The thought of loving Ukelele at this age have never crossed my mind until I got the chance to be more exposed to it through my younger brother who's fond of musical instruments. From then on, I started learning the basics on how to play it, and yes, though not really well, I play Ukelele more often.

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Background of the Author

The instrument that I first learned to play is guitar, and it turned to be my favorite one. I started to play it when I was in the 6th grade. I pushed myself so hard to know how to do it mainly because the people with me in the house knew how to play it as well - mother, father, and my siblings, they all knew, like perfectly. I don't wanna left behind, so yes, I give a hard time learnin' to play the instrument, with all my heart.

As the years go by, there's always something new, and there's this little bro who always wanted to try some other, so as to satisfy his want, he bought himself a Ukelele and a Flute, and eventually learn to have fun with these. This also paved a way for me to be more acquainted to them, Uke especially. Without any hesitation, I decided to have fun with Uke also. Tada!

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Since Ukelele is my thing of interest now, I find it very fit to feature one of Cebu's pride:

Leggo! Let's get started . . .

It was the 11th day of this month, Friday, when I paid a visit to UKAFE hub with my bestfriend, @trydaily who also gives interest to playing Uke.

Here are these arts and the people behind these meaningful strokes of the hand:

Uke Art #1: "My Sweet, My Home"

by: AJ TABINO (Ambassador at calligraffiti)

If you have noticed, there are these words perfectly calligraphed on the instrument. Colon, Sanciangko, Escario, Jakosalem, Jones, Gorordo, Rama, and others are streets in Cebu City. With this, we can figure that the craft is more influenced by the sweet love of the artist for his hometown.

Uke Art #2: "Tentacles"

by: UZI EMPERADO

The craft features a more mobile, elongated, and flexible limbs with a pile of teeth-like thingy, which more likely presents the tentacles of the octopus.

Uke Art #3: "Gypsea"

by: CED VIVIEN TORRES

With this artwork of Torres, we can infer that it got the greatest influence of a person who's happy with a not so conventional way of life by the sea, which is represented by the strokes that go freely in all directions.

Uke Art #4: "Waves"

by: MEREAM PACAYRA

The artist seemingly appear unstoppable like the force of the waves which is artistically addressed by this work.

Uke Art #5: "Cocolele"

by: JOHN HARRY BUNAGAN

The name of the artwork sounded like a combination of Coconut and Ukelele but the words were just cut to form a single new word. With this art, coconut trees carefully drawn on the Uke's body are very evident, which explains how this work is named.

Behind every dot, line, curve, is a statement the hand wants to address, perhaps!

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Manufacturer of the featured Ukeleles

The Ukeleles above were manufactured by one of the well-known guitar shops here in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu - Susing's Guitar

Susing's Guitar started as a small backyard cottage industry in Mactan Island, Cebu where Juanito Valiente Sr., a merchant together with a couple of his relatives built handcrafted guitars which were then sold in a general merchandise store owned by his wife, Susana Valiente. Susana was fondly called Susing by family, relatives and neighbors in their hometown in Mactan island. This was the humble beginning of Susing's Guitar. -Susingsguitar.net

From then on, Susing's Guitar takes it way to a wider crowd and is labeled as one of the best guitars' manufacturers in the the town.

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How to avail of the painted Ukeleles?

You can avail of the featured Ukeleles above through UKAFE which is located at Stall 3 Mactan Arcade, Matumbo-Pusok Road, Lapu-Lapu City 6015, Cebu.

Each costs Php 3,500.00. All comes in soprano size, like those shown above.

You can also avail of those bare Ukes or unpainted ones and just paint it yourself like what others did. For a set, you'll spend Php 1,500.00. The inclusions are:

: 1 solidwood mahogany soprano Susing's Ukelele
: 1 set of paint brushes
: 1 set of acrylic paint set of six colors
: 1 Ukelele chord booklet
Note: The set price is a promo one.

That's it friends! Thank you so much for your time. I hope it helps you a lot!

Cheers,
@jenesa