Mystical Forest
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Year: 2025
My painting is inspired from the story of Maria Makiling, the mystical guardian of Mount Makiling. She is a symbol of nature’s beauty, generosity, and fragility. As a diwata, she watched over the mountain’s forests, animals, and people, offering help in times of need and restoring balance when nature was harmed. Her story lives on as a call to protect the environment, honor its resources, and live in harmony with the land.
Maria Makiling also becomes a symbol of nature; serves as an enduring symbol of the Philippines’ deep connection to nature and the importance of protecting the environment; it is believed that she still exists, sometimes appearing to those with pure hearts or that her spirit has become one with the mountain itself. Through my painting, I aim to make an awareness that when we care for nature, we also nurture the soul of our own humanity.
Kath Beredo-Endaya
Kath is deeply inspired by the beauty of nature. Her artistic journey has been marked by recognition and achievements, including winning the grand prize in Sining Galing in 2003 and first place in the Agri-Leap Painting Competition in 2004. In 2006, she participated in a Guinness World Record attempt for the longest painting—a project under UNESCO’s International Mid-Decade Celebration for the Culture of Peace & Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Her paintings, influenced by lush landscapes and vibrant flora, blend natural elements with her unique artistic vision.
A former art teacher in the Philippines, Kath has participated in several group exhibitions both locally and abroad. Her most recent exhibit, Sining sa Konsulado: Baybayin ng Batangas, was held in celebration of Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month (September 2025). Masdan ang Ating Kultura / Behold Our Culture at the Philippine Consulate (May 2025), Intercultural Fashion and Art Exhibit in Melle, Germany (March 2025) and La mode en moi at the Embassy of the Philippines in The Hague, Netherlands (March 2025), La mode en moi at Espace Nesle, Paris (October 2024) and Filipino Artists Guild Europe in Moers, Germany (November 2024).
Kath earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, in 2010. Her work has been collected both locally and internationally, allowing her to share her art with a diverse audience. Now based in Canada, Kath continues to pursue her career as a visual artist and educator, balancing both creative and professional roles with dedication.
