Botong Francisco sketches first seen at SM City Masinag
Mallgoers were given the privilege of being the first to see the never-publicly-shown sketches of National Artist Carlos “Botong” Francisco when “My City, My SM, My Art” recently made a stop at SM City Masinag.
The sketches are part of the remaining pieces of the Botong Francisco Family Collection, which his grandson Carlos “Totong” Francisco II so graciously shared with his province mates at the mall. These are part of the more than “180 sketches left to the care of my Aunt Carmen, my grandfather’s eldest sister,” says Totong.
Most of the sketches were probably drawn in the 1960s, and some of these were figures later used in his masterpieces. Others include a portrait of Andres Bonifacio in the artist’s famous mural at the City Hall of Manila, set designs of Manuel Conde movies, costume designs from other movies and other scaled drawings from his murals.
This was the major highlight of “My City, My SM, My Art”’s cultural journey to Rizal Province, which is known as the “Cradle of Philippine Art” because of its artist’s communities and folk festivals.
The event also highlighted how art is part of the destiny of the province of Rizal. It is in Rizal that one can find the petroglyphs, a cultural site that dates back to about 3000 BC, and is the most ancient known Filipino work of art. And today this artistic tradition continues with the celebrated neo-artist’s group, young painters in the lakeshore areas, and cultural spaces like the Pinto Art Museum that serve as gateways for modern and contemporary art.
A joint project of SM, the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Shell Philippines, the
Philippine STAR, with support from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and Centerstage Productions, “My City, My SM, My Art” is a celebration of Philippine visual arts — painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and filmmaking.
The campaign brings art and people together by showcasing the works of masters, modernists and millennials in a road show around the SM Supermalls. Advocating art for all, the team works with communities to mount exhibits, workshops, and contests in key cities around the Philippines.
Leading the celebration of art in Rizal were Antipolo City First District Congresswoman Chiqui Roa-Puno and former Congressman Robbie Puno together with Rizal Board Member Enrico de Guzman, Antipolo City Councilors Lemuel Zapanta, Susan Say, Nixon Aranas and Barangay Mayamot Chairman Pablo Oldan.
Talking art were Totong Francisco, grandson of National Artist Botong Francisco together with Antipolo City Tourism OIC Mar Bacani, Pinto Museum Manager Jenny Villanueva and the Philippine STAR advertising manager Grace Laurel.
SM officials led by SM senior vice president for marketing Millie Dizon, SM Supermalls senior AVP Ronald Allan Brosas, SM City Masinag mall manager Belinda Gonzalez, and AVP for marketing TJ Cuenca warmly welcomed them.
Guests enjoyed the program, which included an AVP presentation hosted by Congresswoman Chiqui Roa-Puno featuring the master artists of Rizal and their amazing works. These works were exhibited in and around the My Art Gallery, which was inspired by the bahay na bato in Luzon.
The event showed how in the province, one does not talk about art and culture in the past tense, but also in the present and future as it nurtures a new generation of artists through art-oriented schools like the University of Rizal System or URS.
“My City, My SM, My Art” also revealed how spaces like the Pinto Museum have opened the doors to talented artists. These include Erwin Leaño, who is known for powerful visuals of everyday life; John Paul Antido who paints the fiesta culture in bold brushstrokes; and the Samson brothers — Jerson, the master of motion; Pogs, whose works explore concepts of faith, science and reason; and Jaypee, who highlights the power of art and education in his works.
Award-winning photographer Danny Victoriano also showcased his advocacydriven works that highlight themes like the beauty and the preservation of nature.
“My Art”’s highlight was a tribute to the late National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Known as the “Poet of Angono,” Botong single-handedly revived the art of mural painting and was the most distinguished practitioner of his time. Born in Angono on Nov. 4, 1912, he went to college at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts where he developed a modernist style. He was invariably linked with modernist artists, forming with Victorio Edades and Galo Ocampo what was then known in art circles as “the Triumvirate.”
In panels, such as those seen in his masterpiece, “Filipino Struggles through History,” at the Manila City Hall, Botong turned fragments of the historic past into vivid records of the legendary courage of the ancestors of his race. Considered art gems until today are Botong’s “First Mass at Limasawa” and the “Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal”; as well as the “Life and Miracles of St. Dominic” for the Santo Domingo Church in 1954, “Stations of the Cross” for Far Eastern University in 1956, the “Invasion of Limahong” in 1956,
“Mangingisda” in 1957, and “Bayanihan” in 1962. Botong’s unerring eye for composition, the lush tropical sense of color and abiding faith in folk values typified by the townspeople of Angono became the hallmark of his art. His mural paintings embody the rich tapestry of rhythm, boldness and inventiveness interwoven by the vibrancy of Philippine folklore, history and traditional life.
As an artist who influenced, and in turn was inspired by his community, his body of work serves as a visual document of timeless and traditional folkways.
He received many awards for his works: the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan from the City of Manila in 1964 and the Republic Heritage Award in 1976. Botong posthumously became the second Filipino to receive the title of National Artist in Painting in 1973.
With its aim of bringing art and people together, “My City, My SM, My Art” also held a “Higantitos” workshop conducted by artists Andre Vocalan of Balaw Balaw restaurant. Sharlene Calixtro bagged the grand prize of P5,000 worth of gift certificates.
“My City, My SM, My Art” is a takeoff from the previous “My City, My SM” campaigns which promote tourism, “My City, My SM, My Cuisine,” which highlights regional culinary specialties, and “My City, My SM, My Crafts,” a celebration of traditional art and modern Philippine design in cities where SM has malls. “My City, My SM, My Art”’s next stop will be in SM City Lipa.