The First Cebu City Heritage Symposium and Sketchwalk Art Exhibit

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Urban Sketchers Cebu is a global community of sketchers dedicated to the practice of on-location drawing, sharing their love for places and travel one drawing at a time. They draw indoors or outdoors capturing what they see from direct observation using any media and styles. They always draw together, supporting each other and are truthful to the scenes they witness and portray.

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This is not a book review. Instead, it is the story of a single Parian lineage—and the intricate web of Cebuano families that grew out of and crossed paths with it. This is a historical journey through old Cebu, the Parian community, family memory, and the people whose stories helped shape the city. Sixteen years after I first shared this reflection on Lucy Urgello Miller’s Glimpses of Old Cebu, returning to these pages in 2026 feels less like revisiting a write-up and more like opening a living family album. What began in 2010 as an appreciation of vintage photographs from Cebu’s historic Parian district has grown—through newly uncovered source documents, family conversations, and recent generational milestones—into a fuller chronicle of the Osmeña–Rita–Espina lineage and the extended families that helped build modern Cebu. In updating this piece, my hope is to preserve not only the antique charm of old Parian, but also the enduring human connections that continue to link our family ...
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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...
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Nude Studies Collection: Yap, Galicano, Abellana, Deguilmo, Alcoseba, Francisco, Natural, Dingal and Gequillo

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  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.  I place a strong emphasis on the hands , dedicating particular attention to the nuances of their gesture, placement, and intricate details. Kimsoy Yap , 1979, New York The human body is widely considered one of the most challenging s...
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Don Tomas Liao Lamco- Stalwart of the Pre-war Chinese Community

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Don Tomas Liao Lamco Don Tomas Liao Lamco  Before the emergence of giant malls and supermarkets in Cebu, he owned the largest pre-war grocery and general merchandise store called "La Belleza" as well as the international trading enterprise Tomas Liao Lamco & Co. in Norte America St. (now D. Jakosalem ). Fluent in Spanish, Chinese and Cebuano, he was an expert in trading and the financial markets during his time. As a prominent figure in Cebu’s pre-war Chinese community, he served as a senior leader of the Cebu Chinese Chamber of Commerce leading up to World War II .  In 1912, he co-founded the Cebu Chinese Association along with other rich businessmen includung Benito Tan Unchuan , Alfonso Sycip and Manuel Gotianuy among others. Most of them were from Xiamen.  In 1923, the association was reorganized and became the Cebu Chinese Chamber of Commerce . Published in 1913, here is what the Rosenstock's Reference Library of the Philippines said about him on page 64: ...
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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...
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Carlos P. Garcia was born on November 4, 1896, in Talibon, Bohol, to Policronio Garcia and Ambrosia Polistico. He completed his secondary education at Cebu Provincial High School and briefly attended Silliman University before earning his law degree from the Philippine Law School in 1923. Beyond his legal studies, Garcia gained widespread acclaim in Bohol for his literary talent, earning the nickname the " Prince of Visayan Poets ."   Carlos P. Garcia began his career as a high school teacher before entering politics as a representative for Bohol’s 3rd district (1925–1931). He served as Governor of Bohol from 1933 to 1941 and was elected to the Senate in 1941, though World War II delayed his actual service until Congress reconvened in 1945. During the Japanese occupation , he resisted collaboration and joined the free local government and guerrilla resistance in the Visayas. After the war, he traveled to Washington, D.C., to help lobby for the Philippine Rehabilitation Ac...
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Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Celso Duazo Pepito

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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...
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