The Order of National Artists (Orden ng Pambansang Alagad ng Sining) is the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts; namely, Music, Dance, Theater, Visual Arts, Literature, Film, Broadcast Arts, and Architecture and Allied Arts. The order is jointly administered by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and conferred by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation by both institutions.
Architecture
Pablo S. Antonio
Leandro V. Locsin
Juan F. Nakpil
Ildefonso P. Santos
Dance
Francisca Reyes Aquino
Leonor Orosa Goquingco
Ramon Obusan
Lucrecia Reyes Urtula
Cinema
Lino Brocka
Ishmael Bernal
Gerardo "Gerry" De Leon
Ronald Allan K. Poe
Eddie S. Romero
Historical Literature
Carlos Quirino
Visual Arts
Napoleon V. Abueva
Ang Kiukok
Victorio C. Edades
Cesar Legaspi
Vicente S. Manansala
Hernando R. Ocampo
Benedicto R. Cabrera
Abdulmari Asia Imao
Fernando C. Amorsolo
Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco
Arturo R. Luz
J. Elizalde Navarro
Guillermo Estrella Tolentino
Jose T. Joya
Music
Antonino R. Buenaventura
Ernani Joson Cuenco
Jovita Fuentes
Jose Maceda
Lucio D. San Pedro
Levi Celerio
Felipe Padilla De Leon
Lucrecia R. Kasilag
Antonio J. Molina
Andrea O. Veneracion
Literature
Francisco Arcellana
N. V. M. Gonzales
Nick Joaquin
F. Sionil Jose
Jose Garcia Villa
Edith L. Tiempo
Virgilio S. Almario
Amado V. Hernandez
Carlos P. Romulo
Alejandro R. Roces
Bienvenido Lumbera
Theater and Film
Daisy Avellana
Honorata "Atang" Dela Rama
Rolando S. Tinio
Salvador F. Bernal
Lamberto V. Avellana
Wilfrido Ma. Guerrero
Severino Montano
Fashion Design
Ramon Valera
Source
Showing posts with label Featured Artists. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Featured Artists. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Robert Sena
Robert Sena is the Creative Director of Spotlight Artists Centre.
Regarded as “worldclass tenor,” Robert, a 2-time Aliw Award winner, can crossover to rock music and musical theatre. He played "Thuy" and "The Engineer" in the original West End and German Productions of Miss Saigon. As an accomplished actor both in film and stage, the respected singer, is currently passionate at sharing his decades of musical experience to budding Filipino talents.
Source
Regarded as “worldclass tenor,” Robert, a 2-time Aliw Award winner, can crossover to rock music and musical theatre. He played "Thuy" and "The Engineer" in the original West End and German Productions of Miss Saigon. As an accomplished actor both in film and stage, the respected singer, is currently passionate at sharing his decades of musical experience to budding Filipino talents.
Source
Saturday, February 20, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Tricia Amper Jimenez
Tricia Amper Jimenez is the Music Director of Spotlight Artists Centre.
Tricia is a graduate of the U.P. Conservatory of Music major in Voice. Solo albums include CLOSE TO YOU, GREAT LOVE, THROUGH THE YEARS, TRICIA JILMENEZ SINGS ANDREI DIONISIO SONGS. In theatre, she earned rave reviews for her performances in MAGSIMULA KA, BONGBONG AT KRIS, GODSPELL, WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND WILDEBEASTS. Her voice was heard in numerous jingle ads such as Milo, Palmolive, Johnsons etc.
Source
Tricia is a graduate of the U.P. Conservatory of Music major in Voice. Solo albums include CLOSE TO YOU, GREAT LOVE, THROUGH THE YEARS, TRICIA JILMENEZ SINGS ANDREI DIONISIO SONGS. In theatre, she earned rave reviews for her performances in MAGSIMULA KA, BONGBONG AT KRIS, GODSPELL, WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND WILDEBEASTS. Her voice was heard in numerous jingle ads such as Milo, Palmolive, Johnsons etc.
Source
Sunday, January 10, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Audie Gemora, Theater Actor and Producer
AUDIE GEMORA
President and Artistic Director, TRUMPETS
President, Stages
Professional Theater Actor and Producer
What follows is an interview with Audie Gemora
Everyone knows by now that TRUMPETS is a Christian evangelistic theater company. Please tell us what Stages does.
We handle talents and models and put them in commercials. We need people that companies can cast and present them to the advertising agencies. One needs to have a good eye for talent.
