From Canvas to Racetrack: The Artistic Journey of Cebuano Driver John Paul Choa

A young Cebuano artist loved to paint but also dreamed of becoming the first-ever Filipino Formula 1 driver.

Sixteen-year-old Cebuano artist John Paul Choa, who used sikwate (hot chocolate drink) as a medium, staged a solo exhibit in Singapore last June 2023.

A few handpicked cacao artworks of JP, son of Chocolate Queen Raquel Choa, were highlighted in the reception dinner of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day on June 19, 2023.

After the reception dinner, his works were displayed at the embassy.

Inspired by his artist mother and Vincent Van Gogh, John Paul showed interest in painting at an early age. Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist painter who created over 2,000 artworks. The young painter could even paint his own version of his favorite Van Gogh oil painting – The Starry Night – using sikwate as a medium.

JP recalled that he did a mural of Van Gogh on the wall of his elementary school when he was 11 years old.

He first focused on European artwork but later shifted to the Philippine landscape, including stilt houses built on top of the coastal waters. John Paul was amazed at the ingenuity of those who built stilt houses using only bamboo poles for support.

While most artists paint only when they feel like it, John Paul had the discipline to do artworks when needed.

His mother, Raquel, had once asked him to do paintings for foreign ambassadors who were scheduled to visit The Chocolate Chamber.

John Paul said he did sketches of the artwork the day before the foreign dignitaries’ visit and then made 25 paintings the following day.

He first used cacao lava, a formulation created by Ms. Raquel for her own artworks, which is thicker and resembles paint. However, John Paul discovered that sikwate can also be a medium when he accidentally spilled his drink on the paper. He now prefers using sikwate, which he likened to watercolors.

Artists are usually assumed to be introverts and loners because they tend to focus on their artistic pursuits. But John Paul has a sense of humor and is quite sociable.

Enrolled under the Department of Education Home Schooling Program, JP organized a room at their residence to accommodate his various activities. He had an L-shaped table which he divided into three spaces: one for his homeschooling activities, another for his painting, and a third space for his driving simulator. He bought the simulator, which was quite expensive, using the proceeds of his sold paintings.

He had been doing go-carting to learn the fundamentals of racing, but it was too expensive, so he decided to save money so he could buy the driving simulator.

JP wanted to fulfill his long-time dream of representing the Philippines and becoming the first Filipino Formula 1 driver. He knew he still had a long way to go, but he had been honing his driving skills through go-karting.

Aside from spending time on painting and home schooling, JP also did go-karting as a first step to achieving his dream of becoming a Formula 1 driver. He funded go-karting out of the money he earned from selling his artworks.

He recently bought a steering wheel simulator so he could practice virtual racing at home.

JP hoped that if he realized his dream of becoming a race driver, he would still continue to do artworks.