Lucban, Quezon, Philippines, 4328
Some say that if you want to live forever, write a book. But for former Lucban, Quezon Vice-Mayor Ayelah “Yeyeh” Deveza – “If you want to be immortal, inspire people through your paintings.”
Painting has been a gift she discovered early on as a kid. Through the years, she has developed her personal style and technique through practice even without formal training. This talent must run in her blood since she is the granddaughter of celebrated Lucbanin artist, the late Oscar Deveza Zalameda. Fact is, all of her siblings – Farah, Jerumel, Kroydl and Gem – also dabble in painting and her only son Marcus Andres or Kush, is already beginning to show interest on this art form. This activity started as her favorite pastime with her artworks showcased only to family and close friends. But now that she is currently on public service hiatus and as a member of the Quezon Artists Guild (GAG), she is taking painting more seriously, wants to reach more people through her works, and hopefully inspire them.
According to Yeyeh, “I want to inspire people through my artworks. I want to spread positive vibes and to give everyone the hope that everything will still be beautiful despite the trials that we experience.” It is no wonder that her works are teeming with vibrant colors. When asked about her inspiration, she said, “Most of my works are about the beauty of my childhood in my hometown Lucban and my beloved province of Quezon. Most of them are about the love of family and important values that we Filipinos have.”