Bravo News Ph (2025)

25/01/2025

Robinsons Land ARTablado: Staging art, elevating Filipino talent

Filipino artists have always needed a stage — a space that values art beyond mere decoration and commercial appeal. They need a place to display and show their work, where creativity can thrive without compromise. In a world where gallery spaces are often exclusive, and opportunities seem out of reach, ARTablado steps in to provide a much-needed platform — one that is open, accessible, and committed to championing local talent.

Since its inception in 2020, Robinsons Land ARTablado has hosted over 800 artists and exhibited more than 4,000 artworks. From its original spaces in Robinsons Galleria and Robinsons Antipolo, it has added three more venues: The Gallery Bar at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, The Red Gallery at Summit Greenhills, and The Gallery at Summit Ridge Tagaytay. Each exhibition becomes an opportunity to showcase art and amplify Filipino voices to a broader audience.

As Rafael "Popoy" Cusi puts it, "ARTablado is one of the best platforms for showcasing talent, creativity, and artistry in the field of visual arts."

Rico Aunzo, also known as "Pedrong Masipag," values the platform's support in his career, stating, "Malaking bagay po para sa akin at sa career ko na maibahagi ang aking talento sa pamamagitan ng Robinsons Land ARTablado. Pagdating po sa pag-aasikaso nila sa artist ay hindi ito matatawaran."

Similarly, Valerie Teng shares her gratitude. "ARTablado is a significant venue for emerging artists to showcase their art. It nurtures and encourages up-and-coming artists to come out and share their ideas through their artworks. I am truly honored to be part of this family," she said.

Ramil Tuamampos echoes this sentiment. "Damang-dama ko ang kanilang tulong upang makilala ang isang artist na kagaya ko. Kaya naman maraming artists ang nangangarap na makapag-exhibit sa ARTablado dahil umaangat ang level nila kapag nakapag-exhibit na sila dito," he said.

Heartfelt testimonials on ARTablado inspire and uplift artists, helping them gain recognition and achieve greater heights in their artistic journey.

ARTablado kicks off 2025 with two highly anticipated exhibitions: the fourth solo show of celebrated artist Amador "Dodie" Inlayo and a collaborative showcase by Ramil Tumampos, Joeyboi Galang, Arthur Dela Cruz, and Marie DC.

EXPLORING CUBISM

Celebrating his 50th year, Antipolo-based Amador Inlayo presents "Singkwenta," a collection of 50 stunning artworks.

On view at the Upper Ground Floor of Robinsons Antipolo until January 31st, "Singkwenta" reflects Inlayo's artistic evolution. The exhibition traces his early fascination with landscapes to his more recent explorations in Cubism, striving to depict subjects in their true essence rather than merely their outward appearances.

He explains how his transition to the cubist approach was driven by his desire to stay attuned to the "trend and flow of modern art." Beyond his artistic achievements, Inlayo remains committed to mentorship and social responsibility. Through his initiative, Inlayo Art, he actively supports underprivileged communities such as Batang Abuyod, providing opportunities for young talents to explore their creative potential.

A FUSION OF PERSPECTIVES

At ARTablado in Robinsons Galleria, the exhibition "Four Walls, Four Worlds," showcased the four distinct artistic voices of Ramil Tumampos, Joeyboi Galang, Arthur dela Cruz, and Marie DC.

Each artist offers a unique interpretation of their creative world, transforming the shared space into a multi-faceted artistic experience. Together, they create a compelling dialogue, demonstrating how diverse artistic languages can coexist and enrich a shared space.

Ramil Tumampos mesmerizes with his "curved transparency Cubism," where vibrant hues and geometric patterns create a dynamic interplay of form and color.

Joeyboi Galang lures viewers into his surreal, dreamlike world of cryptic figures and playful compositions, blending whimsy and mystery.

Arthur dela Cruz showcases "a fusion of abstract impressionism and realistic portraiture," with intricate depictions of women adorned with floral accents.

Marie DC offers an evocative exploration of womanhood, delving into the raw emotions and intimate experiences that define female identity.

MORE WALLS, MORE WORLDS

Art matters. Given an appropriate platform, creativity flourishes beyond imagination. Providing this platform is Robinsons Land ARTablado's mission.

As ARTablado continues to expand, its role in the local art scene becomes increasingly significant. It is not just a venue; it's where brushstrokes tell stories, colors ignite emotions, and ideas blossom. Artists grappling for visibility embrace ARTablado as their beacon.

Artists need an entablado that is empowering, inclusive, and transformative. ARTablado is all of that.

