. Plata said. After Sunshine successes, he jokingly said his daughter can now use his packs of Maxwell coffee.

The younger Plata said she had little expectations about her first exhibit. “I just want to express my art. I never expected that it would be received warmly by the people,” she said. She shared that Health Sec. Francisco Duque and his wife Carolina were among her exhibit viewers. The were known in social circles as devoted art patrons. “It is an honor for any artists doing an exhibition to be visited by them,” Plata said.

The Duques went on to buy three paintings: the “Caballito de Dilancin” (Rocking Horse), the “Nuestra Senora del Paz y Buen Viaje” and the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired “Kingdom by the Sea.” The thrid painting was inspired by Poe's “Annabel Lee,” the author's last complete poem. Plata said poems helps a lot in her paintings because the imagery they create gives her “great ideas.”

Aside from poems, she also derives art ideas from her dreams – like the story behind her world-famous “Diwata.” She said she had a childhood fantasy of being a fairy. “I've always read fairy tales. My favorite is Thumbelina because I'm also yearning for freedom like her,” Plata said. The idea behind the “Diwata” painting came from a dream she had in 2007 about a drowning fairy.

“That morning, I drew it immediately in a sketch pad. Since the fairy is drowning, I want her to drown in style,” she said. She added that she retained the name “Diwata” for the painting even in international exhibits so that foreigners would know that Filipino word.

After her Casino Espanol exhibit, the coffee painter had been featured in many news reports (24 Oras), morning shows (Umagang Kay Ganda) and in wire agency Reuters. She even took part in the “Plato para kay Ploning,” a fund raising event for the Judy Ann Santos film. Many prominent Filipino artists took part in the auction and most of them were puzzled when the name Sunshine Plata was announced. When prominent sculptor Ray Contreras and her then manager Marilyn Plata explained to the clueless artists who she was, the commotion stopped.

Plata said Juday personally thanked her, and all the other artists, for their contribution in the event. She said she donated “Sorbetes ni Gorio,” a painting about her maternal grandfather Gregorio with an ice cream cart. The winning bid for the painting was at P 60,000 though Plata got the work back because the entire auction-process was disorganized.

Plata's most recent exhibit was at Cordillera Coffee last December 2008. Dubbed as “Season's Brew,” 10% percent of proceeds from each paintings sold were directed to organizations of coffee farmers and their children. “It is a way for me to give back. Without them, I won't be here,” she said. In the next few years, she said she hopes to establish a foundation for the same purpose. “I'm sure those children wouldn't want to remain as coffee farmers forever,” she said.

For Plata, who considers herself a part of the Naive Art Movement because of her lack of artistic influences and formal training, coffee painting should go on for the years to come. “Even when I get married, I would go on doing this. In fact, that would be more favorable for me since I can take care of my children and paint while staying at home,” she said. Indeed, coffee painting is here to stay.

My Final Enrollment as a Journalism Undergrad! Running Diary...

It's all about the climb (sorry, Miley!), and I'm already near the summit of my UP Journey.

Today, November 3, I am enrolling for the 2nd semester of AY 2009-2010. If we include my registration for three consecutive summer terms, today's enrollment is already my 11th since I entered UP Diliman in 2006. More importantly, this shall be my last as an undergrad - if everything goes as planned. Here's a running account of what happened today, as I have written in my red notebook:

5:40 AM: My day begins. I clicked the TV, and guess what, I saw Mareng Winnie on Unang Hirit! I hope it's a good sign.

7:20 AM: I arrived at CMC. At the building's entrance, there's this post about 18 journalism students who must enlist in an Econ 100.1 discussion class lest they won't be given a grade in that subject. Of course, I'm one of them. If not for that, my enrollment today would have been a breeze.

8:20 AM: Ate Raquel Bacarra (the Journalism Dept. Secretary) finally arrives. Yung adviser? Wala pa...

8:40 AM: The list of thesis topics and their respective thesis advisers has been posted. Our topic, "Face to Face(book) with the candidate: How 2010 Philippine Presidential Candidates use social networking sites for campaigning" has been picked by Prof. Yvonne T. Chua. It came as a surprise to me because I thought someone else would pick it.