What are the challenges facing the theater community these days?
First on the list is the economy. When there is no more stability in the government and the economy drives prices soaring, theater will suffer because it is not prime commodity. Uunahin mo food, clothing, shelter. If you can afford a little entertainment, might as well go to a restaurant or eat, a movie, or palamig ka sa air-con of the mall.
How do you face this challenge?
Given the economy and the turmoil, we need to make enough noise to compel people to watch a show.
We work harder, harder, harder. Although we are pulling hairs already. The first time I tried to produce “The Full Monty”, we had the Oakwood coup; how can you fight that?
What’s different about theater than say, a movie and other forms of entertainment?
Because there’s nothing like live theater. A movie with all its spectacle and multi-billion special effects---it’s like eating fastfood for the sheer enjoyment of it but you forget what you’ve eaten. When you walk out of the movie, there’s no fantastic experience.
But a live theater production makes life unfold before your very eyes, and musical theater has all the elements like music, dance, truth, life, and an interesting storyline. You feel what the performers are feeling, and you react and it’s one artistic orgasm. There’s the sheer excitement, the energy, of walking into the lobby of a theater. In Times Square in Broadway, where you line up for tickets, when you enter, you hear the orchestra and watch the curtains open---it’s magic. Live magic. There’s nothing like it.
Can one make a living as a theater actor?
If theater lang ang gagawin, hindi. Kailangan nilang gumawa ng maraming bagay para gumawa ng theater. Would I be running an agency that does events and manages talents if I didn’t need to? I wouldn’t, I’d rather do theater---but I got to do this for a living.
To survive as a theater actor, you’d probably do one major production a year if you’re lucky and do a long-term like children’s theater, then you might have to hook up with a company like Stages that does many events. In the launch of a major product, you are an entertainer and it pays well. There’s also a shorter rehearsal period. You can do voicing and sing jingles. If you speak Tagalog well, you can do supporting roles in TV. Some actors are even teaching English in language-schools or work in call centers and put on accents. Or you can go for broke and do mainstream like Christian Bautista.
Are there skills that are necessary to become a successful theater artist?
You have to train. Hindi mo madadaan sa good looks. Dancing is a craft that you need to study. I took years of study in jazz; when I was in New York, I took ballet. You also have to train in acting as well. Sadly, some actors are not like those in the US where kung wala kang trabaho, balik ka sa workshop and take a class in acting, dancing, singing---so when an audition comes in, you are ready. Dito, because our actors are established, they don’t do classes any more. They don’t take singing or dancing, most of them.
What kind of fulfillment do you find in theater?
I love it It’s my passion. I am essentially an actor but as a producer, I remember standing there in the opening of “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and the lines were long, and people loved the show and it was a hit. The same thing happened with “The Little Mermaid.” Ibang klaseng high. It’s the seed of an idea and it’s there, and people are buying it. There’s a fantastic feeling in there.
From being the prince of Philippine musical theater, you became a producer. How did that happen?
I had to learn how to put a show together as producer of Trumpets. I had to wield the different department together to mount a show. It was very quick because my first bat was in “Lion”. Prior to that, it was Freddie Santos who was calling the shots. When he left Trumpets, that’s when I challenged [playwrights] Jaime del Mundo and Luna Inocian to write “Lion”.
Doing “Lion” was hands-on. I had to find sponsors. I’d clip newspaper ads and look for the companies in the yellow pages. When a sponsor gave three million pesos, I was screaming with joy! I wrote the articles for the press releases, set up the press con, had meetings with the artists---but it was exciting.
Yet Trumpets, unlike most theater companies now, is still surviving---and more.
One of the reasons for the successes of Trumpets is that we have an ear for the business side. We are still in the black but it can be hard. We’ve grown so fast that I had to downscale Trumpets. We left Shangri-La Plaza Mall [as our office] for example. I cut the staff now. We’re into cost-cutting. It’s a conscious effort to bring down the production costs so you can charge the ticket goers less.
Because we do advertising in stages somewhat, we are very much aware of a company’s marketing needs. We are not just artists putting forth our art. The reason why some theater companies and art groups fail is that it’s only their art that they are putting forth. And honestly, the corporate world couldn’t care less; it just translates, “What is it for us? How will our product and service be sold by linking up with you?”
The first sales book I read told me that. That if you go off selling and rattling off why a person should buy your product, you’re doing it wrong. You need to know what they need so you can sell to their needs. We do it that way. We have to be very aware of what their needs are, and it changes all the time.