* * *
Established in 2020, Robinsons Land ARTablado, a portmanteau of "art" and "entablado" is Robinsons Land's very own stage in showcasing Filipino ingenuity and creativity. This platform allows emerging artists to express themselves through art freely and paves the way to greater recognition of their talent and hard work.

For information, follow ARTablado on social media.

22/01/2025

'Soledad's Sister' foretells OFW's case in Kuwait

A Facebook Notifications message said netizen Taurine Ang liked a photo I was tagged in my piece "Soledad's Sister—A review" about Jose "Butch" Dalisay, Jr.'s novel.
It immediately brought to mind that the novel was almost the portrayal of the horrible death recently of Kuwait overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Jenny Ramirez Alvarado that hogged newspaper headlines and dominated the airwaves.

Bravo News, a digital platform, carried on Dec. 10, 2024, my book review of Dalisay's novel.

While the review discussed the novel's literary merits— something that Leonard Casper, J. M. Coetzee, or Cristina Pantoja Hidalgo would have done better— I said that, in rereading the book, I saw it in a different light.

I said it presented the "stark reality of life: ambition, greed, injustice, cruelty, poverty, long hours of work to earn so little, seedy existence, among others."

It was just as English writer and cultural critic Matthew Arnold said - "literature reflects life".

Indeed, "Soledad's Sister" presents contemporary Filipino society as it is today.

In writing the novel, Dalisay probably had in mind what Salvador P. Lopez, former president of the University of the Philippines system, said in an essay.

"… of all the ends to which the writer may dedicate his talents, none is more worthy than the improvement of man and the defense of his freedom," Lopez wrote.

"Soledad's Sister" may yet establish Dalisay as one of the finest and leading writers of his generation, to which local publishing honchos like Karina Bolasco, literary historian and retired UP Diliman professor Elmer A. Ordoñez, and well-known writers Inday Espina-Varona, Joel Pablo Salud, Elizabeth "Babeth" Lolarga, Danton Remoto, Charito Ramirez, among others, would agree.

This is bolstered by notable collections of short stories like "Voyager and Other Fictions" and novels, among other things. Moreover, Dalisay has become a Palanca Hall of Fame Award winner.

The novel's relevance to contemporary times could not be denied; it could be gleaned from the fact that, aside from being shortlisted for the 2007 The Man Asian Literary Prize, it has been and will be translated into different foreign languages.

Dalisay is also a prolific biographer, like the late Nelson A. Navarro, who passed away in 2019 at age 71.

Written in the early 2000s, "Soledad's Sister" was issued its first Philippine edition copyright in 2008 and its 15th in 2023.

In writing it, Dalisay was prophetic, so to speak, like English writers Aldous Huxley and George Orwell when they wrote "Big Brave World" and "1984", respectively.

A seasoned and well-established writer, Dalisay knew that Filipino labor migration would last a long time and, therefore, was a good subject for a novel.

As of now, we have several DH (domestic helpers) or housemaids not only in Saudi Arabia but also in other countries like Kuwait where the late OFW Alvarado was working.

Huxley envisioned the future in the "Big New World", a futuristic world state where citizens are environmentally engineered into an intelligence-based social hierarchy. It anticipated the huge scientific advancements in reproductive technology, sleep learning, psychological manipulation, and classical conditioning that are combined to make a dystopian society.

Orwell is known for his dystopian works of fiction, such as "1984" and "Animal Farm". Many of his works have remained popular, the 20th century's most trenchant and widely recognized critiques of totalitarianism.

Dalisay depicted with realism and precision the hardships, sacrifices, and tragedies that Pinay OFWs undergo while working in other countries.

Labor export had become a major source of income for the country, with dollar remittances propping up the local economy and raising the country's foreign reserves.

Filipino labor migration to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started with a group of Filipino engineers in 1973.

As of 2009, the Saudi embassy in the Philippines was processing between 800 to 900 jobs for Filipinos daily.

Both the novel "Soledad's Sister" and the Alvarado case are characterized by confusion. In the novel, there is a switch in names, while in Alvarado's case, there is a mix-up in dead bodies.

The body of a Nepali worker was sent to the Philippines instead of Alvarado's.

Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) had to apologize to Alvarado's family for the mix-up. He also assured them of assistance.

"So we are continuously assisting the family during these difficult times and we are providing the necessary assistance in all forms - services and financial support to the family," Cacdac was quoted as saying by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The coffin bearing the remains of the Nepali was sent back to Kuwait.

