MANILA, Philippines - A 37-year-old Kapampangan artist born with rare bone disease has earned praises from netizens for creating an incredible portrait of world famous tattoo artist Apo Whang Od using only colored ballpoint pens.
Born with brittle bone disease, Erwin “Weng” Dayrit is short in stature and has barrel shaped rib cage causing him to be confined in a wheelchair. Despite the physical difficulties of his condition, Dayrit managed to pursue his dream of becoming an artist.
Through determination and hard work and with the help of his family, Dayrit finished his Drafting Course at Don Honorio Ventura State University. Immediately after graduation, Dayrit and some of his friends from the university launched an Arts and Sign business. This gave him the opportunity to hone his skills and knowledge as an artist.
It didn’t take a long time before people started recognizing Dayrit’s incredible talent. Aside from being awarded as one of the Outstanding Fernandino for San Fernando City, Pampanga in 2011, he competed in various provincial and national competitions and was even featured in local media TV stations. He is also a recipient of an award from the Bahay Kubo ng Sining Foundation, Inc.
Currently, he serves as a mentor at GUHIT Pinas, a Facebook art community. Several artists also follow his Facebook page.
“Erwin is determined to prove that his condition will not prevent him from doing the things he enjoys most. Being disabled is not a choice but being happy to fulfill dreams is!” Dayrit’s sister Zorina told Filipino Artists Magazine.
Also known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or “imperfectly formed bone”, brittle bone disease occurs in about one in 20,000 persons. It is a disorder that results in fragile bones that break easily and is usually present at birth.
— Mini, The Summit Express
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| PHOTO CREDIT: Facebook/Erwin V. Dayrit |
Through determination and hard work and with the help of his family, Dayrit finished his Drafting Course at Don Honorio Ventura State University. Immediately after graduation, Dayrit and some of his friends from the university launched an Arts and Sign business. This gave him the opportunity to hone his skills and knowledge as an artist.
It didn’t take a long time before people started recognizing Dayrit’s incredible talent. Aside from being awarded as one of the Outstanding Fernandino for San Fernando City, Pampanga in 2011, he competed in various provincial and national competitions and was even featured in local media TV stations. He is also a recipient of an award from the Bahay Kubo ng Sining Foundation, Inc.
Currently, he serves as a mentor at GUHIT Pinas, a Facebook art community. Several artists also follow his Facebook page.
“Erwin is determined to prove that his condition will not prevent him from doing the things he enjoys most. Being disabled is not a choice but being happy to fulfill dreams is!” Dayrit’s sister Zorina told Filipino Artists Magazine.
Also known as osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or “imperfectly formed bone”, brittle bone disease occurs in about one in 20,000 persons. It is a disorder that results in fragile bones that break easily and is usually present at birth.
— Mini, The Summit Express