For example, a sponsor would be happy if you only show their collaterals on TV, print ad, OR radio. Ngayon, they want to be able to sell their products on all these telecommunication things. You text a certain message, it adds five pesos to the sponsor’s pocket, and they will support you if you become a vehicle to their sales.
In producing Christian Bautista’s first major concert, we hooked up with Dunkin Donuts. The way to get a ticket is to buy 12 dozen doughnuts and you get a chance to win a ticket. It’s marketing but we also achieve our artistic goal.
You need to learn marketing or you won’t survive.
What advice would you give young people who want to go into theater?
Don’t go in it for the business. Go into it because you passionately love this form. Because you love it, you will do all that you can to keep it afloat, including knowing this business side.
There’s such an aversion from my colleagues about pandering to the sponsor and the press. You need to. It’s part of the game. That’s the difference between us. It’s the only way to produce. If I didn’t have Stages, I’d be starving right now. I still have my family land, but I don’t want to be a farmer.
I put a company that hires a lot of actors. We have projects all the time. The only thing we do now is provide the artistic creative element to that launch.
We discovered Christian through the workshops so that’s one way to do it. Auditions are not a very good gauge for us who are in the industry to see your talents. You audition, there are 300 other people auditioning, and you get your one minute to impress us. Whereas in a workshop you are under a teacher for two months and his mindset is to cull your talents. We call it very personal, and it’s very nurturing. Our teachers are already trained to find the best.
Trumpets does productions so that we are known and we do our evangelization. We put up a school where the people who view us put our kids there. When we see the talented kids there, Stages picks them up, manages them, and puts them in productions and corporate shows.
Where do you from here? Anything else you’d like to achieve?
My dream for Trumpets is to go abroad. Not necessarily as a company but for our shows to be produced abroad. Someday, “The Little Mermaid” and our version of |"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is gonna be bought up by any high school in Detroit or Pennsylvania for the school play. May income na rin iyon. We can produce more evangelistic stuff without having to pander to the commercialism. And there have been inquiries. I’m gonna keep persisting.
I love theater so much that I want to continue the legacy of doing it. I want to produce good shows. If our economy got better, we can work towards people coming here just to watch. Now people go to Hong Kong to watch Disneyland, and I went to Singapore to watch “Honk” three years ago.
I think that can be done here later on; we just need to get our act [as a nation] together.
This interview was taken from JobsDB Executive Breed, August 2005 issue.
President and Artistic Director, TRUMPETS
President, Stages
Professional Theater Actor and Producer
What follows is an interview with Audie Gemora
Everyone knows by now that TRUMPETS is a Christian evangelistic theater company. Please tell us what Stages does.
We handle talents and models and put them in commercials. We need people that companies can cast and present them to the advertising agencies. One needs to have a good eye for talent.
What are the challenges facing the theater community these days?
First on the list is the economy. When there is no more stability in the government and the economy drives prices soaring, theater will suffer because it is not prime commodity. Uunahin mo food, clothing, shelter. If you can afford a little entertainment, might as well go to a restaurant or eat, a movie, or palamig ka sa air-con of the mall.
How do you face this challenge?
Given the economy and the turmoil, we need to make enough noise to compel people to watch a show.
We work harder, harder, harder. Although we are pulling hairs already. The first time I tried to produce “The Full Monty”, we had the Oakwood coup; how can you fight that?
What’s different about theater than say, a movie and other forms of entertainment?
Because there’s nothing like live theater. A movie with all its spectacle and multi-billion special effects---it’s like eating fastfood for the sheer enjoyment of it but you forget what you’ve eaten. When you walk out of the movie, there’s no fantastic experience.
But a live theater production makes life unfold before your very eyes, and musical theater has all the elements like music, dance, truth, life, and an interesting storyline. You feel what the performers are feeling, and you react and it’s one artistic orgasm. There’s the sheer excitement, the energy, of walking into the lobby of a theater. In Times Square in Broadway, where you line up for tickets, when you enter, you hear the orchestra and watch the curtains open---it’s magic. Live magic. There’s nothing like it.
Can one make a living as a theater actor?
If theater lang ang gagawin, hindi. Kailangan nilang gumawa ng maraming bagay para gumawa ng theater. Would I be running an agency that does events and manages talents if I didn’t need to? I wouldn’t, I’d rather do theater---but I got to do this for a living.
