My Favorite Cebuano Classical Pianists

3. Aima Maria Labra-Makk. I first met this world renowned Austria-based Cebuana pianist and educator four years ago when she had a solo concert presented by the Arts Council of Cebu and St. Theresas' College, where she is an alumni. A few days before I attended the concert, I had a chance encounter with her in an elevator at Club Ultima. I ask her a question in English, but she answered fluently in Cebuano that she was here for the STC reunion and for the concert. I told her that my wife was also an STC alumni and will be joining in some of this events. The CD collector in me urged to inquire if she had some with her, and if they were selling discs at her concert. "No. I didn't bring any", she answered smiling. My regret is that I did not ask any autograph or had myself pictured with her. She has the most impeccable rendition of Jeno Takacs' works especially the Toccata, in fact, she is the only artist to record the complete discography of the Austrian composer in CD.

2. Rudolf Golez- I first met this Cebuano pianist (although I already heard of him before) at the 80th birthday party of Cardinal Vidal hosted by the Leo and Norma Limliu at the Casino Espanol. During this event, Golez offered the good cardinal a mini solo concert featuring the works of composers in their celebratory moments. These composers include Dohnanyi, Strauss, Schubert, Liszt and Chopin. He played Chopin's Etudes nos. 3 (my personal favorite) and 12 and Etude no. 4 (Golez' personal favorite). His rendition of Liszt Sonnet of Petrarch #204 was impeccable and uplifting. The poetry reading prior to the performance further intensified our appreciation for this difficult rendition. My favorite piece was his interpretation of "Franz Liszt Legend of St. Francis Walking on the Waters". I have the complete works of Liszt on my iPod by world renowned Liszt impresario- and performer Stephen Hough, and I swear Golez' rendition was much better. The crescendo-decrescendo octaves by the alternating left and right hand simulating the waves was spine tingling. The rendition surely touched everyone's innermost being. I had the opportunity to exchange pleasantries with him during this event. I told him I was also a pianist. Classical? he asked.. I said yes...Classical music was my first love and I'll continue to play it as long as I live. He also was kind enough to sign a CD which was sold at the concert. "Happy Listening....", it said..

1. Ingrid Sala Santa Maria- I first met this beautiful lady pianist when I was a teenager studying piano at their Battig Piano School in Lahug, Cebu which was adjacent to my my school, UP high. During this time, I must admit I had a crush on her. Her skin was flawless and so was her playing; she inspired me to improve on my piano playing. My piano teacher at Battig was Mrs. Pala. I can't remember now if I was under Mrs. Montenegro, but I always seem to remember her. In one of my piano recitals in the 1980's, I played Dmitri Shostakovich's Golden Age Ballet polka which was a highly harmonically dissonant piece. I was very nervous because Ms. Ingrid Sala was in the audience. I thought I made several mistakes but no one seemed to notice. My dissatisfaction evaporated when I saw her smiling and clapping.

I've seen her several times perform in Cebu. It is her advocacy to instill within the youth the love for classical music. Performing all over the country without compensation and traveling with pedagogue and educator, Maestro Reynaldo Reyes in their "Romantic Concerto Piano Journey" series. Together, with their music, they made our country a better place, culturally.

Bag-ong Hinan-aw (New Perspectives)- A Contemporary Cebuano Figurative Painting Exhibit

Figurative Art in Cebu owes its sense of realism and classical ardor to the late Martino Abellana and those he mentored, particularly Romulo "Molong" Galicano. Since the eighties, Galicano has taught and encourage a band of Cebuano artists to excel in the academic techniques of figurative painting, and who has since emerged as the leading edge of a new generation of figure painters. They include Boy Briones, Pepe Villadolid, Carly Florido, Dodong Tallo, Jun Impas and Jonathan Galicano.

Bag-ong Hinan-aw (New Perspectives) is a brief survey of this new movement in Philippine art that combines academic technique with contemporary vision that combines tradition, innovation, and Cebuano creativity to a new degree of excellence.

Publio "Boy" Briones (b. 1949) originally graduated with a BS and MBA from UP before learning how to paint during landscape sorties by fellow Cebuanos in the provinces. He subsequently took watercolor workshops and sketching classes at the National Academy of Design in New York (1987-1994). Mentored by Romulo Galicano, Briones focuses on interior scenes of churches and figurative genre with a dramatic chiaroscuro effect.

