The artist Pacita Abad was born in Basco, Batanes, a small island located near the most northern part of the Philippines. Her parent’s involvement in politics influenced her choice in her college education as well as her early art works. Prior to her career as a painter she received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of the Philippines. She continued on to law school and became more deeply involved in social and political activism for her people and against President Ferdinand