NATIONAL ARTIST

Leandro V. Locsin (Architecture, 1990)

A man who believes that true Philippine Architecture “is the product of two great streams of
culture, the oriental and the occidental… to produce a new object of profound harmony,” Leandro V.
Locsin is the man responsible for designing everything you see at CCP Complex – the Cultural Center of
the Philippines, Folk Arts Theatre, Philippine International Convention Center, Philcite, and The Westin
Hotel (now Sofitel Philippine Plaza).

WORKS
TANGHALANG PAMBANSA

The façade of the Tanghalang Pambansa is dominated by a two-storey travertine block

suspended 12 meters (39 ft) high by deep concave cantilevers on three sides. The rest of the
structure is clad in concrete, textured by crushed seashells originally found on the reclamation
site.[3][4] The building is built on a massive podium, and entry is through a vehicular ramp in front of
the raised lobby and a pedestrian side entry on its northwest side. In front of the façade and
below the ramp, there is an octagonal reflecting pool with fountains and underwater lights.
FOLK ART THEATRE

Folk Arts Theater is also known as The Tanghalang Francisco Balagtas. It is one
of the performance venues of the Cultural Center of the Philipines. This covered
proscenium amphitheater is where entertainment such as popular concerts, musicals,
and plays are usually staged. It has 8,458 seating capacity in ten sections. The theater
takes its name from Francisco Baltazar also known as Francisco Balagtas, in awe to the
country's greatest poet. The theater was built in 90 days and was designed by Leandro
V. Locsin in 1974.

Philippine International Convention Center, Manila

The Philippine International Convention Center (Filipino: Sentrong

Pangkumbensyong Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas, or PICC) is a convention center
located in the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Pasay, Metro Manila,
Philippines. The facility has been the host of numerous local and foreign
conventions, meetings, fairs, and social events.
 Carlos “Botong” Francisco (Visual Arts, 1973)

Hailing from the Art Capital of the Philippines, Angono native Carlos “Botong”
Francisco is known for single-handedly reviving the modern art of murals through works
that showed slices of the past. He was such a prolific muralist that he became its most
well-known practitioner for almost 30 years.

ARTWORKS

BAYANIHAN

Bayanihan is a Filipino word derived from the word bayan meaning town, nation, or
community in general. "Bayanihan" literally means, "being a bayan," and is thus used to refer to
a spirit of communal unity and cooperation.

Although bayanihan can manifest itself in many forms, it is probably most clearly and
impressively displayed in the old tradition of neighbors helping a relocating family by getting
enough volunteers to carry the whole house, and literally moving it to its new location. They do
this by placing long bamboo poles length-wise and cross-wise under the house (traditional
Filipino houses were built on stilts), and then carrying the house using this bamboo frame. It
takes a fairly large number of people -- often 20 or more -- working together to carry the entire
house. All this is done in a happy and festive mood. At the end of the day, the moving family
expresses their gratitude by hosting a small fiesta for everyone.
NAPOLEON ABUEVA

Napoleon "Billy" V. Abueva (January 26, 1930 – February 16, 2018) was known as the "Father
of Modern Philippine Sculpture" Through Proclamation No. 1539, He was proclaimed National
Artist for Sculpture in 1976 when he was 46, making him the youngest recipient of the award to
date.

ARTWORKS

KAGANAPAN

"Kaganapan" is one of Napoleon Abueva's work of art. Created out of

marble in 1952, when Abueva was still a young student at the University of the
Philippines, this sculpture won the grand prize in the Arts Association of the
Philippines' annual competition. With a dimension of 91.44 cms., Kaganapan
literally interprets the female reproductive function as a fulfillment to women. It
is now included in Abueva's collection.
KISS OF JUDAS

Inspired by one of the most influential 20th-century sculptors—Romanian artist Constantin

Brâncusi’s (1876-1957) “The Kiss”—“Halik” is made from adobe and is a minimalist solid
block with only a hint of lines to define the forms, typical of Brancusi’s style.
MAGPUPUKOT

Magpupukot
means
pulling in the
net. The
above picture is the actual painting where the mural was probably copied. Painting the lives of
the fishing community was one of Botong’s favourite subjects. Angono, his hometown where
he was based, was a fishing village.