Carlos "Carly" Florido (b. 1940) is a self-taught artist who has been guided by Romulo Galicano upon returning to the Philippines from the United States. He has been a member of Kolor Sugbu since 1993 and has participated in group shows in New York, Washington D.C. and Germany (1993-1994). He participated in the "Homage to the Masters" at the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (2002) and "Ode to the Pasig River" exhibition at the Ayala Museum (2006).

Jonathan Villanueva Galicano (b. 1978) finished Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman in 2003. He was recognized for his innate artistry since his elementary student days at Our Lord's Grace Montessori School, where he was hailed Artist of the Year. Jonathan has participated in nine group exhibits, and has done several mural projects throughout the country. He is a member of the Portrait Society of America, and the Ugnayan Filipino Arts Foundation.

Romulo "Molong" Galicano (b. 1945) studied as an apprentice to Martino Abellana in Carcar. He subsequently took Fine Arts Studies at the University of the East. He became a member of the Dimasalang Group of Artists, and is renowned for his Manila streets capes, portraits of Manila's elite social circles, and his recently developed semi-abstracted style of figurative painting.

Florentino "Jun" Impas is a consistent winner in art competitions since his high school student days in Surigao del Norte. His most recent awards include: the Excellence Award at the China- ASEAN Youth Artwork Contest (2008), and 2nd prize at the GSIS National Painting Competition (2009). Impas has held five solo exhibits, the last being at Art Center, SM Megamall (2009). Currently based in Cebu City, his specialty is in portraiture and rural figurative genre subjects.

Facundo "Dodong" Tallo Jr. (b. 1952) was a self-taught artist in Carcar, before arriving in Manila in 1979 to study under Romulo Galicano. His first exhibition was an all Cebuano Artist Show in 1980, followed by "Habagatang Arte" (1985) and "Kolor Sugbo" (1989). He specializes in still life and interior scenes.

Jose "Pepe" Villadolid (b. 1946) first learned to paint from his uncle Diosdado Villadolid. He met Romulo Galicano in 1991 who taught him more pointers. Pepe then took up painting professionally in 1998. He has participated in several group exhibitions at Casa Gorordo Cebu (1998 and 1990),: Rustan's Cebu (1989); San Diego, California (1991): Cebu City Museum (1992); New York (1993); Cebu SM Art Center (1996, 1997, 2006); Metropolitan Museum Manila (2002); Ayala Museum (2006) and Vargas Museum (2006). Pepe Villadolid won the Grand Prize for the Martino Abellana Painting Competition in 1996.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr.

Jose "Kimsoy" Yap Jr. was born on March 7, 1944 in Bindoy, Negros Oriental, Philippines. Graduated from the Cebu Institute of Technology with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Architecture, he then continued and studied painting at the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York. He also currently teaches at the University of San Carlos and Cebu Academy of Arts.

Having studied at the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York, Kimsoy's painting style depicts traces of western influence, yet an intrinsic Filipino character remains in his art pieces. What is striking in most of his works is the conscious use of line and space; making the most of each minute stroke, for example, to bring about the best effect with the color, size and texture of the paper considered. The phrase "less is more" could be applied to some of his works lending a deeper drama to each of his paintings.

Shown are some of his works: "Bliss"- a sketch of Vincent and Yanna, my 2 children, Match maker and Lost Childhood.

Some of his awards include:
1970 - 3rd Prize- South East Asian Art Competition (Singapore)
2003 - 2nd Prize, On-the Spot Painting Competition, Sibonga,
2004 - 2nd Prize Painting Competition , Liloan, Cebu
1973-1987 - Numerous Awards from National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts
1974 - James Suydam Bronze Medal 1976-Louis La Beaume Prize
1978 - Mary Hinman Carter Prize 1979- Alice G. Melrose Prize
1981 - Julius Halgarten Prize 1982- Elliot Silver Medal for Drawing
1987 - Leon Neckhamen Prize Member Organizations: Kolor Sugbo

The Tres de Abril Stamp: A Painting by Jose Kimsoy Yap Jr.

As its commitment to further promote Cebu’s historical past and Cebuano philately, the Cebu Stamp Club, Incorporated (CSCI) with the cooperation of the Cebu City Cultural and Historical Affairs Commission (CHAC) decided to pursue a historical philatelic presentation on the Battle of Tres de Abril. This project was hatched during the early week of May 1997.

