Beautiful, demure, and endowed with a pure soul—these characteristics are commonly associated with Noli Me Tangere’s Maria Clara. For Filipina artist Irene “Fern” Abalona, every woman in the world should be seen and treated like Maria Clara. At a time when women’s empowerment is at its peak, she is one of the artists leading the pack in portraying this movement through sheer artistry.

Fern, also known as Filiferniana, learned to draw at the age of six, often using pencils to sketch in the comfort of her home in Valenzuela City. Initially, she tried to make a name for herself by participating in singing contests. However, she eventually realized that singing was not for her when she discovered her love for painting.

Little Fern found herself constantly watching art shows, especially the television series “Art Angel,” and drawing figures of people and clothes—the latter being a habit she would carry into the present. In 2021, she graduated with a Bachelor of Technical Teacher Education Majoring in Fashion Design at Valenzuela City Polytechnic College.

Before establishing herself in the art industry, setbacks were nothing new to Fern. Like Vincent van Gogh, she went through a period of deep emotional struggle—the reason why she admires the renowned artist the most. She advises aspiring artists to keep painting and trusting themselves and their works regardless of whatever challenges life may bring.

The road to unearthing her art style began in 2023 when she fully committed to being a full-time artist, which became a challenging journey. To solve this, she joined the mentoring program of Art Show Philippines, led by their founder Frederick Epistola. She eventually discovered fauvism, an artistic approach she embraced, known for its bold colors and non-naturalistic depictions.

After identifying her artistic style, Fern began centering her fauvism artworks on a certain theme that ultimately represented her artistry: “Isang babaeng naka-Filipiniana na makulay, punong-puno ng mga bulaklak [at] nagbibigay ng kapayapaan, respeto, at pagmamahal.”

[“A woman wearing a colorful Filipiniana, decorated with many flowers, who emanates peace, respect, and love.”]

Through art, Fern brings the women of the past into contemporary times. She allows viewers to reminisce about Philippine history, especially the virtues and significance of Filipinas in the early generations. She believes that females should be treated like Maria Clara—a woman who has always been historically described as the symbol of femininity and the Filipina identity.

In Fern’s words, “Ang gusto ko lang iparating [na] mensahe tungkol sa obra ko ay ‘yong mga kababaihan—na ‘wag abusuhin ang kahinaan naming mga babae. Ituring po natin sila bilang isang Maria Clara dahil sa panahon ngayon [ay] marami nang [mga] abuso at nawawalan ng respeto sa mga kababaihan.”

[“The message I want to convey when it comes to my artworks is centered on women, that we, women, should not be abused. Let’s treat them like Maria Clara because, nowadays, many people are abusing and losing respect towards women.]”

In a time when legal rights, political participation, and protection from violence are central to women’s empowerment in the Philippines, Fern strives to uplift the spirit of Filipinas by intertwining the beauty of women from the past and present.

Aside from painting women in Filipiniana, Fern also spends her time in Artique Memora’s live art sessions during wedding ceremonies where she creates portraits of clients using watercolor or acrylic paint in front of a live audience. She has been doing this for a year now.

She manages her clothing and printing business, Ino Clothing, which she established in 2024, and paints on antique cabinets, bags, and keychains, for her clients all the while being the Gallery Assistant Manager of 1159 Creative Space in Makati.

Fern’s works have been displayed in the “Breaking Barriers” Exhibit in Solaire Resort in August 2023, and will reach Malaysia on December 6-10, 2024, and Madrid, Spain, next year, in the “Quadrado: the Art in Square” during the 360 Artists Contemporary Art Fair.

She has been featured in local media outlets, including Net 25’s Love Tonipet and Everythaaang! and Radyo Agila, In Studio with Sererek, and Abante News. She hopes to accomplish her ambition of becoming more famous and spreading her art to international audiences.

Photo courtesy of Irene Abalona