MANILA – “I am one with The Force. The Force is with me.” These are the words repeated often by Chirrut Imwe in the final blockbuster of 2016, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Seamlessly integrating itself in the Star Wars mythos, the film features elements that have made the Star Wars films a global phenomenon for nearly four decades.
It is timely then that a charity auction has been organized that was also inspired by the ideals and imagination that Star Wars sparked worldwide. The Rebel with a Cause-Philippine Charity Auction is a Facebook page created to manage the online auction of four unique rebel pilot helmet art pieces designed by Philippine artists, where the proceeds of the sale will go to the Brighthalls Foundation. The project is led by the Philippine Rebel Legion; Bagong Pag-Asa Outpost Philippines; part of an international Star Wars costuming community celebrating the heroes of the Star Wars universe and the preferred Rebel costuming volunteer group of Lucasfilm Ltd.. an organization that champions charitable causes and volunteerism.
In an interview with adobo magazine, Billy Montinola of the Philippine Rebel Legion shares who the Brighthalls Foundation is and why they were the chosen beneficiaries for this auction. “The Brighthalls Foundation is a foundation dedicated to the care and housing of kids 4 years old and below who have been abandoned, neglected, or surrendered,” Montinola says. “The Philippine Outpost of the Rebel Legion selected the Brighthalls Foundation as this project’s recipient in response to hearing that the foundation was at its threshold point of providing for these orphaned children. The additional funds that can be generated from the sales made from this auction would be another way bring a little more food and supplies for the coming year.”
The auction features work by Filipino artists Ronald Tan, Andrew Villar, Allen Geneta, Ruben Nacion, and JB Casacop. Asked how the artists were chosen to give their interpretations, Montinola says, “The selection of the Artists was first and foremost dictated by the fact that they are Star Wars fans and that they can relate to it well as their work would ultimately lead to interesting ways to interpret their own individual styles. Secondly, the project called on those willing to commit to the cause. All the efforts of those involved in the project, including the artists, understood and accepted the conditions that this was a project with all heart and about giving one’s self for those less fortunate.”
As for a theme that the artists were tasked to work with, Montinola points out that the artists were asked to give a Philippine slant to whatever design they would come up with. “We thought it to be a unique and fresh approach to sync a Philippine take on something as iconic to Star Wars as a Rebel Pilot helmet,” he says. “It would be interesting to see how the helmet renders itself as a canvas with a Philippine story to tell.”
“The Philippine Outpost of the Rebel Legion mainly wishes to provide an opportunity for bidders to get a chance to own a unique art piece by a Filipino artist, but also realize, first and foremost, that the proceeds are going to a honorable cause and will provide food and shelter for very young orphaned children,” Montinola adds. “Secondly, the value of the art pieces themselves are a bargain. Just the fact that a plain Rebel Helmet kit alone similar to that used by the artists would easily cost around USD$ 150 upwards. Likewise, the artists own interpretation on the art piece makes it truly a one of a kind collectible worth more than the helmets own value.”
Montinola also bared that the Brighhalls Foundation is but one of the many charities that the Legion continues to support when it can.
Starting bids for each of the helmets were at Php5,000. Bidding on the one-of-a-kind Rebel helmets will conclude at 10:00pm on Friday, December 30. For more information, click here.