To survive as a theater actor, you’d probably do one major production a year if you’re lucky and do a long-term like children’s theater, then you might have to hook up with a company like Stages that does many events. In the launch of a major product, you are an entertainer and it pays well. There’s also a shorter rehearsal period. You can do voicing and sing jingles. If you speak Tagalog well, you can do supporting roles in TV. Some actors are even teaching English in language-schools or work in call centers and put on accents. Or you can go for broke and do mainstream like Christian Bautista.
Are there skills that are necessary to become a successful theater artist?
You have to train. Hindi mo madadaan sa good looks. Dancing is a craft that you need to study. I took years of study in jazz; when I was in New York, I took ballet. You also have to train in acting as well. Sadly, some actors are not like those in the US where kung wala kang trabaho, balik ka sa workshop and take a class in acting, dancing, singing---so when an audition comes in, you are ready. Dito, because our actors are established, they don’t do classes any more. They don’t take singing or dancing, most of them.
What kind of fulfillment do you find in theater?
I love it It’s my passion. I am essentially an actor but as a producer, I remember standing there in the opening of “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe,” and the lines were long, and people loved the show and it was a hit. The same thing happened with “The Little Mermaid.” Ibang klaseng high. It’s the seed of an idea and it’s there, and people are buying it. There’s a fantastic feeling in there.
From being the prince of Philippine musical theater, you became a producer. How did that happen?
I had to learn how to put a show together as producer of Trumpets. I had to wield the different department together to mount a show. It was very quick because my first bat was in “Lion”. Prior to that, it was Freddie Santos who was calling the shots. When he left Trumpets, that’s when I challenged [playwrights] Jaime del Mundo and Luna Inocian to write “Lion”.
Doing “Lion” was hands-on. I had to find sponsors. I’d clip newspaper ads and look for the companies in the yellow pages. When a sponsor gave three million pesos, I was screaming with joy! I wrote the articles for the press releases, set up the press con, had meetings with the artists---but it was exciting.
Yet Trumpets, unlike most theater companies now, is still surviving---and more.
One of the reasons for the successes of Trumpets is that we have an ear for the business side. We are still in the black but it can be hard. We’ve grown so fast that I had to downscale Trumpets. We left Shangri-La Plaza Mall [as our office] for example. I cut the staff now. We’re into cost-cutting. It’s a conscious effort to bring down the production costs so you can charge the ticket goers less.
Because we do advertising in stages somewhat, we are very much aware of a company’s marketing needs. We are not just artists putting forth our art. The reason why some theater companies and art groups fail is that it’s only their art that they are putting forth. And honestly, the corporate world couldn’t care less; it just translates, “What is it for us? How will our product and service be sold by linking up with you?”
The first sales book I read told me that. That if you go off selling and rattling off why a person should buy your product, you’re doing it wrong. You need to know what they need so you can sell to their needs. We do it that way. We have to be very aware of what their needs are, and it changes all the time.
For example, a sponsor would be happy if you only show their collaterals on TV, print ad, OR radio. Ngayon, they want to be able to sell their products on all these telecommunication things. You text a certain message, it adds five pesos to the sponsor’s pocket, and they will support you if you become a vehicle to their sales.
In producing Christian Bautista’s first major concert, we hooked up with Dunkin Donuts. The way to get a ticket is to buy 12 dozen doughnuts and you get a chance to win a ticket. It’s marketing but we also achieve our artistic goal.
You need to learn marketing or you won’t survive.
What advice would you give young people who want to go into theater?
Don’t go in it for the business. Go into it because you passionately love this form. Because you love it, you will do all that you can to keep it afloat, including knowing this business side.
There’s such an aversion from my colleagues about pandering to the sponsor and the press. You need to. It’s part of the game. That’s the difference between us. It’s the only way to produce. If I didn’t have Stages, I’d be starving right now. I still have my family land, but I don’t want to be a farmer.
I put a company that hires a lot of actors. We have projects all the time. The only thing we do now is provide the artistic creative element to that launch.
We discovered Christian through the workshops so that’s one way to do it. Auditions are not a very good gauge for us who are in the industry to see your talents. You audition, there are 300 other people auditioning, and you get your one minute to impress us. Whereas in a workshop you are under a teacher for two months and his mindset is to cull your talents. We call it very personal, and it’s very nurturing. Our teachers are already trained to find the best.
Trumpets does productions so that we are known and we do our evangelization. We put up a school where the people who view us put our kids there. When we see the talented kids there, Stages picks them up, manages them, and puts them in productions and corporate shows.