9:10 AM: Prof. Ma. Cristina Rara, the designated adviser for the day, finally arrives.

9:15 AM: Just went aboard a Katipunan jeepney to go to the School of Economics. Upon arriving there, we were told that the enlistment for Econ 100.1 would begin at 1PM. Wow, that's still four hours away!

9:50 AM: I went back to CMC. I paid P20 for the student council fund. Wait, where's the P20 for ...? Anyway, I already got my form 5. I'm going back to Econ again.

10:15 AM: I'm back at Econ. Here with me are three other Journ majors: John Antiquerra, Katherine Cortez and Frances Olayon. But 1PM is still 3 hours away! What shall I do? Well, start filling-up the form 5.

11:00 AM: We're still here at Econ. Where are those 14 students who weren't able to get Econ 100.1 slots? By the looks of it, we'll be camping out here 'til 1PM comes. I'm done filling up the form 5. To use my time, I solved some find-a-word puzzles! (sorry mama, pinuslit ko yung book mo!)

11:45 AM: Since I'm already hungry, I looked for something to eat. I found this food stall in Econ peddling ham and burger in huge pandesals. For P25, why not! But no, the meal isn't enough for me. I bought Nissin Cup Noodles too (chicken flavor ha). Later on, former Journ Dept. representative Edmalynne Remillano arrived. Yes, she needs Econ 100.1 too. Meanwhile, I got to talk to her about many salient issues. Sample:

M: Na-send na sa akin ni Charmaine yung transcript ng interview mo kay Titoy nung September! Ang haba nun ah...

E: Yuck ha. Bakit naman "Titoy" ang tawag mo sa kanya?

1:00 PM: It's 1 o'clock already. Labing-apat na tao na kaming naghihintay sa labas ng SE 127. I later learned that some of them are Sociology seniors. Masarap yata ang lunch ng mga RA!

1:20 PM: Two female RAs finally arrived. They instructed us to form three lines based on subjects needed: econ 11, econ 100.1 and/or 100.2 amd econ 199. After that, one of them distributed Teacher's Prerogative forms to us. Of course, we had to write there the econ 100.1 class we intend to enlist in.

1:30 PM: One of the RAs came over to get our TP forms. She instructed those with conflicting schedules to cancel those classes first. She also asked everyone to present any valid ID (with picture and signature) before they process our enlistment. But hello! We left our IDs at the department so we can get out form 5As. But in the end, we were left with no other option but to go back to CMC to get our IDs.

1:45 PM: The RA at the department (she's my schoolmate in HS) seems unable to understand that we need to get our IDs to enlist for an econ 100.1 class. You know what I did? I got my ID from the table where it is placed - and I also pulled my form 5a from her hands. Sorry! We don't have time to explain to her...

2:00 PM: We're back at Econ. The RA asked for our form 5As, accomplished TP form and the ID. She then asked us to get inside the enlistment room. In less than 10 minutes, we're already enlisted in the Econ 100.1 (THC-HJ2) class, 2:00-3:00 PM. I proceeded to the Center for International Studies (CIS) to get another class to avoid being underloaded.

2:20 PM: At the CIS, I asked Ms Fatima Bautista (the dept secretary there) if there are still available slots for Japan Studies 101. Yes, meron pa daw! Later on, Literature Prof. Amparo Adelina "Jina" Umali saw me and exclaimed, "Oh, CIS major ka na ba?" FYI, this would be my 3rd subject under that unit.

2:40 PM: I'm back at CMC. I proceeded to our department for the post-advising. There's Prof. Rara again and this time, I asked her why there's still no J111 grade. Ang sabi nya, she was sick for two weeks daw kaya she failed to upload our grades. I got to see her class record and I saw the grades. Darts. Dice. Crystal ball.

2:50-3:20 PM: Checking, validation and assessment at the CMC Admin Office. I'll pay my dues tomorrow morning. Just like that, I'm almost done with my last enrollmenr as a journalism undergraduate! :)