THE INVASION OF LIMAHONG

Limahong, also known as Lim Ah Hong , or Lin Tao Kien was a Chinese pirate who
invaded the northern islands of the Philippines and tried to seize the City of Manila from the
Spanish in 1574. ... It was in late 1573 that an army of 3,000 outlaws, bandits, and pirates led
by Limahong arrived at the island of Luzon.
 NATIONAL ARTIST
Fernando Amorsolo (1892-1972)

Labelled the country’s first National Artist in 1972 by then President Marcos, Fernando Amorsolo is
often known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Philippine Art’. The Spanish-trained realist developed a
backlighting technique, where his colorful depictions of local people reflect the radiance of the
Philippine sun. The figures and illuminated landscapes magically glow on the canvas. Despite his
deteriorating health and failing eyesight, he remained prolific until the end, producing up to 10 paintings
a month until his death at the age of 80. Amorsolo’s creativity defines the nation’s culture and heritage
to this day.

ARTWORKS

PLANTING RICE
 The ‘Planting Rice with Mayon Volcano, Exhibits the happiness across from the difficulties in
planting rice. The Filipino Villagers in their bright clothes and straw hats plant together with a fresh and
green landscape of plenty. behind the filipino villagers is the peaceful flume of steam.

DALAGANG BUKID

For Amorsolo, the Dalagang Bukid was his muse of ideal Filipina beauty foregoing the Maria Clara-
typed wallflower who presents herself as a smiling and cheerful lady, in spite of the labor beckoned in
the agricultural plain. She is depicted sporting in the national costume of the baro’t saya with her hair
firmly held by flowing bandana to shield her, from the brightness of the afternoon sun.
Amorsolo was careful in the details of the eyes, face and other features of the young maiden’s own
garments especially the baro’t saya. The saya of the young maiden is painted quite delicately though it
gives an effect of translucence that her arms and neckline can be seen through the slim layer of textile,
complimenting her radiant beauty that Amorsolo admired dearly.

BATHERS BY THE STREAM

A fine example of how Amorsolo has popularized the image of the Filipina maiden, he combines his
mastery of the nude and figure drawing with a clear visual recreation of an idyllic pre-colonial scene. A
latent sensuousness is a dimension that Amorsolo pursued in his paintings of young maidens all his life.
The rustic scene in the master’s characteristic style embodies the young, slender and shapely type of
feminine beauty he favored, and evokes the serenity and casual grace that Amorsolo paintings are
famous for.

José Joya (1931-1995)

A Filipino pioneer of Abstract expressionism, multi-media painter José Joya uses bold and vibrant
colours with a variety of painting techniques, layering, loose impasto strokes and controlled drips. His
harmonious colours are influenced by Philippine landscapes and tropical wildlife. His mastery lies in
gestural paintings, where the paint is applied spontaneously on canvas, sometimes directly out of the
tube or through the use of broad strokes with brushes.
ARTWORKS
HILLS OF NIKKO

One such fine example of non-figurative abstract expressionism is the Hills of Nikko. It is the artist’s
interpretation of one of the existing hills in Nikko, Japan. During wintertime, the hill’s imperfections are
thoroughly covered by snow. However, during summertime, those imperfections are expressed by the
artist in terms of bold brush strokes and super-imposition of lines.

The painting is actually an allegory to human imperfections. The earth colors symbolize the weaknesses
and limitations of humanity while the hues of greens and blues represent life and hope. The white
background represents the snow that starts to envelop the mound. In the process, the entire
imperfection will be covered thus presenting the cycle of life.

TOROGAN

TOROGAN is a traditional house built by the Maranao

people of Lanao, Mindanao, Philippines.[1] A torogan was a symbol of high social status. Such a
residence was once a home to a sultan or Datu in the Maranao community. Nowadays, concrete
houses are found all over Maranaw communities, but there remain torogans a hundred years old. The
best-known are in Dayawan and Marawi City, and around Lake Lanao.
SPACE TRANSFIGURATION

“Space Transfiguration,” by Jose Joya. Jose Joya's abstract “Space Transfiguration” officially
became the Philippines' most expensive painting when it was bidded out for more than P100
million on March 3 during León Gallery's annual benefit auction for the Asian Cultural Council
(ACC) Philippines.

HERNANDO RUIZ OCAMPO

Hernando Ruiz Ocampo was a Filipino artist best known for his abstract paintings.
Following in Modernist traditions, Ocampo's used bold color palettes and biomorphic
shapes inspired by both his country's landscape and by science fiction writing. Born on
April 28, 1911 in Manila, Philippines and taught himself to paint.
ARTWORK

SEMANA SANTA

DANCING MUTANTS