To give more weight for our request to the Stamp Advisory Committee, CSCI’s Richard Allan Uy informed Ms. Patricia “Noeng” Perez of CHAC that a City Council resolution is needed.

Immediately thereafter, a formal letter was sent to the City Government of Cebu by CSCI President Richard Allan Uy. The Cebu City Council wasted no time in acting for our request and unanimously passed Resolution No. 3258 during the regular session held at the Sangguniang Panglungsod of the City of Cebu on June 02, 1997. The mayor at that time, Alvin Garcia, affixed his signature on June 13, 1997.

The Cebu City Government sent a copy of the resolution to the Stamp Advisory Committee of the Philippine Postal Corporation in Manila. On the other hand, CSCI also sent a letter on June 15, 1997 to the Postmaster General Ireneo V. Intia Jr. informing him of our proposal and praying for a favorable action on the part of the Stamp Advisory Committee. A copy of Resolution 3258 was also attached while copies were furnished to Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak, the SAC Chairman; Mayor Alvin Garcia; and Mrs. Fabiolita Ferraris, Philpost 7 Regional Manager.

Earlier, it was already agreed that the visual artist who would make the interpretation of the famous historic battle scene would be prominent Cebuano artist Jose “Kimsoy” Yap Jr.

Finally by August, Kimsoy delivered his beautiful and colorful interpretation. He donated this important masterpiece as his contribution to Philippine philately in general and Cebuano philately in particular.

After ironing out a few details, the artwork was sent to the chairman of the Stamp Advisory Committee, Dr. Ngo Tiong Tak. A few weeks later, the SAC chairman wrote to this writer revealing some information on our stamp proposal. I quote him as follows..

‘.. I showed the painting to the members of the Stamp Advisory Committee during our regular monthly meeting… We are considering using it as one of the four stamps in the final souvenir sheet (#6) in the Centenary of Phil. Independence series. With regards to Pantaleon Villegas (Leon Kilat) he is already featured on s/s #5… It was scheduled for June 12, and the first day cancel will still bear this date.

The representative from the National Historical Institute did not attend the last meeting, but I believe that we had taken up the “Tres de Abril” topic before and he is agreeable to issuing a stamps as it has historical significance."

The Tres de Abril uprising was really one for the books. Mr. Dionisio Sy, a noted Cebuano historian even wrote a recent book on this historical event. The battle took place on April 03, 1898 which incidentally was a Palm Sunday along Calle Valeriano Weyler. A group of around 80 Cebuano revolutionaries wearing the vistidor, a chalico marked with a prayer and a headband with a triangular Katipunan emblem engaged the Spanish Guardia Civil in battle. Capitan Mamfor and Sergeant Royo led the Spanish soldiers.

In this incident, four Spanish soldiers were killed while two Katipuneros also perished. The victorious army of Pantaleon Villegas locally known as Leon Kilat drove the Guardia Civil to Fort San Pedro. The Cebuanos took virtual control of the city from April 04 to 06 until Spanish reinforcements came.

The Tres de Abril uprising marked the beginning of a greater struggle that would eventually lead to Philippine independence. The Cebuano revolutionary movement’s leaders that supported Leon Kilat included Luis Flores, Eugenio Genes, Alejo Miñosa, Atilano Lopez, Candido Padilla, Francisco Llamas, and Jacinto Pacaña.

(reprinted from Richard Allan B. Uy’s column stamplines in the Freeman newspaper).

Cebu: People, Places and Faces, A Group Exhibit

CEBU is going to Malaysia through the colors of the rainbow. Twelve Cebuano artists, under the auspices of Artistscebuex, is bringing the festival city of Cebu to Malaysia through an exhibit dubbed “Cebu: People, Places and Faces.”

Hosted by ArtMalaysia in cooperation with the Philippine Embassy in Malaysia, the exhibit aims to strengthen the cultural and artistic linkages between the two countries through visual arts. The project was launched early in July with an art exhibit at the second level of Banilod Town Centre. Here are the 12 participating artists.

Celso Duazo Pepito, one of Cebu’s leading artists and the proponent of Artistscebuex, believes that visual artists have the capacity to help promote tourism by depicting scenes that would entice people to visit. “The exhibit will not just promote art but also Cebu,” he said. “It is a merger between art and tourism.”

