Spending My Saturday at an Art Gallery

How often can you say that in just one morning, you got to view the gist of Philippine history inside one gallery? I was fortunate enough to do just that. Inside the Gateway Tower in Araneta Center, there is this huge art gallery housing about 30 large-scale paintings, made by UP alumni artists. The exhibit features the sequential artwork of how the Philippines came to be as it is now. 

The project was 5 years in the making, and the exhibit is the outcome of extraordinary hard work and successful collaboration, and of course, immeasurable talent. 

Galleon Trade by Jonahmar Salvosa was one of my favorite pieces. His interpretation of the Galleon Trade is so colorful and dreamy. In Philippine history, galleons are these big ships that bring goods to and from Manila. The Galleon Trade was a means of income for the Spaniards in the Philippines. They trade silk and other Chinese goods in Mexico.

Another one of my favorites is Celebration by Romy Carlos. It depicts the fiestas, or celebrations of thanksgiving, happening all over the country. They usually are held in honor of a town's patron saint, hence the different religious characters. What I love about this painting is its composition and flow. There is an abundance of information about fiestas without being too cluttered.

Sining Saysay

The Gateway Gallery

5/F Gateway Tower Mall, Araneta Center, 

Cubao, Quezon City

(Hours: 11am - 7pm)

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Philippine history lessons in 30 grand visions

            In this age of Instagram and Twitter, quick short bites of communiqué are the norm. It can be a statement of fact or the start of a meaningful discussion.  SININGSAYSAY:  Philippine History in Art achieves both.  The art exhibit of 30 large-scale paintings covering pre-historic Philippines to modern times should serve as a must for every student and observer of the country’s life and times.

            A joint project of the University of the Philippines (UP), the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) and the Araneta Center, the exhibit is open free to the public every day at the Gateway Gallery. Students from elementary and secondary schools are set to tour the exhibit with expert guidance from teachers and historians. For the young and old experiencing history through these murals, it promises to be a pleasurable walk.

From the petroglyphs discovered in Angono, Rizal to a depiction of our Austronesian roots and Philippine tribes, and on to Spanish influence and rule, visitors will move on to important fragments of history. The Cry of Pugad Lawin, the declaration of independence in Kawit, Cavite; the great women of history such as Gabriela Silang, young nationalist Macario Sakay, the establishment of the Commonwealth Government, the rise of the labor unions and all the way to the Filipino’s triumph over natural disasters and continuing fight for justice and democracy.

The project team called on the talents of 28 UP alumni artists to bring their visions of history to life on 6 ft. by 12 ft. canvasses. Artists consulted renowned historians Dr. Serafin Quiazon and Prof. Ma. Luisa Camagay, and also researched historic materials on the Net, in old newspapers, and even old movies and vintage airplane models to help recreate details. The project took four years to complete, first envisioned by the UPAA under Atty. Gari M. Tiongco before it was finally mounted.

“The concept was to be a come-on for students to learn the history of the Philippines in just half a day by going around.  And not just going around a museum, but here it is given to you in the form of art, from alumni artists of UP.  Not every country has this, but here, a tourist can come to the Philippines and learn our history by going over these artworks,” he said.

The participating artists also formed a veritable who’s who of the Philippine art world, specifically:  Adonai Artificio, Armand Bacaltos, Adi Baen-Santos, Grandier Bella, Benjie Cabangis, Ben Cabrera, Angel Cacnio, Romeo Carlos, Cris Cruz, Denes Dasco, Gig De Pio, Simkin De Pio, Vincent De Pio, Neil Doloricon, Norman Dreo, Amado Hidalgo, Abdul Asia Mari Imao, Ben Infante, Gigi Javier-Alfonso, Aileen Lanuza, Romeo Mananquil, Norlie Meimban, Julius Samson, Jonahmar Salvosa, Randy Solon, Michael Velasco, Jun Yee, and Janice Young.

“Sining Saysay is an innovative way of teaching history, promoting art appreciation, understanding Filipino identity, and imbibing cultural pride; all constituting valuable aspects of teaching and public service, which the University of the Philippines is mandated to do,” said Alfredo E. Pascual, UP President.

The Gateway Gallery is located on the 5/L of the Gateway Tower Mall. As the country’s largest private gallery, it presents a fitting venue to such an illustrious art project.  

