Painting Without Hands: Abra Artist Overcomes 1965 Tragedy to Support Family

Tayum, Abra – Despite the physical disability caused by a tragic accident decades ago, Amado Balneg from Tayum, Abra, has built a life and has supported his family through painting.

Inside a small hut in Poblacion, Tayum, Balneg continues to create artworks that have aided his family to survive for decades.

What leaves many people amazed is how he paints—Balneg creates his works without using his hands.

The day everything changed

Before Balneg became known for his portraits and murals, his life nearly ended in flames when he was just 15 years old.

In an interview with PIA-Abra, Balneg recalled that in 1965, he was a teenager trying to help his family survive. He worked as a pump attendant in Manila while studying, balancing school and work like many young men burdened with big responsibilities at an early age.

But one night, jealousy turned violent.

According to Balneg, some co-workers became resentful of the loyal customers he had gained at the station. The tension escalated into a brutal attack—his co-workers set him on fire.

“I had loyal customers and patrons in the station before, so maybe some of my fellow workers got jealous, attacked me, and set me on fire,” he recalled.

The burns he sustained were severe. To survive, both of his arms had to be amputated.

For more than a year, Balneg remained bedridden. Recovery took years, and when he finally regained strength, he faced the painful reality that he had lost not only his arms but also the work that once supported him and his loved ones.

Starting again from nothing

For many, such circumstances could mark the end of the road. But for Balneg, he realized something important—he could still draw.

Looking back, Balneg said he began making Christmas and greeting cards, slowly teaching himself to create art despite his disability. What started as a small attempt to earn money eventually became a skill.

“I was bedridden for more than a year and continued recovering from my injuries for at least two years. When I became handicapped, I did not have a job, so I decided to start drawing Christmas and greeting cards,” he shared.

Determined to improve, Balneg enrolled in a school for persons with disabilities (PWDs), where he trained further in painting.

Later, the young man who once feared he had lost everything began winning provincial and regional art competitions. His skills even took him to represent the Cordillera in the National Olympics of Abilities of People with Disabilities (Abilympics) in Davao and Pasay.

Balneg’s small hut in Tayum became a workshop where portraits, murals, and printed shirts were created for customers across the province.

Churches and basketball courts display his murals. Schools commission him for t-shirt painting and artwork. Families hire him for portrait paintings that he carefully finishes on canvas.

A typical 18-by-24-inch portrait sells for around ₱5,500, depending on size and detail.

Painting a future

The income may be modest, but for Balneg it means something greater. He has children to support, and through painting, he is able to send them to school.

“Painting helped me a lot, especially with the education of my children. If I am able to sell a few of my works in a month, then I have enough money for my children to use,” he added.

Balneg is living proof that physical limitations are not boundaries to aiming higher when one is determined.