A philosopher by heart, he is known to inject his ideals on human values and integrity in his works. His dramatic depiction of mother and child in different scenes cutting through the big divide among the different sector of Philippine society has earned him the respect of many art collectors in the region.

Jose “Kimsoy” Yap Jr. had his education at the National Academy of Design-School of Fine Arts in New York, and this exposure deeply influenced his works. A master with pastel and the watercolor, his still life and portraits project a sense of serenity giving his works an aura of mystery. So do his landscapes and seascapes.

Realist Audie Estrellada continues to experiment on different media including sculpture with works on religious icons. His most common media of choice include oil on canvas, watercolor on paper, and acrylic and oil on wood.

Billy Pomida, who hails from Samar, discovered his talent at a very young age. He took up Fine Arts at the University of the East in Manila and in 1986 worked as a graphic designer for a government agency. He committed to painting fulltime in 2001 and since then has participated in different exhibits both in the Philippines and abroad, including a series of Three-Man shows in the United States in 2002. His paintings on children at play capture the beauty of children magnified by their innocence.

Benji Goyha is a native of Samboan, Cebu. He is an undergraduate in Architecture at the University of the Visayas. His love for painting is fueled by his membership with Cebu Artists Inc. who encouraged him to pursue his passion. His works are characterized by his use of broad brush strokes and subdued colors. His subjects include different landscapes of Samboan and reflect his concern for nature and the environment.

Cesar Castillo is a mechanical engineer by profession, but he has given that up to pursue his love for the art. He started joining exhibits and began to earn the respect of his fellow artists and art patrons alike. He is now a full-time painter. Castillo’s eye for detail and his love for colors can be seen in his works.

Jobril Villaver completed his Certificate of Fine Arts in 1980 at the University of the Philippines Visayas College Cebu Campus. He then engaged in product and interior designing, but found no satisfaction. In 2005 he decided to go fulltime with painting. His works reflects the different aspects of Filipino rural life.

Fe Madrid Pepito is a self-taught painter, but her marriage to art icon Celso Duazo Pepito has helped her hone her craft. She is an optometrist turned full-time painter. She has exposed herself to various media like watercolor, acrylic, pastel and oil. Fe’s strength is in her flowers, which somehow conveys a sense of spirituality. She has also done several figure and landscape paintings.

Maxcel Migallos is a realist painter specializing in landscapes, seascapes and heritage structures. This is just ideal for him as he is an architect by profession, teaching both architecture and fine arts at the University of San Carlos in Cebu. Before becoming an architect, he finished his studies in Fine Arts at the Philippine Women’s University in Manila where he was named Most Outstanding Art Student. As an artist, he has mounted several exhibits and has been featured in several art books including Manuel Duldulao’s Century of Philippine Realism (1997) and Philippine Art Now (2008).

Gabriel Abellana’s uncle was one of the Philippines most respected artists and his father was a respected sculptor, musician and dentist. He comes from the town of Carcar, which was once Cebu’s center for culture and the arts. Abellana specializes in landscape painting. He upgrades his style by experimenting on new and innovative techniques and ventures to abstraction, using the beautiful landscape as inspiration.

Aida Sze is a scientific communications manager at a biotech company in Malaysia. A pharmacist by profession, she uses painting as an outlet of her artistic nature. Aida uses wet-on-wet technique taking advantage of the versatility of oil.

She uses heavy and bold brushstrokes and loves doing abstracts because by de-constructing her subjects, she creates a sense of intimacy and delivers a new perspective on what may otherwise be common and mundane.

Another Cebuana artist who is now based in Malaysia is Lillian Tan.

With ample time to hone her artistic gifts, she decided to study under Fernando Modesto, a Filipino painter who is now lives in Jakarta. Though she paints any kind of subject, she finds herself more at ease with flowers and human figures.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on July 14, 2009.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Fe Madrid Pepito

Fe Madrid Pepito had her love affair with art when she was in elementary school. In college, she took up Commerce for two years and shifted to another course, with a Degree of Doctor of Optometry. this seemingly non-related course did not, however, alienate her artistic bent since it offered scientific knowledge about light and vision, or optical illusions which play a large part of our visual nature. Her skill was also enhanced by the drawing requirements concerning physiological optics, not to mention that she was also married to an artist, Celso Duazo Pepito.

With several shows to her credit, Madrid is in constant touch with local artist and, aside from keeping up the domestic chores, she somehow manages to paint. A CAI member, she also served as secretary to a number of art-related activities.

