Francisco "Kikoy" Miranda Morelos- Writer, Newspaperman and Educator

-


 
Francisco "Kikoy" Miranda Morelos (2 Apr 1900- 17 Aug 1994) Educator, prolific writer and columnist of the post war (1947) Republic Daily and The Freeman covering political and social issues and events. He was married to Otilia Morales (1904-1983). His brother Marcos M. Morelos was the municipal president of Cebu in 1937 and appointed by President Manuel Roxas to the new municipal board of Cebu after the war. Marcos married Otilia's sister, Francisca Morales. Their son Mario married Trinidad Alvarez, a well known journalist, and daughter of Don Jose Alvarez, a wealthy rancher and landowner from Bohol and a highly respected Cebu businessman. Don Jose's family bought and occupied the Jesuit House 1730 now a museum owned and managed by the family of Jimmy Sy. (Life in Old Parian, Conception Briones, page 29)

Here he writes about the 1977 National Referendum and the wedding of his nephew Don Morales (son of Avelino Morales, his wife's elder brother) with Grace Con-ui and the meeting of two political giants who were at that time adversaries but for familial love, stood as godparents- Mayor Eulogio Borres and Governor  Eddie Gullas.

 


 

 

Wedding of Avelino "Don" Morales, Jr. and Grace Con-ui in 1977.
Principal Sponsors:
Cebu Governor Eduardo Gullas, Cebu City Mayor Eulogio Borres, Beatriz Derecho, and Esperanza Racaza.

 

Lolo Kikoy is seated at extreme right talking to Gov. Gullas and Mayor Borres.
 		 


The young Avelino "Don" Morales Jr. with family driver Inting (1957)

 

The 1977 National Referendum


 I can concede that the government has no knowledge of the people, but I believe the people know less of the government. There are useless officials, evil, if you like, but there are also good ones, and these are not able to accomplish anything because they encounter an inert mass, the population that takes little part in matters that concern them.

 Dr. Jose Rizal

 "The masses have a different mindset, the principalia should study and learn from them. Sometimes, be like them, and love them. The masses are the ones who choose our leaders. The principalia can only influence them with their guns, goons and gold. They want the masses to remain poor so they can control them and make our country perpetually impoverished, to their benefit". Let's break this cycle. Let's offer the masses assignments (jobs) - not Ayuda (aid), abodes and affection.

                                                                                                             The Anthem Philatelist

 

*Photos courtesy of the descendants of the Morales-Morelos Clan

Popular posts from this blog

Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era

-
Image
"Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era" is a 276-page coffee table book of nearly 600 of the best photographs, postcards , stereoviews and lantern glass slides of Cebu and its many towns taken between 1870-1945. More than just a mere showcasing of rare, never-before-seen images, the book also provides a treasure trove of information accompanying nearly every picture. The author, Lucy Urgello Miller has been collecting vintage Philippine postcards and photographs for over 20 years, the thrust of her collection being Cebu . She acquired 90% of her Cebu collection in the United States where she is living with her husband Richard "Rick" Miller. Most of the collection was bought at antique postcards shows. Lucy has about 1,000 pictures and postcards on Cebu but she selected only the best and most interesting for this book. Mommy Gingging, Lucy and my wife Grace A blue-blooded Theresian, Lucy spent her entire education from kinder...
Read more

Celso Pepito's Mangostain Paintings at Mindanao Art Fair

-
Image
Parayeg, 11"x 8", Mangosteen stains/acrylic, 2024                            Celso Pepito ’s use of mangosteen stain as an artistic medium is a rare and distinctive artwork that originated from his "Mangosteen Discovery," which occurred during his participation in the Mindanao Art Fair at SM Lanang in Davao City . Inspired by Davao's abundance of local fruits , the celebrated Cebuano visual artist experimented with the deep, rich muddy pigments left behind by the fruit's rind. He subsequently integrated these natural organic stains into his paintings as a creative homage to the region . The Medium : Pepito utilizes the persistent dark purple juices of the mangosteen fruit to create unique organic stains and layers on his canvases. This approach adds distinct earthy and plum-toned hues to his mixed-media compositions. Signature Cubist Style : Despite experimenting with alternative materials like fruit stains, Pepit...
Read more

