A newly discovered painting of Jose Rizal

Aplan to set up a public event to honor our national hero, Jose Rizal and a newly discovered painting of him by Telesforo Alayon Sugcang (TAS) was cancelled last December 2020 due to the pandemic. But it was finally held yesterday, at the Rizal Museum with an art lecture by Frederick Epistola, founder of Art Show Philippines who was resource speaker, and a workshop led by Artist Jirah Millano of Tinta sa Abaka who directed a portraiture workshop entitled “Rizal in Sugcang’s Eyes.” During the workshop, participants recreated Sugcang’s portrait using ink on locally made abaca paper.

Telesforo Sugcang’s “A Portrait of Rizal (1891) which according to many is “Rizal’s “finest and truest likeness,” is currently on exhibit at the Audiovisual Room of the Museum. The lecture and art sketching sessions are intended to serve as kick off projects of the Telesforo Sugcang art programs for kids and art lecture series in partnership with

Museo ni Jose Rizal

Fort Santiago. The aim is to reach art schools and universities and the public through sponsorship by the TAS Family Legacy Team Manila and the Urban Sketchers Manila.

Sugcang was also a sculptor, composer, and educator. He was born 168 years ago in Banga, Capiz (now Aklan) on Jan. 5, 1855, five years before Rizal’s birth. While a student in Madrid as a government pensionado, he was a classmate of Rizal. As artists, they shared a common bond – love of country and nationalistic ideals. At that time, Rizal was writing his famous novel, “Noli Me Tangere.” Being a friend, he agreed to sit for an oil painting by Telesforo. The painting is one of the lesser-known items from the relics and memorabilia of Rizal until it was found, transported, restored and donated to the Rizal Museum during Rizal’s 109th birthday.

Dr. Alejandro Roces, National artist wrote about it in one of his columns. There, the writer noted that the donor, Mrs. Paz Zamora Mascunanan had expressed that it was not only a birthday gift to Rizal but to the entire nation. It was acquired in Madrid in 1951 from the heirs of Pi y Margall, a politician. The oil painting is now at the Fort Santiago Rizal Shrine and Museum where it is accessible for public viewing.

In 2021, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan honored Sugcang through a resolution giving due recognition to his work as a prominent national painter, sculptor, musical composer, academician, and hero.” His artworks are now permanently situated in Spain, at Valladolid’s Museo Oriental and Madrid’s Museo National del Prado.

His sculptures are primarily religious in character. Sagrada Familia represents the birth of Christ. He made portraits of personages like Manuel Becerra, Pi y Margall, the Infant King of Spain, Alfonso XIII. Other canvasses were kept in what used to be called the Museo de Filipinas in Madrid.

Sugcang was recipient of a royal appointment at the Escuela de Artes y Oficios at Iloilo teaching modeling and engraving. During the second stage of the revolution, he was appointed captain and promoted commandant of the military administration. After the revolution and establishment of American rule, he became one of the founders of the Instituto de Visayas established in Jaro, Iloilo, and then in Aklan in Capiz.

The activities held yesterday were made possible through a gift from Manuela Labrador Sugcang de Ocampo, one of his granddaughters who will turn 100 years old in January 2024. She was also an artist, having performed as a soprano singer and member of the cast of Minda Mora, a theatrical production of the Zarzuela Production of the Philippines, Inc. and Pacifica Cultural Productions, Inc. It was held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Most of the activities were initiated by great granddaughter, Rebecca Sugcang Ocampo, a retired professional from the United Nations who returned to the Philippines in 2022 to plan with the officials of the National Historical Commission for this forthcoming events. She is unable to come this month as she is also on top of the preparations for the 100th birthday celebration of her mother, Manuela in New York.

In 2025, TAS Manila Team plans to hold another art program in honor of the Telesforo Sugcang’s 170th birth anniversary.