Dreamer, Artist, Father
Any father would try to ensure an education for his children. Florentino Impas Jr., or simply “Jun,” does. He is quite dogged about it – he himself took a while to pursue his own education.
He felt lacking because he did not finish college. But he held on fast to what he really loved – painting. For lack of means, he had to learn the art on his own, starting at age seven.
Life was not easy for Jun. He was a father at 23 and had to quit school to find a job to support his family. His passion for painting helped a lot, as it became his main source of income.
The young family man would wake up so early every morning, determined to provide for his growing brood. He’d average only five hours of sleep per night. He didn’t want his children to experience the hardship that he had gone through himself. The son of a fisherman, Jun grew up with nine siblings, of whom only one finished college.
Jun’s difficult backstory now seems belied by the Florentino’s EcoPark, in the mountain barangay of Gaas, in Balamban, Cebu, which he owns. The park is hailed as “Little Tagaytay” because of its chill and cozy ambiance and spectacular view. He originally wanted to create an “Artists Village” for Cebuano artists, inspired by Baguio’s BenCab Museum. But due to the huge amount money it required, the family decided to open the property as an eco-park for now.
The fisherman’s son has come a long way since. June’s paintings have been highly recognized by local and international award-giving bodies. Jun is a consistent finalist and winner at the Martino Abellana Annual Art Competition. He was Grand Prize winner at the 2003 Philippine College of Surgeons Painting Competition and at the 2004 Petron Art Competition. He got the Excellence Award at the 2008 China Asean Youth Artwork Competition, and the Second Prize at the 2009 GSIS Art Competition.
Moreover, Jun was finalist at the 2011 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Art Competition and First Prize winner at the Fernando Amorsolo Painting Competition Mentor Category - Regional and then National Level.
Jun has also painted the portraits of Cardinal Vidal, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, and former Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia, among others. He has even been invited to Rome to paint a portrait of Cardinal Fernando Filoni.
Interestingly, Jun never let go of his dream for a college diploma. This year, he has finally got one from the University of Santo Tomas, where he finished Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Painting, with added Thesis Award of Merit. While he already excels as a self-taught artist, a