“‘Pila sa Bigas’ is a very iconic work by Vicente Manansala and painted in 1978.

It was a social
commentary by the national artist, as one of the effects of martial law was the rice shortage which,
incidentally, Atencio also finds appropriate for the country’s current situation.

Protest art is not as popular as other subject matters of art. Despite being protest art, this artwork was
made sure it is acceptable to the buying public.

Vicente Manansala was Philippine modern artist who used a semi-abstract style to paint religious
subjects and scenes of Philippine urban life. Manansala was regarded as one of the Philippines’ most
prominent post-war artists. His post-war paintings were influenced by the work of Fernando Amorsolo.

The art showed his ability to use Western styles of Modernism to tell stories of Philippine life and
culture.

With the issues of national culture and identity in focus after World War II, his works reflected the social
environment and expressed the native sensibility.