Kuris Talk # 5: Ma. Racil Nacar

The phases of Kenshin's mood swings

Ma. Racil Nacar

The girl with artistic stroke

By Ronelo Ladiao

Her innocent smile can sometimes cover her true potential as an artist, an uprising animator who belongs to a team of innovative and creative dreamers. Her soft-spoken nature and managerial skills often considered by his fellow animators as an asset that contributed to the visible success of every endeavor they pursue. Right from the start, she has always been there for the group and her friends who struggle to achieve simple but significant goals of making a mark in the expanding the trend of animation in Western Visayas. Amid the hardship and obstacles the group has encountered along the way for the past few months, her optimism and perseverance is a radiating light that empowered a new breed of Ilonggo artists to conquer mountains and make a bold statement of artistry.

Her name is Ma. Racil Nacar, a simple artist, a dreamer by heart and soul. Born on August 16, 1988, Racil’s life path is destined to intertwine with the hope and dreams of Kuris Animation Unlimited as its founding member. The 20-year-old girl gifted with impressive artistic stroke is a proud Akeanon who hails from Sitio Guibungan, Pang-itan, Madalag, Aklan. Her parents Bonifacio and Amelia Nacar raised their daughter with good values and a spirit of strength. The second child of seven siblings wants to be a bread winner of her family someday, a challenge she took responsibility by honing her talents in arts. Her diligence earned her honors and model student awards when she finished her e elementary and high school education at Marcela Agoncillo Elementary School and Madalag National High School, respectively. Due to financial difficulties, she took a vocational course in Arts and Sign at Helping Foundation, Inc. wherein she earned her certificate of completion along with a medal. Unsure of her future in the big city of Iloilo, Racil who used to live with her supportive Aunt decided to take the admission test for Professional Assistant 2D Animators Training at Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) through PGMA-TWSP program. After passing the grueling drawing admission test, she became excited to be a part of the second batch of 2D animation trainees at Western Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST). She was even surprise when she found out that Brynh de los Reyes, his former classmate at Helping Foundation became his fellow trainee in animation. Their training that mostly involved heavy drawings, techniques in between and clean up, using animation programs in the computer and a lot of brainstorming started in April last year.

After finishing their group project for their course, “The Adventures of TASI” and its successfully launching at Marymart Mall in September, she graduated with the whole second batch on October 19, 2007 at SM City Iloilo. She took part in the success of their Museo Iloilo animation exhibit in November which was entitled “Kinarton”. When the group embraced the name “Kuris”, an Ilonggo term that means “scribbled line”, Racil was elected as the organization’s treasurer. But their greatest sacrifice and challenge became visible as a group when they decided to pursue the making of “The BEQUEST: Origin of Dinagyang” aimed to interpret the history of the festival through animation. It was tough and depressing for some members of the group since the project have no financial budget or sponsors from the beginning. Spending sleepless nights, lack of facilities, resources and tight food budget, she saw everything as a test of her spirit, their fighting spirit as a group of dreamers wanting to share something significant for the society through their talents. Her managerial skills and patience was tested further when tensions became apparent within the group. But she maintained to keep her optimism alive, an attitude that inspired her friends to keep moving on.

All they could recall about her was her patience to cook their dinner everyday, budget the resources, walk a long way from Marx’s (another Kuris animator) house just to deliver the meal of her friends and sometimes assisted in the drawings needed for the project. Amid the tough times, she made sure that she enjoyed life and have fun. Her smile is infectious, hopeful and a breath of fresh air.

Her happiness was fulfilled when their first commercial project, The BEQUEST was viewed by more than 500 curios Ilonggos at SM Cinema 7 last January 25 and visited their animation exhibit at SM City lower ground floor from January 14-20 entitled “Dinagyamation”. Though she sometimes worries about their future in animation in Iloilo, Racil remained steadfast that good fate will one day come around. Who knows, a potential investor might be interested in their potentials as uprising animators in this side of the world.

Racil, the girl with artistic stroke will unveil her hidden thoughts, hope for the future and reasons to appreciate life in this candid chat…

Ronelo Ladiao (RL): What do you prefer to watch- Japanese Anime or Western animation?

Ma. Racil Nacar (RN): I like Western animation. I like to watch some of Walt Disney’s classic films such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid and Mulan.

