“Ibong Simbahan”: Filipino Artist Tells Parish Stories Through Digital Art

Filipino artist and Catholic content creator Julius Burdeos uses catchy visuals and witty captions to highlight the story of Church volunteers.

By utilizing art in a simplistic but impactful manner, he effectively encapsulates the realities and nuances of Church service. His online platform Ibong Simbahan  features the most common situations in the parish, typically with a comedic approach.

Sitting down with Radio Veritas Asia, Burdeos shared that he had been creating paintings of Jesus, Mary, and the saints for more than a decade before the pandemic hit in 2020. With people mostly immersed in their digital devices during the lockdown, he decided to start studying digital art.

“I started to create art on my phone,” he said. “I was able to develop my digital skills until the lockdown ended. Eventually, I published a storybook for children entitled Ang Magic Libro ni Nano (Nano’s Magic Book).”

Inspired by his own experiences, Burdeos has decided to launch Ibong Simbahan in 2023.  

The name, which literally means "Church Bird," draws inspiration from Psalm 84:3: "Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King and my God."

Because of its relatable style, it draws hundreds of reactions and shares mostly from parish servers whose own thoughts are perfectly captured by just one frame of digital art.

Burdeos said that he started this online platform not only to share his own story but to give Church volunteers their much-needed recognition for their steadfast service.

“I simply want to evangelize through art,” he said. “Perhaps this is what God wants for me. I am not good at speaking, but I can use my digital art.”

Burdeos started serving at a young age as an altar server in his home parish, the Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in the Province of Rizal. At present, he serves as the head coordinator for its Parish Renewal Experience (PREX) program.

A creative signal to reflection

Ibong Simbahan may be using humor and minimalism in its contents, but Burdeos said that he hopes they will not only bring laughter to his viewers but also invite them to deeper reflection.  

“I hope these contents become eye-openers for them,” he said. “May they see themselves in these posts and realize if they need to change… In a positive way, I want to help improve how they serve.”

“There are so many learnings in serving your parish… despite the pressure and the stress, it is still all worth it,” he also said.

Looking within himself, Burdeos also revealed that being a digital creator continues to inspire him to pray.

“We need to pray,” he said. “Every decision we make in our content should be aided by God. The focus must not be on oneself, but in bringing glory to God.”

A mission beyond the screen

After more than two years of Ibong Simbahan, Burdeos said that he uses some of its earnings to spread goodness in his own parish community.

He shared that they have started a yearly gift-giving to street children and orphanages, as well as collaborated with their parish youth ministry for fundraising projects featuring his digital art.

“Many blessings followed that we did not expect,” Burdeos said. “I just wanted to share my time and talent… but now, Ibong Simbahan is allowing me to help young people.”

An art with a heart

Beyond Ibong Simbahan, Burdeos continues to create various art forms. He recently returned to traditional painting and created an image of the Virgin of Sapao, the patroness of his parish.

He reminded everyone, especially aspiring content creators in this age of AI, to never remove the “authentic human heart” in their work.

“We cannot escape AI,” he said. “But at the end of the day, our hearts should prevail… Our experiences and our humanity are embedded in every illustration that we create. That is what AI lacks.”