Lumban visual artist Catherine Lizo Hernandez paints culture, shapes lives

Hailing from the heritage town of Lumban, Laguna, visual artist, educator, and dance coach Catherine Lizo Hernandez has built a life dedicated to creativity, culture, and community. Success, for Hernandez, is found not only inside an art gallery. It can also be seen inside a classroom where she teaches, in a dance studio where she trains young performers, and in the quiet hours of a weekend spent completing another canvas.

For Hernandez, art is more than a profession. It is a lifelong calling that allows her to educate, inspire, and preserve Filipino heritage. By balancing her roles as a teacher, dance coach, and visual artist, she has shown that creativity is not confined to a single discipline. Instead, each role strengthens the other, enabling her to nurture talent while encouraging young people to discover the value of artistic expression.

That commitment requires discipline and careful planning. While weekdays are devoted to teaching and choreography, weekends are reserved for studio work. Preparing for a solo exhibition is never left to chance. Once an invitation arrives, Hernandez immediately maps out a production schedule, often working on a three-month timeline to ensure that every artwork is completed without compromising her responsibilities as an educator.

“By treating my creative time with the same discipline as my professional appointments, I ensure that my artistic vision is realized without sacrificing the quality of my other commitments,” Hernandez said.

Behind every finished painting, however, is a reality that many people seldom see. Like many Filipino artists, Hernandez faces rising material costs, the enormous amount of time required to complete each work, and the financial uncertainty that often accompanies a career in the arts. Yet she has never allowed those challenges to define her journey.

“I have learned that while external validation is rewarding, internal drive is what sustains a career,” she said. “It is my profound love for the craft and the necessity of creative expression that push me to persist through the lean times.”

Her perseverance has resulted in several milestones that continue to shape her artistic career.

One of her proudest achievements is Flores de Maria (Annatto Painting), a work that received copyright protection from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL). For Hernandez, the recognition represented more than legal protection. It affirmed the value of originality and the importance of safeguarding an artist’s creative work.

Another defining moment came when she joined nearly 100 Filipino artists in creating the Nariha Kabugaw mural at the National Museum of Natural History. Hernandez was entrusted with painting the right eye of the Philippine eagle, a role she considers both an honor and a significant responsibility.

“Being tasked with painting the right eye of the eagle felt like a significant responsibility, a moment where individual effort contributed to a larger national treasure,” she recalled.

Perhaps the most personal project of her career is Mahal Din Sila ng Diyos, an exhibition supported by a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). Inspired by her transgender daughter, Lexi, the exhibition became an expression of unconditional love and acceptance while demonstrating how art can also become a platform for advocacy and meaningful conversations.

Those experiences have reshaped Hernandez’s understanding of success. Rather than measuring achievement through financial rewards alone, she believes an artist’s true legacy is reflected in the lives touched, the stories preserved, and the communities inspired through creative work.

That philosophy is evident in the subjects she paints. Many of her works celebrate Filipinismo, highlighting the country’s traditions, history, and cultural identity. Through her paintings, Hernandez hopes to strengthen appreciation for Filipino heritage while showcasing the artistic richness of communities such as Lumban and neighboring San Pablo City.

“I want people to leave with a profound sense of pride in being Filipino,” she said. “Today, it is easy for the younger generation to imitate foreign cultures in food, fashion, music, dance, and art. While appreciating other cultures is important, we must never forget or discard our own roots.”

Her desire to preserve culture is matched by her passion for mentoring young people. As both a teacher and dance coach, Hernandez sees creativity as a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline, and resilience. She hopes aspiring artists understand that every creative journey is different and that setbacks are part of the process.

“I want them to understand that a creative life isn’t always filled with high moments,” she said. “There will always be struggles and disappointments, but those challenges help shape who we become. We create our own destiny through resilience, passion, and faith.”

Today, Hernandez is preparing for her next solo exhibition while collaborating with fellow artists and organizing a group exhibition for the Sining Lumbang Art Group, an initiative aimed at showcasing the talent of local artists. Looking further ahead, she dreams of establishing her own art gallery and gaining greater international exposure, bringing Filipino artistry to audiences around the world.

Despite her growing list of accomplishments, Hernandez remains grounded in a simple philosophy.

“My work is guided by faith, purpose, and perseverance,” she said. “If you have a genuine passion, there is no age limit to pursuing your goals. Do what you love, perform at your very best, and trust that if you put in the effort, God will handle the rest.”

Her story is one of perseverance, purpose, and service through the arts. At a time when many young people face pressures that can lead to destructive choices, Hernandez believes creativity offers a healthier path, one that encourages self-expression, builds self-confidence, and nurtures emotional well-being.

For Tutubi News Magazine’s Saturday Artist Spotlight, Catherine Lizo Hernandez represents more than artistic excellence. She embodies the idea that art can preserve culture, strengthen communities, and inspire the next generation to dream boldly, create fearlessly, and choose a life shaped by purpose rather than circumstance. Appreciation, particularly among younger generations. Through her paintings, Hernandez hopes viewers rediscover the beauty of Filipino culture while gaining a deeper appreciation for Laguna’s rich artistic and historical heritage.