Where do you from here? Anything else you’d like to achieve?
My dream for Trumpets is to go abroad. Not necessarily as a company but for our shows to be produced abroad. Someday, “The Little Mermaid” and our version of |"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is gonna be bought up by any high school in Detroit or Pennsylvania for the school play. May income na rin iyon. We can produce more evangelistic stuff without having to pander to the commercialism. And there have been inquiries. I’m gonna keep persisting.
I love theater so much that I want to continue the legacy of doing it. I want to produce good shows. If our economy got better, we can work towards people coming here just to watch. Now people go to Hong Kong to watch Disneyland, and I went to Singapore to watch “Honk” three years ago.
I think that can be done here later on; we just need to get our act [as a nation] together.
This interview was taken from JobsDB Executive Breed, August 2005 issue.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Rem Zamora, Theater Actor
Entrepreneur turned actor Rem Zamora entered the Philippine theatrical scene with a flying leap, starring in the rock musical JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR with the much coveted role of Judas Iscariot.
His intensity and hard-edged compassion stood out even among a cast of veterans, and led to Rem’s speedy rise in the REPERTORY company of actors. But, the largest feather in Rem Zamora’s performance has been his portrayal of General Emilio Aguinaldo, in the world premiere of MIONG, an original Filipino musical based on the revolutionary leader’s life and great achievements. Since then, he has gone on to play both leading and support roles in various musicals, classic and contemporary plays, comedies, and concerts here and abroad.
Other theater credits include, THE FANTASTICKS, COMPANY, ROMANCE-ROMANCE, MAN OF LA MANCHA, SOUTH PACIFIC, CAROUSEL, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BAKER’S WIFE, ALLADIN, PINOCCHIO, LEND ME A TENOR, GLORIOUS, MERCHANT OF VENICE, ROMEO AND JULIET, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, and a slew of other straight plays and musicals.
Rem also lends his voice as a guest singer for special performances of one of the country’s top rock bands, The Dawn. Rem also lends his artistic skills to costume and graphic design for Repertory Philippines.
Recently he took the role as Rep’s Marketing Director. Outside Repertory Philippines, Rem is an event producer and fashion show director, and entrepreneur. Rem opened Insomnia Café in Malate in 1993, which ran until 2001. In 1999-2003, he opened the popular club, seveneightorange, which later on became Olive. Currently, Rem runs Piquant, healthy food restaurant in RCBC Plaza and is the current marketing director of Repertory Philippines.
Source
His intensity and hard-edged compassion stood out even among a cast of veterans, and led to Rem’s speedy rise in the REPERTORY company of actors. But, the largest feather in Rem Zamora’s performance has been his portrayal of General Emilio Aguinaldo, in the world premiere of MIONG, an original Filipino musical based on the revolutionary leader’s life and great achievements. Since then, he has gone on to play both leading and support roles in various musicals, classic and contemporary plays, comedies, and concerts here and abroad.
Other theater credits include, THE FANTASTICKS, COMPANY, ROMANCE-ROMANCE, MAN OF LA MANCHA, SOUTH PACIFIC, CAROUSEL, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, BAKER’S WIFE, ALLADIN, PINOCCHIO, LEND ME A TENOR, GLORIOUS, MERCHANT OF VENICE, ROMEO AND JULIET, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, LOVE’S LABOR’S LOST, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, and a slew of other straight plays and musicals.
Rem also lends his voice as a guest singer for special performances of one of the country’s top rock bands, The Dawn. Rem also lends his artistic skills to costume and graphic design for Repertory Philippines.
Recently he took the role as Rep’s Marketing Director. Outside Repertory Philippines, Rem is an event producer and fashion show director, and entrepreneur. Rem opened Insomnia Café in Malate in 1993, which ran until 2001. In 1999-2003, he opened the popular club, seveneightorange, which later on became Olive. Currently, Rem runs Piquant, healthy food restaurant in RCBC Plaza and is the current marketing director of Repertory Philippines.
