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IN the month of June when the Philippines proudly celebrated its
110th year of Independence, it is significant that two cultural
icons who in their own way have been taking pride in celebrating and
showcasing the country’s native heritage have teamed up to exhibit
their considerable talents.
Noted Filipiniana designer Patis Tesoro and
foremost portrait painter Romulo “Mulong” Galicano team-up for a
rare Filipiniana exhibit dubbed “Postura: Portraiture &
Prestige” at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila which is ongoing
until August 30.
The exhibit features Romulo “Mulong”
Galicano’s Filipiniana and Portraits artpieces, and Patis
Tesoro’s Filipiniana dresses and Ninay Dolls collections.
Ma. Beatriz Fabella Pamintuan or simply
“Patis” in the fashion circuit has always been a champion of the
arts, crafts and culture. Two of the most significant of which is
the revival of the piña weaving industry and the improvement of the
natural dye production in the country.
Patis spearheaded the rejuvenation of the dying
piña industry of Aklan province in the Visayas. She pioneered in
weaving piña and silk calling the new fabric “piña seda.”
Using natural dyes, it is available in many attractive colors unlike
natural piña which came only in beige. “Piña seda” is also
more affordable.
Through the Katutubong Filipino Foundation which
she co-founded with former First Lady Amelita Ramos, Patis embarked
on another major project for the improvement in the process of
extracting natural dyes. She, in cooperation with the Philippine
Textile Research Institute, led in the research of producing
powdered natural dyes for easier application.
Patis can also be credited for the improved
techniques of the hand-looming abaca, high-quality buntal hats and
abaca bags of Lucban in Quezon, product development of fiber flowers
of Nueva Ecija, bamboo frames for hand-woven mats of scenic Laminusa
Island, hand-beaded appliqués from Bulacan and Laguna and the
patadyong fabric of Miagao in Iloilo. She is also in the forefront
in promoting the woven Ticug grass mats of Leyte, Philippine silk of
La Union and hand-made baskets woven by Kalinga tribes.
In her high school days at Maryknoll, the
American nuns exposed Patis to the art of making dolls. In 2000,
Patis formally launched the Ninay dolls at the historic Club
Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan.
Ninay dolls were dressed in the most intricate
Filipiniana costumes, with amazing detailing not only on the
clothes, but in their accessories and background as well. With Patis’
innate passion for details, plus each face of every Ninay doll being
personally hand-painted by master portraitist Galicano, each doll is
a rare collector’s item.
Galicano has been the most sought-after portrait
painter for decades. Born in Carcar, the Cebuano master made the
country proud when he received international recognition for his
Portrait of Eddie Chua which won the grand prize at the 2005
Portrait Society of America competition in Washington, DC. The
previous year, Portrait of Marissa Concepcion was chosen as one of
the Five Merit Awardees at the International Portrait Competition in
Boston, Massachusetts.
His last major solo exhibit, titled Homage to
the Masters, has 12-pieces, honoring great Filipino Masters from
Juan Luna to Emilio Aguilar Cruz shown in their studios. An allusion
to famous American portrait painter John Singer Sargent’s Claude
Monet Painting (1887) and Paul Helleu Sketching (1889) showing the
artists painting in the open air. Galicano in series returns the
artist in his studio, a signal to the final closure of his
Dimasalang days.
The Dimasalang group is interested in the
revival of landscape painting and working out in open air. Aside
from the significant stylistic philosophy, his exceptional concept
uplifted portrait painting another step closer to the level of
historic painting or the grand genre.
Many of Galicano’s sitters/models donned the
Filipiniana dresses or embroidered sheer nipis. Such clothes are
modern interpretations of the outfit of the 19th century mestizaje,
a racial-mix of Malay, Chinese and Caucasian, who were the first to
envision a Filipino nation and struggled to make it a reality.
Galicano’s subjects wear the Filipiniana dress
because they are not merely rich and powerful men and women but also
are Filipinos who are today’s captains of industry, matriarchs of
well-connected clans, budding offsprings who will fulfill the
promised regeneration.
In these portraits, Galicano ensures that the
visage of these outstanding men and women will not be forgotten. But
in creating such powerful images, Galicano also guarantees the
potency of his art will be part of posterity.
rjottings@yahoo.com
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