Christian Yap and Melissa Yeung-Yap: Loving the art and soul of Tarlac
They were schoolmates at Ateneo University. But Christian Yap and Melissa Yeung-Yap say they were just barkada, not college sweethearts.
It was after college when they met again for a project with organic farmers in Luzon where love bloomed within the countryside fields.
Now both 41, Christian, with his chinito charm, and Melissa with her graceful beauty, are both achievers using their intellect and academic training—mixed with idealism—to do what really gives them joy.
Christian is governor of Tarlac, a position that has allowed him to empower his people towards more income opportunities and move towards industrialization. You can say he is—in the Jesuit tradition—a young man for others.
Melissa is an artist obsessed with painting since childhood, while at the same time managing the Chinese traditional medicine company Katinko, which was founded by her father Jerry Yeung in Hong Kong in 1980. You can say she also believes in the healing power of art.
I met the couple at the ongoing Art Luzon fair at Diwa ng Tarlac, where over 300 artists and creative voices from the region gathered in a show of talent and craftsmanship. Included in the event were musical numbers by the Bolipatas of Zambales, and paintings by Romulo Galicano, Lydia Velasco and some members of the Saling Pusa.
Christian proudly explains: “Art Luzon is a yearly event where artists and craftsmen can display and sell their wares before local and international collectors. We also want to open doors of opportunities for hidden talents who have otherwise no access to art markets outside Tarlac.”
Melissa says she has seen how weavers in Tarlac put so much hard work into their craft, so they are an important part of the show. She empathizes with artists in Tarlac who need exposure in the art world. An artist herself, Melissa has displayed some of her floral murals. And in collab with Tarlac artist Pepe Mendoza, Melissa painted on top of his glass sculptures. Her dream is to promote Tarlac artists in foreign art events.
“Art is the language of my soul,” explains Melissa, who describes her style as spontaneous. She wanted to take up Fine Arts in college, but her father wanted her to “learn something new,” like Management for Applied Chemistry. She ended up finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Studies, after which she studied at Singapore’s Nanyang Technical University, AIM for her master’s in Entrepreneurship, and Harvard Business School.
Eventually, she helped in her family’s business, the FDA-approved Katinko which is now a household byword for curing aches, itches and pains that come with rheumatism, sprains, bruises and headache.
During the pandemic, Melissa provided employment for craftsmen who made artistic boxes for the Katinko meds for giveaways during weddings and other celebrations.
On the other hand, after high school in Tarlac, Christian went to Ateneo for AB Developmental Studies and AB Communication. He earned a Chevening scholarship at Cardiff University in the UK for his master’s in Science in Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy. This course proved useful when he went into public service as mayor of Victoria, Tarlac and representative of the 2nd district of Tarlac.
His education gave him the right perspectives on agriculture, sustainability, climate change and rural development. “I also learned to help value and preserve heritage sites such as monasteries and churches. Bird sanctuaries, waterfalls and mountainous areas have become part of our province’s tourism assets.”
Tarlac home Millet M. Mananquil
For inspiration, Christian looks up to his grandfather, the late legendary Aping Yap, an ally of Ninoy Aquino, who taught him: ”Be humble. Be grateful. Be passionate about helping people.”
His mother, Tarlac Mayor Susan Yap, reminded us during the Art Luzon fair: “Art is the soul of the people. It is their lifeblood, giving them a sense of identity, their link to their history and heritage.”
What does Melissa like best about her husband? “I like how he gets things done. When he says he will do something, it will happen.”
Christian says he likes Melissa because “she is down-to-earth. She puts her heart into her projects and dreams.”
They are really two dreamers and doers.
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