DMW Undersecretary Felicitas A. Bas has since confirmed the arrival of Alvarado's remains on Kuwait Airways flight 417.

Based on reports from the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait, Alvarado and two other foreign workers died of suffocation after inhaling smoke from a gearing system in their workplace.

However, the DMW is looking into the possibility that foul play could have been involved amid conflicting accounts surrounding Alvarado's death.

"Soledad's Sister" enjoys a good print run. Hopefully, this continues, hether it is enjoyed as "art for art's sake", as poet Jose Garcia Villa saw it, or as a means to an end, in Lopez's (SP to many) view.

15/01/2025

She didn’t know how to say goodbye

She was trying to call, and though I could hear her voice from across the Pacific loud and clear, she said she could not get through.

Then, I heard nothing more except the disconnected tone of the telephone. I asked myself what it could be all about. It was the first and last time she called all these years.

When I was still 7,771 kilometers away from the Philippines, in the West for an overseas job, she had not called as far as I could remember. Probably, she had her reasons.

I would call her instead to catch up with her and her family, not only for old times' sake but also because we are family.

Before leaving for the United States in 1984, petitioned by their father Santiago, whom I called "Uncle Ago", she and her family spent their last night in the country in my home.

I was sad back then. We were close. But the years taught me to live life by facing things squarely: Life is not easy. Everything, the way we think or feel, is subject to change.

Asuncion E. Erediano, a cousin, and I were close. I called her "Manang Cion". Her father was my late father's older brother.

My father was the youngest of six siblings. I lost him three days before I was born. I was a sensitive boy, and at age three or four years, I was being bullied by other boys my age. It could be because I was an orphan.

That was probably why Manang Cion and another cousin, Manang Naty or Natividad, were protective of me. They ganged up on anyone or a group of boys who did me a bad turn. That memory had remained indelible in my mind.

They were also close to each other. Manang Naty's mother, Auntie Anneng (Juana), was the sister of my father's and Manang Cion's.

My aunts were fine being in the province; their parents were good providers. Manang Cion temporarily stopped her studies while Manang Naty continued. Then, they decided to come to the big city where I was studying and living with my mother.

The cousins also married cousins from Cebu: Manang Cion to Lucio Erediano and Manang Naty to Marcelino Erediano, Jr.

After getting my graduate degree, I enrolled at the College of Law of the University of the East, where Persida V. Rueda Acosta, chief of the Public Attorney's Office, was a classmate in Criminal Law 1 under Professor Carlos Ortega.

While working overseas, I used to call Manang Cion in Union City, California. One time, I told her that, on my next vacation, I would bring her Saudi gold earrings as a remembrance. She was then on holiday from the United States in our village in the north. In gratitude, she gave me a prized fish called "Ilek" by village fishermen.

A few days after she tried to call me, her husband, Manong Lucio, "accidentally" called. He said he was calling Manang Cion, who was in the hospital.

He said he was bedridden and could not stand up. Nobody was with him to help and talk to him. To calm him down, I told him that they were probably with Manang Cion in the hospital.

Realizing the problem, I texted Perla Bermudez Santos in Los Angeles. She is the founder and chair of MoTHER or Movement to Help Eradicate R**e and other Violence against Women.

It is officially called the International Mother Movement.

She has been involved in Filipino community projects and has collaborated with the Philippine Consulate and Migrant Workers Office under Labor Attaché Macy Monique Maglanque. Perla looks forward to meeting Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) to discuss possible collaboration in the latter's projects.

She asked how she or MoTHER could contact Manong Lucio. I texted him, his daughter Beverly, and Manang Cion about how to contact Manong Lucio.

Beverly answered and said she was in the hospital because her mom was sick. "She has colon cancer and she's been in and out of the hospital for the last three months," she said.

She would later say that what took Manang Cion's life was kidney failure. They were all in the hospital because that was what Manang Cion wanted. "She went peacefully, and without pain. I'm heartbroken at the loss of my beautiful and kind mother. But she is no longer in pain. For that, I'm comforted," Beverly added.

Then I understood why Manang Cion was trying to call me a few days earlier. She wanted to say goodbye but probably did not know how. That was why she did not respond to my "Hello, Manang Cion!"

She would join Manang Naty, who had gone to the Great Beyond much earlier. She left kind and God-fearing children who are close to us.

Jojo, the eldest who attended the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, is successful in his work for a non-government organization. He never fails to call on us when he visits his sister Jenny and other relatives in the barangay where he grew up.