Source
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Miguel Faustmann, Theater Actor
Miguel Faustmann is one of Philippine theatre's most admired and respected veteran actor. He was in NOBODY'S PERFECT, 7 NG UMAGA and last seen as George Williams in 2 & 2 MAKE SEX in this year's season plays. He capped off 2005 as The Governor in LA MANCHA and gave a delightful portrayal in the madcap comedy OH ROMEO! He played one of the Bard's finest creations in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, as well as John Smith in CAUGHT IN THE NET (which he also directed), Dr. Seward in DRACULA, Mr. Myers in FAME and Rene Gallimard in M. BUTTERFLY. Miguel's other performances include LONDON SUITE, THE WOMAN IN BLACK, POWER PLAYS, LEND ME A TENOR, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, FORTY CARATS, VISITING MR. GREEN, A BEDFULL OF FOREIGNERS, GOD'S FAVORITE, TEN LITTLE INDIANS, OH ROMEO!, WHOSE WIFE IS IT ANYWAY? to name a few.
An ALIW Award-winning actor, as well as director, Miguel directed and designed Rep's comedies CLIFFHANGER, ACCOMPLICE, MURDER FOR RENT, MR. 80%, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, FUNNY MONEY, GAY BIRDS, PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, A FLEA IN HER EAR, as well as Rep's 36th Season production of NOBODY'S PERFECT.
Source
An ALIW Award-winning actor, as well as director, Miguel directed and designed Rep's comedies CLIFFHANGER, ACCOMPLICE, MURDER FOR RENT, MR. 80%, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP, FUNNY MONEY, GAY BIRDS, PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, A FLEA IN HER EAR, as well as Rep's 36th Season production of NOBODY'S PERFECT.
Source
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Michael Williams, Theater Actor
Michael Williams was part of the original cast of Miss Saigon in the West End. He also went on to play Lun Tha (the romantic lead) in the touring and West End productions of The King and I. Since coming back from London in 1992, he has established himself in the lounge and trade show circuits but continued to churn out stellar work in the theater. He was acclaimed for his portrayal of Javert in Les Miserables; the lead role in Tartuffe and AAI's Taking Sides. His acute knowledge of music and the musical theater served him in good stead in shows like Evita, and Carousel.
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Monday, January 4, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, Ballet Dancer
Lisa Macuja (Lisa Pacheco Macuja-Elizalde) is a classical ballet dancer. She was born on October 3, 1964 at Mandaluyong, Metro Manila to Cesar Macuja and Susan Pacheco. She is married to Fred Elizalde.
She finished her secondary education at St. Theresa's College in Quezon City. She then started ballet training with Felicitas Layag-Radaic and was an apprentice as young soloist of Dance Theater Philippines (DTP). She received her advanced certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing, and earned a scholarship to the Vaganova Choreographic Institute in Leningrad.
She became the principal dancer of the renowned Kirov Ballet between 1984 and 1986. She returned to Manila in 1986 and became the first artist-in-residence of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) while dancing with Ballet Philippines. In 1988, she became a ballerina of the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT).
Achievements
1987 – Silver Prize, First Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition, Tokyo
1989 – recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service or TOWNS Award
1989 – recipient of the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award
1989 – recipient of the Young Achievers Foundation Award
1991 – named Outstanding Citizen by the Federation of Women Civic Organizations, Quezon City
1991 – named one of the 100 Significant Filipino’s in the 20th Century by Tatak Pilipino
1992 – Fifth Placer, First Diaghilev Ballet Competition
Performances
Ballet at the Park
The Nutcracker
Don Quixote
Giselle
La Bayadere
Sleeping Beauty
Coppelia
Paquita
La Sylphide
Les Sylphides
Serenade
Pineapple Poll
Madame Butterfly
Ang Pilya (Filipinized "La Fille Mar Gardee")
Source
She finished her secondary education at St. Theresa's College in Quezon City. She then started ballet training with Felicitas Layag-Radaic and was an apprentice as young soloist of Dance Theater Philippines (DTP). She received her advanced certificate from the Royal Academy of Dancing, and earned a scholarship to the Vaganova Choreographic Institute in Leningrad.
She became the principal dancer of the renowned Kirov Ballet between 1984 and 1986. She returned to Manila in 1986 and became the first artist-in-residence of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) while dancing with Ballet Philippines. In 1988, she became a ballerina of the Philippine Ballet Theater (PBT).
