The Anthem Philatelist

In the vibrant ecosystem of Cebuano art, the lineage of mentorship acts as the lifeblood of regional mastery. At the heart of this lineage stands Jose “Kimsoy” Yap Jr. , a towering figure in Philippine art celebrated for his ethereal command over watercolor, expressive landscapes, and meticulous use of line and space. Having studied under the legendary "Dean of Cebuano Painters," Martino Abellana , and later at the National Academy of Design in New York, Yap synthesized classical discipline with a modern sensitivity to light and atmosphere. However, a master’s true magnitude is measured not only by his own canvases but also by the generations he inspires. Through his dedicated instruction and mentorship, Yap cultivated an tight-knit circle of proteges: Ryan Roy Barral, Irvin Benlot, John Dinglasa, Gigi Ocampo, Bryan Cuico Ulgasan, Melver Mercado and Jobril Villaver. Collectively, these artists have inherited Yap’s reverence for form and color while forging their own paths, ac...

In the autumn of 2013, a group exhibit and art residency in Paris became a shared experience of a band of Cebuano artists that became MUGNA . With this cherished experience and in celebration of the coming Philippine-France Friendship Day on June 26, this exhibit is proudly presented. These select group of artists, now mostly in the academe , came from different groups and represent a wide range of stylistic tendencies that somehow reflect the diversity of contemporary art in Cebu. Except for the Cebuano Master Jose Kimsoy Yap , most of the artists selected then like Melver Mercado , Sio Montera ,  Felix Catarata , Marvin Natural , Joshua Cabrera , Palmy Pe-Tudtud , Gigi Ocampo and Radel Paredes were in their mid-career and active in the local art scene. The group decided to name themselves Mugna (Cebuano for “creation” or “to create”), thinking of a common Cebuano words they could leave to their French freinds to remember. ‭This exhibit marks the first ten (Dix) years of Mugna...