In the Facebook comments section of the announcement of Manang Cion's passing, I wrote, "Manang Cion, I'm not saying goodbye; rather, till we meet again."

14/01/2025

Meycauayan Artists Bring Reflective Art to UAS Art Gallery

The creative talents of Meycauayan, Bulacan, have found a new avenue for expression at the UAS Art Gallery with their group show, "Muni Muni," ongoing until January 31, 2025.

"Muni Muni," meaning “to reflect” or “to ponder,” captures the essence of this artistic journey. Through their works, the artists offer viewers a window into their individual stories, their inspirations, and their shared passion for creativity and introspection.

The show highlights a collection of artworks by the Grupo Uno Visual Artists’ Guild, a local art collective in Meycauayan, Bulacan.

Participating artists include Allan Brando Gonzales, Minda Sta. Maria, Vangie Lim, Clarisse Aguilera, Lee Concepcion, Lemuel Italia, Jay-Ar Emeterio, Maki Pariñas, Marc Danpol Esureña, Dikya, Loida “Baloi” Bernardo, Judy Rizza A. Ingco, Mary Joy Go, Rowena Longcop, Richelle San Juan, Sandy Vargas, Jeysi Rodriguez, and Dolly Adriano.
Adding to the depth of the exhibit are works by guest artists Gary Montenegro, Arnold Estrella, Rei Rob, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Lyra Raymundo, and Nelsie Geografo.

Artists and art educators Romeo Gutierrez and Gem Blanco graced the show's opening last January 4. Isa Linsangan of UAS Art Gallery Manila delivered the welcome remarks.

The Muni Muni Group Show reflects the evolving art scene of Meycauayan. It offers a platform for its artists to share their unique perspectives and connect with the broader art community.

You can find the UAS Art Gallery at 753 Gen. Solano Street, San Miguel, Manila. Contact Viber 09479723982 for more information.

07/01/2025

Fil-Ams to hold an essay writing contest on family caregiving

A MoTHER-inspired program in Los Angeles, California, United States, boosts the campaign for the passage of a law allowing senior citizens to petition relatives in the Philippines to be their caregivers.

MoTHER, officially called International Mother Movement, spun off its program TLC (Tender Loving Care) Family Caregiver Support Group into a separate entity. "In doing so, MoTHER's rules and regulations won't restrict the decision-making of the new entity regarding its own projects," Perla Santos, MoTHER founder-chair, said.

MoTHER stands for Movement to Help Eradicate R**e and Other Violence against Women.

During the celebration of National Family Caregiver Month in November, the TLCFC Support Group launched an essay writing contest on family caregiving. The competition is open to all family caregivers worldwide.

As a tool to relieve stress, the activity aims to encourage family caregivers to share their unique experiences and stories, while celebrating their dedication and resilience.

A workshop will be conducted for those interested to learn storytelling techniques, as well as journaling. The stories will be used as testimonies to be presented to American lawmakers to justify the urgent family caregiver advocacy.

The Historic Filipinotown Neighborhood Council will be providing cash prizes. "First prize is US$300; second prize, US$200; and third, US$100," Santos said.

She added, "If we could get more support and donations, we could also provide consolation prizes or increase the prizes. But we believe that for the contestants, what's important is the realization of the project rather than the prizes."

Also launched during the November event was the support group's website: tlcfamilycaregiver.com

Participants are requested to check periodically for updates. They have to register on the website.

Please check the website for the criteria and other details.

Questions and clarifications can be directed to the interactive website.

Engineer Reynaldo Antonio Roa, TLCFC Support Group vice president, is the website administrator.

Santos expressed excitement that if seniors could petition relatives to be their caregivers, it would help cut joblessness in the Philippines.

Records show that unemployment remains high in the Philippines, although 2024 saw an improvement. The unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent in October 2024, down from 4.2 percent in the same month the previous year.

The overseas jobs could also mean an increase in dollar remittances that boost the Philippines' foreign reserves.

Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based in the US were the leading source of remittances in 2023, which totaled US$13.71 billion. OFWs are a major source of dollar remittances that prop up the Philippine economy.

"This is why the Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) under Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, is in full support of them," Santos said.

31/12/2024

Filipino cadets in Australia graduate with flying colors

After slogging away as the multicultural development officer of the Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, Roberto "Bob" C. Garcia will finally retire on Jan. 19.

Observers, as well as kibitzers, had thought he would slow down and enjoy the fruits of his labor, sitting with his wife Doris on a beach to watch the late afternoon sun go down and fill the sky with a variety of captivating colors.