Melver Mercado: Painter, Conceptual Artist and Art Educator

-
Image
Home by the Sea, 10"x 14", Watercolor on paper, 2023 Melver Mercado is a prominent contemporary Cebuano painter, sculptor, conceptual artist and art educator . Known for his evolving artistic perspectives and profound dedication to the medium, Mercado balances a thriving studio practice with a commitment to molding the next generation of creative minds. Early Beginnings and Inspirations Mercado’s journey into the art world began with a childlike wonder. As a young boy in his elementary years, he found early inspiration in television art programs, most notably watching Bob Ross ’s painting shows. With limited resources and a scarce stash of art books in his local public library, he diligently researched techniques and practiced with crude, self-made materials. By high school, his persistence began to bear fruit as he experimented with T-shirt printing and sold his early works to supportive relatives. Though his parents initially discouraged him from pursuing a degree in Fine ...
Read more

Nude Studies Collection: Yap, Galicano, Abellana, Deguilmo, Alcoseba, Francisco, Natural and Dingal

-
Image
  Jonathan Abellana , 2023 Nude studies are highly valued in art collections because they provide a raw, foundational look at an artist's technical mastery, creative process, and lineage. Historically considered the ultimate test of draftsmanship, these works bridge the gap between academic preparation and finished masterpieces. Incorporating nude studies enhances a collection's value across several key dimensions. Luther Galicano , 1993-1994, New York Unlike highly polished, completed works, nude studies reveal an artist’s initial vision and technical methodology. They show the underlying structure, preliminary linework, and anatomical exploration that inform larger, complex compositions—such as biblical , historical, or mythological paintings. Kimsoy Yap , 1979, New York The human body is widely considered one of the most challenging subjects to capture accurately. A collection that includes nude studies highlights the artist’s understanding of anatomy, proportion, light and...
Read more

Intertwining Medium and Meaning: The Art of Govinda Je an Marquesto

-
Image
  The Moth and the Lamp- Dr. Jose Rizal Memoirs,                             22"x 29", Watercolor In the contemporary art landscape, an artist's value is often measured by their willingness to push beyond conventional frameworks. Filipino multi-disciplinary artist Je An “Govinda” Marquesto Jean embodies this ethos, leveraging unexpected materials to bridge the gap between meticulous craftsmanship and profound social commentary . Primarily recognized for his intricate thread, nails and wire art, Marquesto has transcended traditional canvas boundaries to construct a visual language defined by tension, texture, and resilience. His career reflects the trajectory of a self-taught creator whose devotion to innovation has transformed ordinary materials into globally recognized masterpieces. A Self-Taught Multi-Disciplinary Foundation Marquesto's creative roots began far from elite art institutions. He entered the...
Read more

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Celso Duazo Pepito

-
Image
The Will to Live 2021, 20"x 14", Mixed Media ( Autostereogram )     When we look and appraise a painting by color deficient   Master artist Celso Duazo Pepito , one will immediately come face to face with a brilliantly made work of art.    He was born 54 years ago on the 22nd of November in Daan Bantayan , Cebu . He plunged into the world of art as a young man who showed special skills in lettering . He was surprised 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 soon took off soon after college.    There were years of facing struggles hurdling one trial after another. But, 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 intent...
Read more

The Kudyapi- The Philippine Two-Stringed Lute

-
Image
The kutiyapi or kudyapi, is a Philippine two-stringed, fretted boat-lute. It is the only stringed instrument among the Maguindanao people, and one of several among other groups such as the Maranao and Manobo . It is four to six feet long with nine frets made of hardened beeswax . The instrument is carved out of solid soft wood such as from the jackfruit tree.   Common to all kutiyapi instruments, a constant drone is played with one string while the other, an octave above the drone, plays the melody with a kebit or rattan pluck (commonly made from plastic nowadays). This feature, which is also common to other related Southeast Asian "boat lutes", which were influenced by varying degrees by Indian concepts of melody and scale via the Malay archipelago .   Among the T'Boli , Manobo and other Lumad groups, the instrument (known as Hegelung, Kudyapi or Fedlung) is tuned to a major pentatonic scale . Among groups like the Bagobo , the Kutiyapi (Kudlung) is also used as...
Read more