“With SiningSaysay, Araneta Center is affirmed as the arts and culture hub of Quezon City. We are housing a collection of great artistic and historic value. This is not just an educational opportunity, but a source of national pride,” said Jorge L. Araneta, Chairman and CEO of the Araneta Group.

                The exhibit is open every day from 11AM to 7PM at the Gateway Gallery.                                                             

Travel: Bellagio in Las Vegas

There is something about Bellagio that keeps me coming back. Come to think of it, it's probably the dancing Fountains of Bellagio. Morning or night, they never fail to keep me relaxed. If I get to choose a spot on the Strip to stay put for the day, it's in front of the Bellagio fountains.

Shows run every 30 minutes starting at 3pm to 7pm, every 15 minutes from 7pm-midnight during the weekdays. During the weekends, they start earlier at noon.

Aside from the famous movie-worthy view of Bellagio fountains, we also went inside. If you've been to Seattle's Space Needle and the garden beside it, you'll be familiar with the ceiling sculpture/chandelier called Fiori di Como (literally translated to Flowers of Como) at Bellagio's lobby. It's by world-renowned glass sculptor Dave Chihuly. The installation has about 2,000 glass blooms.

Another area in Bellagio that I always go to is the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Until September 7th this year, you get to enjoy the Summer Garden Party exhibit. We got to go when we went to Vegas last May. It's not that big of an exhibit but it is definitely magical. It was like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Fresh flowers were everywhere.

Huge sculptural display showered the area -- raindrops, tulips, daffodils, butterflies, ladybugs, and more.

There's this floral interpretation of Polly Thayer's "My Childhood Trees", too.

Take a closer look.

Check out the real painting at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston if you're in the area, or take a look at their website.

The exhibit at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is open to the public 24 hours a day. Enjoy your Vegas visit!

It Was a Sige Sabado Kind of Saturday

Allie and I love doing arts and crafts, so when I got a package, imagine my excitement when I saw what was inside. It was a Sige Sabado playbox from Breeze Philippines. There were all sorts of materials for various craft activities:

1. Tie dye kit 

2. Harlequin mask 

3. Raise a monggo plant 

4. Dinosaur egg bath soaps 

5. Popsicle names and pen holder 

6. Slime 

7. Animal balloon papier mache 

8. Chocolate drawing

I asked Allie what she wanted to do and she said she wanted to make the pen holder. I guess she was attracted to the colorful popsicle sticks and the stickers that came with it.

I started showing her how to do it by making a square base first, then stacking the sticks two at a time. She helped out by handling me the sticks I needed. Halfway through the project, she was the one putting the sticks together while I applied the glue.

When we finished the basic container, I gave her the stickers so she can decorate the pen holder. Well, if you can’t tell yet, stickers are her favorite so I let her go decorate the pen holder like crazy.

Don’t you think she did an awesome job? We can’t wait to do the next project. Maybe we’ll plant some monggo seeds next or maybe do the tie dye project. It will surely keep us busy before school starts. We love the Sige Sabado playbox. It really gave us more ways to spend some time together. Thanks Breeze Philippines!

Travel: Museo Orlina in Tagaytay

I've always been fascinated with glass sculptures. When I first saw the Chihuly ceiling in Bellagio, the Fiori di Como, I was so amazed. It was such a beautiful installation. That was in 1998.

Fast forward to 2014, on our way back to Manila from Tagaytay, I quickly saw the sign Museo Orlina as we were about to turn from the main road. I am a fan of Mr. Ramon Orlina's glass sculptures too, and I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit the place. It is located in a downhill subdivision overlooking Taal Volcano. It was a Tuesday and we just walked in, hoping that the place was open. It was.

Given that it was a weekday, there was only one small group inside who was about done. That meant we had the whole place to ourselves. We were in luck too, because our tour guide, an art studies major, told us that it was crazily packed during the weekends. Entrance fee was only P100, so sulit.

Aside from his own works, the place also has paintings and sculptures of other local artists up on display or for sale in one of the galleries. An amphitheater for small concerts is scattered with bigger sculptures made by different artists. Our guide also showed us the private garage housing a couple of cars in his collection -- a Beetle painted by his artist friend, Bencab (another artist who has a museum up on the mountains on the North), and a Volvo Mondrian-inspired car painted by Mr. Orlina himself.

I don't think I can explain in words the art of Mr. Orlina. It is definitely a place that everyone should visit.