Achievements
1987 – Silver Prize, First Asia-Pacific Ballet Competition, Tokyo
1989 – recipient of The Outstanding Women in the Nation's Service or TOWNS Award
1989 – recipient of the Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan Award
1989 – recipient of the Young Achievers Foundation Award
1991 – named Outstanding Citizen by the Federation of Women Civic Organizations, Quezon City
1991 – named one of the 100 Significant Filipino’s in the 20th Century by Tatak Pilipino
1992 – Fifth Placer, First Diaghilev Ballet Competition
Performances
Ballet at the Park
The Nutcracker
Don Quixote
Giselle
La Bayadere
Sleeping Beauty
Coppelia
Paquita
La Sylphide
Les Sylphides
Serenade
Pineapple Poll
Madame Butterfly
Ang Pilya (Filipinized "La Fille Mar Gardee")
Source
Sunday, January 3, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Lea Salonga, Singer and Movie/Theater Actress
Lea Salonga-Chien (born Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga on February 22, 1971 in Angeles City) is a Tony, Drama Desk, and Theater World Award-winning Filipino singer and actor|actress who is best known for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. In the field of musical theater, no other Filipino has achieved the same international recognition as Salonga. She has been the first to win various international awards for a single role.
She was the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables on Broadway, and is is now currently starring as Fantine, as of March 2nd, 2007. On February 11, 2007, she performed at the Philippine International Convention Center with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
Lea released her first studio album called "Inspired". The carrier single is a remake of Beverly Craven's "Promise Me". The album has been certified Platinum.
Lea Salonga was born to Feliciano Genuino Salonga and Ligaya Alcantara Imutan. She was born in Angeles City and spent the first six years of her childhood there.
Salonga became a successful child star in the Philippines. At the age of seven, she made her professional debut performing in the musical The King and I by Repertory Philippines. She became the lead star of Annie and joined other productions, such as: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rose Tattoo, The Sound Of Music, The Goodbye Girl, Paper Moon (film)|Paper Moon and The Fantasticks.
She began her recording career at the age of ten with her first album, Small Voice, which received a Gold certification. Her younger brother Gerard Salonga performed a duet with her with the song, Happiness. Since then he has collaborated with her many times as Musical Director or Creative Director.
As a child star, she has also hosted her own musical television show, Love, Lea, and opened for Stevie Wonder during his 1998 concert in Manila. She won three Aliw Awards for Best Child Performer from 1981 to 1983. In 1983, her sophomore album, "Lea" was released. She was also starred in German Moreno's teen variety show That's Entertainment. The young Lea also appeared with Herbert Bautista in several popular family-oriented Filipino films in the late 1980s such as Ninja Kids, Captain Barbell, and Pik Pak Boom. Lea Salonga also received her first Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS Awards) award nomination (equivalent of an Oscar nomination) for Best Child Actress for the 1981 flick Tropang Bulilit, though she lost to child star Sheryl Cruz for Mga Basang Sisiw.
International Career
Salonga's big breakthrough came when she was selected to play Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in 1989. Not having found a strong enough Asian actress/singer in the United Kingdom, the producers scoured many Asian countries looking for the lead for this major British production. For her audition, Salonga chose to sing Boublil and Schönberg's " On My Own" from Les Miserables, and was later asked to sing "Sun and Moon" to test her voice quality's compatibility with the songs in the musical. The members of the panel were "bowled over" by Salonga's rendition of the songs. After auditioning Salonga and Monique Wilson with songs from the musical, Salonga was offered the lead role and Wilson the alternate lead, as well as a regular minor role.
For her performance as Kim, Salonga won the Olivier for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for the 1989/1990 season. From its original London home, Miss Saigon moved to Broadway in April 1991. Salonga subsequently garnered the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same role. She also won the 1991 Theatre World Award.
In 1993, Salonga played the role of street waif Eponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, then flew to Los Angeles to perform the song "A Whole New World" (of Disney's Aladdin) at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where the song won an Oscar. (Salonga sang the song in the movie as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine.) In the same year she released her self-titled international debut album with Atlantic Records, which sold slowly in the USA but went platinum in the Philippines and sold 3 million copies worldwide.
In 1995 Salonga performed as Geri Riordan, an 18-year old adopted Vietnamese-American child in the movie Redwood Curtain, which starred John Lithgow and Jeff Daniels. Back in the Philippines, she starred with Filipino matinee idol Aga Muhlach in the critically-acclaimed film Sana Maulit Muli . Her poignant portrayal of Agnes in the film gave her a second Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS Awards) award nomination, this time for Best Actress. She lost to Philippine drama queen Maricel Soriano for her performance as a troubled battered wife in Dahas.
Salonga was invited by Sir Cameron Mackintosh to play the role of Eponine for the 10th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables at London's Royal Albert Hall. Salonga performed as part of a "dream cast" composed of Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball, Judy Kuhn, and Philip Quast.