But Garcia seems to be proving them wrong. While sadness grips him, and he is in low spirits as he is leaving a fulfilling job he loves, he appears to be striking out in a new direction.

As FABICCQ president, he has worked hammer and tongs to help make Toowoomba City attractive to immigrants, including Filipinos.

FABICCQ stands for Filipino Australian Business, Industry and Communities Council of Queensland, Inc.

In retirement, Garcia seems to be doing what some, if not many, kababayan or compatriots do - go back and live in the country they came from, the Philippines.

But going home seems out of the question for now. Garcia is stepping up plans to be involved more with his home country and fellow Filipinos.

Garcia just sent a text message that three Filipino cadets had graduated from the prestigious Australian Defense Forces Academy after a three-year training and academic program. They are from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City.

Garcia identified them as Cadet Roald Bautista (Air Force), Cadet Lord Gocotano (Army), and Cadet Maria Denise Silvestre (Navy). Cadet Silvestre received the Commandant's International Trainee Sword of Honor award.

"The award is for the most exceptional performance by a third-year international midshipman or officer for academic and military achievements, leadership, personal example, and performance of duty while at the Australian Defense Forces Academy," Garcia said.

Col. Eduardo Castillo, Philippine defense and armed forces attaché, and Col. Paul Anthony Aviquivil, assistant defense and armed forces attaché, represented Philippine Ambassador to Australia Antonio Morales at the event.

"Australia is the Philippines' second largest partner in defense and security operations," Garcia said.

Agnes P. Cabe, a Filipino community leader, said she was planning to nominate Garcia for any of the awards for overseas Filipinos next year.

Cabe, FABICCQ treasurer who is originally from Northern Samar, is the president of the Filipino Australian Communities Council of Australia (FILCCA), a nationwide group of Filipinos.

Recently, Garcia was reported to be looking forward to being involved with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), currently headed by Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

24/12/2024

Baldemor exhibit at AFM Gallery in Makati

It was quite a pleasant surprise to see on my Facebook news feed an announcement of the ongoing exhibit, "Somewhere in France: The Visual Journey of Manuel Baldemor," at the AFM Gallery in Makati City.

The show opened on Dec. 12 and will close on Jan. 25, 2025.

It showcases Baldemor's artistic explorations in France since 1973, the year he represented the Philippines at the XlV International Exhibition in Paris.

An online post says: "Experience the unique joy of writing personal messages, sending cards, and making someone's day with UNICEF Cards featuring the delightful art of Filipino artist Manuel Baldemor."

UNICEF stands for United Nations International Children's Fund. It is the UN agency that advocates for the protection of children's rights, helps meet their basic needs, and expands their opportunities to reach their full potential.

The last time I wrote about Baldemor was three decades back before I left for an overseas job.

In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, however, I used to cover art exhibits in hotels and galleries featuring works in acrylic and oil by popular local painters, such as the late Mohammed Al Saleem, whose works fetched a handsome amount of SAR 3,000 (P47,010) at the time in the local art market.

Baldemor's Makati exhibition is something that art enthusiasts, dilettantes, artists, aesthetes, and impresarios should not pass up. Otherwise, they would forego the indescribable joy and ineffable thrill of seeing up close the works of an iconic artist who is well-traveled, multi-awarded, and much-written about and whose fame has grown far and wide.

Impresarios, in particular, would lose possible opportunities— professional or otherwise.

While indescribable beauty and meaningful message underlie a work of art, it is undeniable that it has commercial value.

It goes without saying that a visit to the show at the Makati gallery is sine qua non to their craft, as well as entrepreneurial endeavors.

For one, an exhibit of Baldemor's artworks is not often held. The French Embassy in the Philippines and the Alliance Française de Manille worked in tandem to keep the exhibition of a well-curated collection, the heartbeat of any successful gallery.

The AFM (Art for the Motherland) Gallery was launched to make an impact on the lives of artists by showcasing their talents and artworks to a broader market.

Organizers of the Baldemor exhibit undertook meticulous preparations, ensuring that the venue was suitable for, or in accordance with, the theme and title of the show.

Baldemor's exhibition is evocative of the title of Jennifer Robson's novel ("Somewhere in France: The Great War"), and Salvador P. Lopez's essay ("Somewhere in Poland") in his anthology "Literature and Society," which won the first prize for essay in the Commonwealth Literary Contest in 1940.

"Somewhere in France," like Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms," appeals to emotions and inspires wistfulness or longing for something gone and could only be remembered.