RL: You’re the elected treasurer of Kuris Animation Unlimited, is it hard to manage the financial aspect of the group?

RN: Not really. Kabalo man ko magbudget sang amon finances (I know how to budget our finances). We experience how to stretch our meager budget to a longer period of time especially during the time we are making The BEQUEST. I hope someday when a big project will come, we will be together and I’ll take the management of the financial aspect of the group.

RL: Can you tell us about the naughty side of Kuris Animators?

RN: Well, some of the boys are really naughty especially Brynh who makes crazy jokes, funny faces and never ran out of wild ideas. Masabad gid katama eh galing enjoy man kami kag boring kon wala siya, gakadaula pa gid problema namon kon ara sya pirme (he’s too naughty but we enjoy it and its boring without him, we forget our problems when he’s always around).

RL: If you’re going to turn back time, what part of your experience as a Kuris animator for the past few months would you prefer to go back and moments you don’t want to experience again?

RN: Hmmm… I want to experience again those times when we don’t sleep the whole night doing our projects and having the best time laughing, enjoying each other’s company. But sometimes I feel bad when I recall those busy nights when we can’t eat our dinner because our budget is drained. I was even afraid that we might get sick from what we are doing but thank God we survive it.

RL: How do handle pressure?

RN: I take it as a challenge. And when I’m tired, I take a rest for a while and focus again in our project. Pressure is part of reaching your dreams.

RL: Can you mention three members of Kuris that you consider very close to your heart?

RN: Una, si Janelyn eh kay masadya siya updon sa pulawanay ka project kag pirme lang siya gapanglibre pamahaw. Sunod, si Jaylord kay pirme kami gasunluganay nga duha kag ikaw pa gid (Ronelo) kay upod kita sa tanan nga sakripisyo para sa grupo, hehe! (First is Janelyn because she’s a fun to be with during those sleepless nights doing our project and she’s always giving me free meals. Next is Jaylord because we are teasing each other and you coz we’ve been together in all sacrifices for the group (laughs).

RL: “Kenshin” is your own original animated character in Kuris Universe, can you tell us about her and how did you created the character?

RN: Kenshin is a hustler and care free kind of girl. But one day, she realize that she needs to change her life and do the right thing- correct her past mistakes and do good to other people. Kenshin was inspired by Japanese Anime style and I like the way she dress. Her life is full of fun, drama and adventure as well.

RL: Aside from drawing and animation, do you have other talents to show?

RN: Mahilig ako magkanta sa mga Videoke (I like singing in Videoke)…they say I’m good in singing, I guess (laughs).

RL: What makes you proud as a member of Kuris animators?

RN: This is all I’d like to say about our group-- we achieve our goals in the right way, we don’t lose hope in everything that we do, we don’t easily give up and think positive all the time.

RL: What completes your life as a person?

RN: Aside from my family, tani updanay kami pirme tanan sa paglab-ot sang amon mga handom kag mangin close pa gid… siguro mahambal ko sa kaugalingon ko nga masadya na ang kabuhi ko kon matabo na (aside from my family, I hope we will all be together in reaching our ambitions and become closer…maybe I could say to myself that I’m happy with my life when that will happen).

RL: Is there any embarrassing moment in your life that you would like to share with us?

RN: There was a time when we have no more money to continue working for The BEQUEST and we have nowhere to go. We are in the middle of the street, confuse what to do and its embarrassing for other people to know that we have nothing left even a single cent. It was a time that we considered as the worst experience ever but we trusted each other, I prayed harder and the next thing I know, it was over and we survive.

RL: Is there any specific place you can’t forget right now and why?

RN: Indi ko gid malipatan pirme ang studio nga ginobrahan namon sang BEQUEST kay didto namon nabilin tanan nga masadya kag masubo nga inagyan sang group (I can’t always forget the studio where we work for The BEQUEST because we left all the happy and sad experience of the group there).

RL: As a parting shot, is there anything you would like to say to your fellow Kuris animators that you haven’t said before?

RN: Guys, ang nanamian ko sa inyo tanan kay wala kita basta-basta gagive-up sa tanan nga bagay. Tani magbinuligay kita pirme kag magintindihanay kada isa. Balan ko indi man kita perfect… goodluck! (What I like about you guys is that we don’t easily give up with everything. I hope we will always help each other and understand each other. I know we are not perfect…goodluck!

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