The Anthem Philatelist

Treasure your cultural treasures by acquiring it and augment our nations worth! Please show your appreciation by visiting and hopefully owning your heritage. Exhibit runs from July 28 to August 3, 2023. Padayon, Oil on canvas, 18"x24", 2022

  Celso Duazo Pepito MAKING HOLY: THE FAMILY Bronze 60"×106" 2021 The realization of this project is a combination of love, passion, and determination. But it was however, the spirit of selflessness of many individuals who contributed their time, money and efforts,  to make this piece a reality. "We all know that Art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth, at least, the truth that is given to us to understand."  This is how Pablo Picasso has perceived the idea behind his art. And his perception is in line with my aspirations to creating art that is not an image of reality,  but a fraction of it, thereby motivating my viewers to think, understand and do something to make a change. My role, as an artist is not to replicate God's creation, but somehow create images that will inspire individuals to discover their significance in building a well meaning society. This project was hatched when Fr. Gerry Quejada has told me of coming up with a sculp...

ArtPortalCebu Featured Artist for the Visayas Art Fair 2022 By Celso Duazo Pepito Whenever we meet , talk on the phone or chat via FB, in our conversations about art, about politics or other things, this artist always made our talks more meaningful and exciting. A creative individual of immense talent. I consider him of my favorite painters because I admire not only his style but also his wit and deep thinking. Introducing a great freind... ADESTE DEGUILMO So humble yet oozing with so much talent, Adeste had shown interest in painting since childhood. This gift for art brought him to the halls of University of the Philippines Cebu where he finished a degree in Fine Arts. After graduation, he worked for an advertising company in Manila for a few years and when he returned to Cebu, he decided to paint full-time. Being one of the most well respected and multi awarded Cebuano artists, he spent a few years as an art teacher at the Department of Fine Arts at the University of San Carlos w...

  Vintage Piece 2, Oil on Canvas 2005   Antonio Vidal's artistic journey began at an early age.  He has shown and discovered his penchant for art even before entering his elementary education.  Born and raised in Puerto Princesa, Cebu , he used to go to his mother to church and got fascinated with the Cherubim , decorating the house of God.  His exposure to religious processions , especially during fiesta celebration, has added up to his intention to draw angels and other spiritually-enriching images.  As he continually joins his mother attending church activities, his strong interest in ecclesiastical arts gradually manifested. With much encouragement and support from his father, Tony decided to enroll in an art workshop in Gallery 90 in Cebu .  With positive guidance and motivation from his mentors, he learned the basic of doing portraiture in black and white providing comfort and ease in this medium.  This led him enrolling at the UP Cebu F...

    My maternal grandparents were from Mainit , Alipao, Alegria, Surigao del Norte .  In the 1930’s, the families of Odtojan , Baluran , Labaso , Senturias , Rubilla and Seroy emerged simultaneously and inhabited the place. Because they were bound by faith and the common vision for a better tomorrow, these families started to cultivate the area of Candiis that had a total land area of not more than 300 hectares.  The first Teniente del Barrio was Alvaro Odtojan Senturias Sr.  who served until the end of the World War II. One of the succeeding Teniente del Barrio was my late aunt Pacensia "Pacing" Odtojan Beniga (Lesoy). Before the war , my grandfather Eugenio Anino Beniga (son of Pantaleon Beniga), a surveyor from Sevilla, Bohol went to Surigao , met and married a pious local beauty, Felina Caerlang Odtojan . They were simple rice farmers who owned and tilled 25 hectares of land in that area.  During my childhood days in the 70's, my fond memor...

Wenceslao "Tito" Cuevas (Sep 2, 1938 –Mar 19, 2012)  is considered as the father of Cebuano abstract expressionism .  In the 70's, after visiting the Museum of Modern Art in New York , he was inspired by the works of Franz Kline and Mark Rothko .  He started doing his style of abstract expressionism and prodded his Cebuano contemporaries to cut back painting in the realist - impressionist manner and create something different. This was one of the reasons why Celso Pepito was inspired to try cubism. He also dabbled on abstract expressionism as a Fine Arts student and even made it his thesis in UP Cebu .  Pepito considers Cuevas  as the Father of Modern Cebuano Art - by modern he meant non- traditional painting. During this time, Cebu was not ready for abstract expressionism and his paintings were generally disliked and bought only by a few select group of unconventional collectors.   Today, his paintings are well sought after both locally and i...

The Will to Live 2021, ( 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 intentions that come from hi...