Gina Apostal exudes a strong personality through her artworks which mostly deal with femininity issues. Her style is her own which is universal in nature and personal as well.

Her art speaks about women issues in regards to sexuality and health, poverty, and empowerment. During the lowest point in her life, she created her alter ego—The BAHAGREYNA. This refers to a warrior-spirited woman, an epitome of a carefree and daring warrior who had become Apostol’s weapon in resolving her personal conflict.

Gina Apostol’s work on wood sculpture of women dancing as if flying to a higher momentum to her inner journey—no prejudice to creed, race, or philosophical orientation: her art will simply visualize her thoughts to augment yours. She has have been the queen of the wild forests for so long and who runs with the wolves—all coming from her dream to her art. To her, sensuality belongs to all gender. It rests in one’s soul … the dance is harmony longing to set the body free. Born free, set free….let it fly….

Often warriors are depicted as forceful souls; they embody qualities of strength, courage, and determination. Such as her alter ego, a woman has emerged as a stronger sex—a woman with the ability to weather storms that come in their life only to become stronger and wiser.  Do not judge a woman who looks physically frail and gets emotional at times but hidden behind that façade is a strong heart and spirit that cannot be broken.

She believes that the warrior spirit is in us all, to a greater or lesser extent. Our spirit can be used to help rid the world of sexism, racism, and the ethnocentricity that tries to impose its will on others. It can eliminate the contentious lack of civility that is now commonplace, while encouraging voices to speak up for what is right.

Gina Apostol is an art teacher and also an active promoter of microenterprises. She is the president of the Ilonggo Microentrepreneurs Multipurpose Cooperative, which covers food and crafts based in Iloilo.

All artworks provided by the artist.