Our Lady of Perpetual Pinoy

Our Lady of Perpetual Help is an iconic devotional artifact in Catholicism. Throughout its existence Our Lady Lady of Perpetual Help has gained various forms of traditions such as cultural logic and ideological rhetoric since its transfer to St. Alphonsus in 1866 (Eriksen).

The Serramanna Artistic Group’s untitled street mural is a form of art that focuses on self representation within communities which allows them to express their
identities and opinions in public spaces (Valentino and Cicalo). Their use of cultural and historical iconography in public spaces creates a space for a reclamation on identities and experiences. Our Lady of Perpetual Pinoy-ness is a self portrait that combines the ideas of these two pieces. It highlights the most integral part of my identity of being born outside of the Philippines making me an “imperfect Filipino”. I replaced the religious iconography from Our Lady of Perpetual Help with significant Filipino
iconography through the processes of block and stencil printing, dispearse dye, embriodery and machine sewing. The stars and sun form the Philippine flag, bangus and sampaguita which are the national fish and flower of the Philippines, and a trillium flower to symbolize my birth in Canada. One day my grandmother taught me that when a Saint’s halo is tilted they are imperfect, that is why this self portrait is adorned with
one. The crucified bangus represents Jesus being crucified to save us from our sins or, in this case saving me because I am a Filipino not born in the Philippines.
Replacing the religious iconography in a piece that I have prayed to is an act of reclamation of my Filipino identity despite being “imperfect”. Catholicism in the Philippines is strongly rooted in Spanish colonization. This piece serves as a reminder of the leaps and bounds that I and many Filipinos in the diaspora have
overcome and continue to overcome to understand our complex history and identities.

Eriksen, Anne. “Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Invented Tradition and Devotional Success.” Journal of Folklore Research, vol. 42, no. 3, 2005, pp. 295–321, https://doi.org/
10.2979/JFR.2005.42.3.295.

Michele Valentino, and Enrico Cicalò. “Shaping Identities through Street Art. Iconography of Social Claims in Orgosolo’s Murales.” Disegnare Con, vol. 13, no. 24, 2020, pp. 1–
25.