Proudly Filipina: Helena Alegre’s Sculptural Jewelry

Helena Alegre wears many hats.

She gets up even before the sun rises to attend to her three children. Helena is muse to Hermes Alegre, her acclaimed painter husband; a well-loved figure in her adopted hometown of Daet, Camarines Norte, where she usually participates in civic activities.

The other said hats Alegre wears are of a friend and mentor to all aspiring artists from various ilks, that of a nurse in the making, and last and most importantly, she is an artist herself. A former member of the Bayanihan National Dance Company and Fine Arts graduate of the Philippine Women’s University, Alegre has turned to creating sculptural jewelry as her form of artistic expression. This should not come as a surprise, as art is obviously in the woman’s blood. It is her life.

Before she ventured into working on sculptural jewelry, Alegre first dabbled into accessory making by using string, antique beads, and semi-precious stones. Putting different elements together was not enough to quell Helena’s desire to be challenged artistically. In 1997, she met George Sison, one of her mentors, and was immediately enamored by semi-precious stones and their metaphysical attributes. This prompted Helena to work with more challenging elements: fire and silver.

“It wasn’t an easy start,” she emphasizes. “After I had kids, I started working on jewelry art in 2005. It was more serious that time around. Hard work was the key to everything. I had to save up a lot before I could start working with silver—it took me quite a long time. It was a huge risk, but it paid off.” Once she felt that the time was right, Helena set up a home studio and learned how to manipulate silver through private lessons from artisans trained by the late Ely Arcilla and many silversmiths. Her hometown, Daet, Camarines Norte, is blessed with many natural resources, silver being one of them. She notes that one of her dreams is to help revive the jewelry industry in her adopted hometown and put it in the map once again. “I would love for Daet to be known and remembered for its jewelry and designs. Also, I want to be able to provide jobs to our local silversmiths.”

A Helena Alegre sculptural jewelry piece is marked by fine craftsmanship, attention to detail, and original designs. “I’m not formally trained… I did not go to school to learn how to work with silver. It takes so much discipline and perseverance.” Inspired by jewelry designer Celia Molano, and renowned sculptors Boy Caedo,  Ed Castrillo and Gabriel Barredo, she also draws more creative fuel from the natural world: animals, insects, and flowers are prevalent in her work. She also credits Tiny Nuyda, a fellow artist and president of PhilKulisap, for sharing with her a passion for insects. The artist also respects her material. When working with semi-precious stones, she makes sure to bring out their natural beauty. “My works look rough to an extent. I want to make them look really hand-crafted. I usually design with a stone’s shape and texture in mind. It’s like I am enhancing what’s already there.”

“There would be nights when my mind would just be filled with so many ideas and I would sketch furiously until I had them all out. I love seeing how something I drew could be made into something three dimensional, something wearable and beautiful,” she shares. Today, Helena works on cocktail rings — which she quips are fit for self-defense — and pendants. Her style has also evolved; each of her works is now more ornate and intricate.

Heavily influenced by Philippine heritage and Filipiniana designs, Helena has made a filigree collection, a nod to Paracale’s contribution to Philippine jewelry design. Her dedication to her artistic vision has caused the Department of Trade and Industry to take notice and give her support. Helen now works closely with Regional Director Ernesto R. Pardo, Jewelry Coordinator Leora A. Puso, and the Camarines Norte Jeweller Association. “They’ve helped me grow as an artist,” she says. “They’ve been very nurturing and I’m very grateful.” Helena is also included in Kayumanggi, an encyclopaedia of artist families in the Philippines.

Helena Alegre, though visible in many circuits, remains somewhat reclusive and elusive. She does enjoy the company of others, but chooses to immerse herself in her art most of the time. “I am a mother and wife and do many things. Whenever I can — and I am sure to make time — I just focus on working on my designs.” Helena is currently working on exhibit pieces that will hopefully bring pride and job opportunities to Daetenos.

If you look at her very closely, it’s easy to see that the woman breathes and lives art: with short, spiked hair occasionally cut by her husband, she walks the tightrope while juggling many tasks with much finesse. The wife, mother, Daetena, friend, nurse-to-be, and sculptural jewelry artist makes it all look oh so simple, it could easily slip one’s mind that Helena is very capable of handling the blow torch quite effectively, shaping silver into beautiful works of art.

(Photo credits:  Bob Cano and Richie Macapinlac)

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