It titillates the mind to conjure images that evoke memories of a certain era or time.

Baldemor was an artist-in-residence in not only one but at least eight countries: China, Estonia, France, Israel, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and Portugal.

If he is known in art circles abroad, it is because of his hard work that has paid handsome dividends, including 24 local and international awards and grants.

In the second week of June 2015, a closing reception was held in his honor for his painting exhibition, "Images of the Homeland," which was held in Cote-des-Neiges, one of French-speaking Montreal's most vibrant multicultural neighborhoods and home to many members of the Filipino community in Canada.

Baldemor graced the reception along with then-Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia and Montreal City Councilor Marvin Rotrand, among others.

"Images of the Homeland" was a breathtaking display of more than 25 of Baldemor's works in acrylic. The artist described the series as evoking "the theme of nostalgia for Filipino customs and rituals."

Awash in a sea of bright colors, many of the paintings depicted familiar Philippine landscapes and cultural traditions, transporting the audience to different regions of the country.

Baldemor is a Renaissance man. Of humble beginnings, he would probably shy away from the appellation. He gives the impression that he is constantly trying to improve and perfect his art.

But the truth is he is multi-talented. Aside from being a painter, he's also a writer, poet, sculptor, printmaker, and book illustrator.

Guests at his current exhibit will not be disappointed. They would probably go away understanding his art better and knowing more about him as a person and as an artist.

"He's in a league of his own," his friend and contemporary printmaker Fil dela Cruz would probably say.

For this reason, he is the pride of every Filipino in the know, like government officials dealing with OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) such as Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) or Foreign Undersecretaries Eduardo Jose A. De Vega and Jesus "Gary" S. Domingo of the Office of the Undersecretary of Migrant Workers Affairs (OUMWA) and Civilian Security and Consular Affairs, respectively.

Baldemor's success is not just the result of his skill and knowledge as an artist. It is far more than that. He is friendly and takes care not only of himself but others as well, including fellow artists and media friends.

He understands what the prolific writer Jose "Butch" Y. Dalisay, Jr. said as being "aware of how to market one's self."

Manny is a far cry from the Baldemor I knew nearly 40 years ago. In an attempt to remember, I close my eyes. In the darkness of my shut eyes, the sun rises slowly above the horizon, shedding light across a vast swathe of urban sprawl. The past comes vibrantly alive!

I had transferred to BusinessDay (now BusinessWorld) through a colleague and friend, Servillano "Nonoy" de Dios, Jr. when Baldemor passed by the house for a friendly visit one afternoon.

He said he had just returned from a short trip to his hometown of Paete, Laguna, south of the metropolis.

At that time, I was writing about the arts. Earlier, while still with another publication, I wrote a weekly column on the arts on assignment from the editor, Millet Martinez Mananquil.

I had the opportunity to interview the late multi-awarded Bienvenido N. Santos— poet, short story writer, and novelist— who said he came home from the United States to bury his wife Aquing (Beatrice Nidea) in her Bicol hometown in deference to her wish.

Manny suggested that he and Fil de la Cruz introduce me to the group of artists called "Angono Ateliers". I agreed. With him behind the wheel of a midsize sedan, we headed south one early afternoon, cruising along Ortigas Avenue Extension toward Tikling in Taytay.

On a lazy and humid afternoon, I met the group, each one doing an illustration of me on the spot as we talked. They signed their respective oeuvres and handed them to me.

"Keep our artworks, these will benefit you," they said without further explanation. (Until now, I still have these among my few souvenirs.)

The group included Salvador "Badong" Juban, Manuel "Weng" Unidad, Nemesio "Nemi" R. Miranda, Jr. Since Perdigon Vocalan was not with the group, we visited him at his Balaw Balaw Restaurant and Art Gallery later.

The restaurant has gained fame for its unique and adventurous menu, which includes exotic dishes not typically found in mainstream Filipino cuisine.

On another occasion, Manny and Fil introduced me to Jose V. Blanco, whose family members were also painters.

The Angono trip ramped up my interest in the arts. I was once in a gallery in Malate, Manila, "looking for a Baldemor."

It would be an honor to have Manny's artwork hanging on the walls of our small abode.

Unknown to me, Rolando B. Fernandez, former bureau chief in Baguio City of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, was also there. Although he did not say anything, I believe he was also looking for a Baldemor painting.

During those days, Baldemor, a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas College of Fine Arts and Design, had already made a name for himself. He had carved out an illustrious career whose works were being collected by visionary investors and art patrons.

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