The Anthem Philatelist

Every city has a soul, but only a few chosen individuals possess the vision to capture it before it slips away into the modern landscape. For Cebu , that visionary was Jose Maria (Joe Mari) Picornell. Often hailed as the " Van Gogh of Cebu ," Picornell did not just paint landscapes; he immortalized the fading pulse of old streets, ancestral corners, and vanishing scenes. To the art world, he was a master of color and texture. To me, he was a gentle soul whose humility, vulnerability, and brilliant creative spirit left an indelible memory in my mind. Our story began with a chance encounter that felt entirely dictated by fate. I bumped into him at Ayala Mall , where he was carrying a few of his paintings. He cut a slightly dejected figure; he was supposed to meet a buyer but had just been stood up. Seeing the master standing there with his life's work in his hands, I introduced myself and asked if I could see the pieces. Right then, amidst the bustling mall crowd, I secured...

Malapascua, Oil on Canvas, 30" x 60", 2022 Born in Talisay City , Cebu, Jonathan Abellana grew up in an environment naturally charged with creativity.  Despite showing a precocious talent for drawing during his school years—frequently relied upon by teachers to paint murals and stage designs—his path to becoming a professional fine artist was far from direct. As a teenager, Abellana spent six years working on a farm in Manila. Far removed from the formal art world, this grueling period paradoxically anchored his creative resolve; he eventually found solace and financial supplement by returning to charcoal drawing. Upon returning to Cebu, he enrolled in a Graphics and Media Design course at the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) . However, by his second year, financial constraints combined with a realization that canvas painting offered a deeper fulfillment led him to withdraw from formal schooling. Undeterred by the lack of an academic degree, Abellana embarked...

 Guest of Honors   Ambassador Jose Mari Cariño Mico Cotia Maria Ivy Ang   In the world of art, it is a given notion that anybody nurturing his creativity at an early age will have a better opportunity to succeed than somebody who started late. Thus, it is natural for the gifted individual to develop his artistry while still young. However, knowing how difficult it is to consider art as a profession, not all of those who have artistic talents end up as artists, but more often than not, many have opted to take up another course, if only to attain a more lucrative life. This story has a semblance at how Roy Ama made his entry into the artworld. Instead of nurturing his art, Roy has decided to takeup a course in Bachelor of Arts at the University of Santo Tomas . His love for music, however encouraged him to stop schooling for a while and joined  a group of young musicians performing in a foreign country. Returning from his foreign stint, he was hoping that he still can...

Watch out for the Coming Cebuano Art Exhibit on May 6 Asdang Uswag (Move Forward to Progress) on May 6, 2023 6pm at SM Megamall Art Center Exhibit. Participating artists include Masters Celso Peipito , Jun Impas , Adeste Deguilmo , Antonio Vidal . Established artists abstract expresssionist Lucilo Sagayno , cubist Joel Cristobal , watercolorist and coffee artist Cesar Castillo and many more. An up and coming artist and World Youth Art Festival winner in Korea, Leodito Bongo III , will also be participating.  Thank you to our guests of honor Marilou Veloso-Galenzoga Baligod , Levi Baligod and Ambassador Jose Maria Cariño   Exhibit Rationale A challenge to artists and viewers alike, ASDANG, USWAG invites us to think about how we can move forward in our lives and embrace change.  It's meant to celebrate our different journeys of personal growth, through the exploration of new ideas, creating art that inspires positive change and societal improvement.  Cebu Artists I...

Bliss (BooNana) , 15" x 20", Pencil Sketch, 2009 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 taught at the University of San Carlos and Cebu Academy of Arts.    His art journey started with hardships together with renowned sculptor, painter, novelist and architect Arsenio "Arsing" Abella . In 2017, both had a reunion exhibit, Art Biography at Manila Art Frames - the first gallery they exhibited in 1969. Later, with ease together with eminent Samboan artist  Benji Goyha , whom he bonded owing to a shared vision for art promotion , tourism and mentoring of young Cebuano artists. Both organized art workshops and excursions in Cebu province especially in Goyha's hometown Samboan .   ...

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...