Madrid's art is in the formative stage. Her favorite subjects usually revolve within the household, though she often joined in workshops and painting excursions with the CAI group. A doting mother of three, her works reflected to 'mother & child' themes, still-lifes and nude figures. The life of motherhood and family as an intimate source of inspiration probably draws her more to painting and drawing. Basically a self-taught artist, she chooses oil and pastel as her favorite medium. A glimpse of her works may lead on to feel its surface's crudities, but pastime or passion, it testifies a personal warmth of it own.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Cesar Castillo

Cesar Castillo was born and raised in Cebu City. Though he had shown interest in arts, he ended up taking Mechanical Engineering course in the University of the Visayas in 1986 just to fulfill the request of his parents.

After graduation, he worked as a quality controller in the glass plant department of San Miguel Corporation, Cebu branch. Though busy with his works, he always found time to develop his artistic skills, turning his free time into opportunities for learning. As his artistic quest evolved, he started to find self-confidence in every painting he created thus giving him the privilege to slowly expose his art to Cebu's art patron and enthusiast.

Giving in to the clamor for artistic expression, Castillo decided to go full time in painting. His works are showcase of his concern for details and reflection of his innate love for colors.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Maxcel Migallos

Maxcel Puentenegra Migallos is a realist painter who was born and grew up in Davao City. His is a of Fine Arts Major in advertising at the Philippine Women's University in Manila in 1980 where he was named Most Outstanding Art Student. In 1981, he was featured in the "Ten Young Artists" art exhibit at Greenhills Art Center. In 1983 he move to Cebu. However, a year later he pursued another discipline and took up Architecture and finished the course in 1987. He practiced architecture and taught at the University of San Carlos both in architecture and fine arts program of the University.

He has participated in numerous group shows in and around Cebu as a member of the group first in Cebu Art Association nd later Kolor Sugbu where he is currently its president. In 1997, he was featured as one of the five Visayan artists in the third part of Manuel Duldulao's art book "Century of Philippine Realism". Prior to this, he was also featured in a coffee table book published in Cebu, "Cebuano Art Heritage". In 2008, he was also one of the Cebuanos featured in Duldulao's "Philippine Art Show".

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Benji Goyha

Benji Goyha was born in Samboan, Cebu on October 30, 1957. Though he loved to express himself in painting, he ended up enrolling in architecture at the University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines.

In 1981-89, he worked as an artist in one of Cebu's leading department store where he organized art related activities. His association with the Cebuano artists had been his turning point, going back to painting where he found freedom and satisfaction for his artistic expression.

Goyha, later established his own business in the field of silkscreen printing, but his membership with the Cebu Artists' Incorporated had encouraged him to pursue his love for painting. His works showcase his love and concern for nature and the invironment. He paints with broad brush strokes and plays with soft somber colors. His utmost objective is to bring prominence and recognition to his hometown, Samboan.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Audie Estrellada

Audie Estrellada is a naturally gifted visual artist. He showed his talent at a very early age. Not fully contented with what he was capable of, he looked for ways to enhance his craft by enrolling in the International Arts School (IAS) in the 1980's.

His artworks are wide-ranged and multifarious: still life, landscapes, seascapes, figures, human interest, cultural and values-oriented themes and landmarks.

His media are oil on canvas, watercolor on paper, acrylic and oil antiquated wood and driftwood. He also experimented on sculpturing, doing images of religious saints. Most of his artworks dwell on realism.

His major awards were: First Place- Open Art Competition by the Art Association of the Philippines; Grand Prize, Filipino Inc.: Outstanding Siquijodnon in the Field of Visual Arts.

The artist is also involved in social activities. He is a Rotarian and a member of the LGU Committe on the culture and arts. He also conducts Summer Art Workshops.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Jose Brillo Villaver

Jose Brillo Villaver was born in Cebu City on March 13, 1959. His early interest in painting has brought him to the hall of the University of the Philippines Cebu College where he completed his certificate of Fine Arts in 1980.

Before embarking on a full time mission as a painter, he first engaged himself into product and interior designing. Altough he was financially rewarded during this stint, he slowly realized spending much time in this area never gave him satisfaction. Thus, in the year 2005, he decided to go full time on painting.

