AFP honors peace mural artist

Andrew David B. Sicam (September 7, 1978 - February 7, 2014) CAMP AGUINALDO, Q.C.--The Armed Forces of the Philippines is paying tribute to one of the lead artists who painted the Bayanihan Peace Murals here.  Lt Col Harold Cabunoc, the Commander of the 7th Civil Relations Group, said that the AFP has offered the spacious multi-purpose hall of the Civil Relations Service for the wake of Andrew David Sicam, 35, who died in the tragic bus accident on Friday (Feb 7) last week.  "We wanted to honor David who is one of those who created the images of peace that can be found on the walls of the AFP headquarters. This is our simple way of recognizing the lasting contributions that he had rendered to our organization through our peace advocacies," said Cabunoc. Sicam's remains were brought here by his relatives at about 6:30pm on Sunday (Feb 9). The wake is held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Civil Relations Service, AFP. (photo via Debid Sicam's Facebook) Peace mural artist Sicam is an artist, traveler and  a band leader who plays "world music," a genre of indigenous sounds and themes with contemporary beats. He was among those who played a part in conceptualizing the four-kilometer peace mural that is considered as the longest peace mural in the world. A native of Davao, he was in a group of 15 artists ( photographers, musicians and filmmakers) who traveled to the uplands of northern Luzon to celebrate his youngest son's birthday. The bus that carried them lost its brakes and plunged into a deep ravine, killing Sicam and three of his friends.  A total of 15 people died but Sicam's his wife and two kids survived the crash. There were also at least 30 people injured. One of the survivors said that Sicam shielded his 4-yr old son Amian when the bus plunged into the deep ravine. The younger Sicam suffered minor bruises while his elder brother sustained minor bone injuries. His wife, Abby, sustained major injuries in her lower limbs but is now recuperating at a hospital in Quezon City. (photo via Debid Sicam's Facebook) Brigadier General Rolando Jungco, the Commander of the Civil Relations Service, AFP, said that Sicam's death was a great loss to the peace mural family. "He might have made a lot of significant contribution to his field, but for the military, he would be forever remembered as one of the lead artists behind the peace-themed street murals of the AFP," he said.  (photos via Project EDSA:Journey of Peace in EDSA) The colorful walls outside Camp Aguinaldo was a collaboration of hundreds of artists and volunteers and is dubbed as the world's longest mural. The AFP sees it is only fitting to give Sicam a tribute. On Thursday, he will be given honors by the members of  the "peace mural family" that include the soldiers, civilian volunteers and peace activists. "This is our simple way of thanking him for sharing his exceptional talent with the armed forces. He served well as an instrument of peace," said Jungco, a paint artist like Sicam.