Villaver's paintings are reflective of his concern and appreciation for the Filipino's tenacity in dealing with life, appreciating not only the positive but also the negative aspect of living. He employs heavy textures, applies radiating warm and cool colors, and uses strict heavy lines to emphasize his chosen subjects.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Billy Pomida

Born in the island of Samar in the Philippines on July 11, 1963, Billy Pomida started the rudiments of drawing at a young age which inspired him to take up Fine Arts in college at the University of the East in Manila. In 1986, he worked as a graphic designer for a government research institution before devoting to full-time painting in 2001. Since then, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in different places in the Philippines and a series of Three-Man Shows in the United States in 2002.

He has won numerous awards, among of which are the following: One of the Top Five Watercolorists for 2001 and 2007 and the runner-up for the 2008 in the Kulay sa Tubig Annual Invitational Watercolor Competition and Exhibition in Manila, Grand Prize, Cebu Arts Association 70th Anniversary Painting Competition in 2007, Grand Prize, President Ramon Magsaysay Death Anniversary Painting Contest, Grand Prize, Dona Modesta Gaisano Foundation Painting Contest in Cebu 2002, and First Prize, Civil Service Commission On-the--Spot Painting Contest in Tacloban City in 1991.

Above is Billy Pomida's watercolor painting of the Liloan lighthouse in Northern Cebu, now the centerpiece of Ayala Land's project Amara- a high-end seaside community.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Gabriel Abellana

Gabriel Abellana comes from a family of artists. His father is a sculptor, musician and a dentist. His uncle is considered as one of the most influential artist in Cebu. He is a graduate of Fine Arts at the University of the Phillipines Cebu College.

Abellana is a plein air landscape artist but never ceases to artistically evolve by experimenting in abstraction using nature as inspiration. He mounted several group exhibits locally and internationally. He is presently a member of the faculty in the University of San Carlos Fine Arts Department. He also administers the Cebu Academy of Arts which regularly conducts Summer Art Workshops for children and adults.

Abellana organizes the yearly Doña Modesta Gaisano Foundation Annual Painting Competition. He is also an active member of the Association of Museums and Carcar Heritage Conservation Society.

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Celso Duazo Pepito

When we look and appraise a painting by Celso Duazo Pepito, one will immediately come face to face with a brilliantly made work of art. He was born 51 years ago on November 22 in Daan Bantayan, Cebu. He plunged into the world of art as a young man who showed special skills in lettering. He was surprise when he steps into the halls of the University of the Philippines that the fine arts course was after all about painting. His painting career took off soon after college.

There were years of facing struggles hurdling one trial after another. Like college education, experience is considered as the best teacher. His paintings are known to contain imagery that is brought to life by crisp and clear lines, bold strokes and his usual usage of bright color scheming. But deep within his subjects are personal motives and intentions that come from his heart.

The man is with a mission he believes not impossible. Apart from the physical manipulations of the hand that holds the brush, the works carry messages that Pepito infuses to visually communicate. The paintings aren’t just made of the medium but it can be said that the messages he wants to convey and the meaning the artwork may possess is what completes the painting. Even with the seemingly straight-forwardness of Pepito’s paintings it is unwise to take them at face value because there is more to it than meets the eye. Because there are several symbolisms in the composition though these symbols are not hidden or coded. Pepito do not hide them, the symbols actually doubles as aesthetic elements and embellishments. These symbols have become a common feature and fixture.

His paintings are usually made up of three planar divisions used as backdrops to his modern figural subjects. What isn’t known to many is that they carry personal meanings. Pepito has three different explanations for the three geometrical partitions. One has to do with strengthening family ties; the second is about the spirit of nationalism while the third embraces religious spirituality. These three concerns sum up the totality of his art and person. The first symbolize the family and the number takes significance because he’s got three young-adult children who are all boys.

Pepito is an unwavering believer that positive change in society will start in the family. This is why his works always and never-fails to show and depict family values and tradition. Second is that of nation-building and nationhood. They represent the concept of Luzviminda, the three geographical parts of the country. Pepito’s paintings are nationalistic in the sense that it gives a positive picture of what the Filipino life style is. And notice his choice of colors the preference are our national flag colors. Lastly the third stands for the Holy Trinity. This is Pepito’s commitment to a continuing apostolate.

Pepito's painting style is in the modernist vein that verges towards cubism hence they are heavy on polygons. But what is the most readily discernable is the octagon shape rising high above his canvas. To him the bright octagon symbolize hope, a virtue Pepito never seems to run out with.