Salonga then acted in various musical theater productions around the Philippines and Singapore. She notably starred as Sandy in Grease, Sonia Walsk in They're Playing Our Song, The Witch in Into The Woods, and Lizzie in Baby. In 1997, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (recordings from her childhood days) was released to gold sales in the Philippines. It was followed by Lea... In Love in 1998. By Heart followed two years later, both albums reaching multiple platinum status in the Philippines.
In 2001, Salonga had a grand homecoming via the Manila production of Miss Saigon staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. That same year and again in 2003, Salonga recreated the role of Lien Hughes on the soap opera As the World Turns, which was originally played by Ming-Na Wen years before. She also made a guest appearance in the medical drama E.R., playing the role of a patient with lymphoma.
In 2002 Salonga returned to Broadway to play the role of a Chinese immigrant in a reinterpretation of Rogers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song opposite Jose Llana. The show was given a brand new libretto which presented Asian Americans with more dignity than the original while at the same time playing with the stereotypes. It was considered one of the 10 best plays on Broadway in 2002 by Time Magazine [3]. The musical, which had a short run on Broadway, later on garnered nominations for Best Book, Best Costume Designer, and Best Choreographer. However, Ms. Salonga's performance, which had received mixed reviews, was not nominated at the Tony Awards.
In February and March 2005, Salonga played her first US concert tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, and Chicago. Dates in Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Virginia followed in July 2005. On November 7, 2005, Salonga performed with a 26-piece ensemble to a sold out crowd of 2,804 at the Isaac Stern Hall in Carnegie Hall for the benefit of Diverse City Theater Company. Salonga is only the third Filipino solo artist to perform at the venue (the first was Regine Velasquez followed by Jose Mari Chan).
In honor of her international achievements, the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences bestowed her with the Golden Artist Award on June 26, 2005 in the 53rd FAMAS Awards. The award is given to Filipino performers who received international acclaim and prestige from their work. Lea Salonga accepted the award and serenaded Filipino audiences with her rendition of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from the musical Sunset Boulevard.
Salonga's Disney film credits include the singing voice of Princess Jasmine for Aladdin (1992), and Fa Mulan for Mulan (1998), as well as the voice of Mrs. Kusakabe (Satsuki and Mei's mother) in Disney's 2005 English dub of Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro.
Salonga has performed for three American Presidents (George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) and for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
In the 15th Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar on December 15, 2006, the closing ceremony concluded with the song "Triumph of the One" sung by Salonga at the Khalifa Stadium before an audience of 50,000 people.
On January 3, 2007 it was announced that Salonga will return to Broadway in the musical Les Miserables, replacing Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine.
Personal Life
On January 10, 2004, Salonga married Robert Charles Chien, a Chinese-Japanese managing director of an entertainment software company in Los Angeles, California. Their daughter, Nicole Beverly, was born on May 16, 2006. She was named after Lea Salonga's late mother-in-law, Beverly Chien.
Recordings
Inspired
Songs From Home Live Concert Recording
Songs From The Screen
The Broadway Concert
The Christmas Album
By Heart
Lea... In Love
Mulan (1998) (singing voice) .... Mulan
Flower Drum Song (2002)
Miss Saigon (Kim)
The King and I Studio Cast Recording (Tuptim)
Filmography
Tonari no Totoro/My Neighbor Totoro (USA) (2004) (voice: English language version)
Mickey's PhilharMagic (2003) (voice) (uncredited)
Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge (2001) (VG) (singing voice) .... Princess Jasmine
Mulan (1998) (singing voice) .... Mulan
Sana maulit muli/Hopefully, Once More (1995)
Bakit labis kitang mahal/Why do I love you so much (1992)
Aladdin (1992) (singing voice) ... Princess Jasmine
Dear Diary (1989)
Pik pak boom (1989)
Ninja Kids (1986)
Captain Barbel/Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbel (1986)
Like Father, Like Son (1985)
Tropang Bulilit (1981)
Read more
She was the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables (musical)|Les Misérables on Broadway, and is is now currently starring as Fantine, as of March 2nd, 2007. On February 11, 2007, she performed at the Philippine International Convention Center with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.
Lea released her first studio album called "Inspired". The carrier single is a remake of Beverly Craven's "Promise Me". The album has been certified Platinum.
Lea Salonga was born to Feliciano Genuino Salonga and Ligaya Alcantara Imutan. She was born in Angeles City and spent the first six years of her childhood there.
Salonga became a successful child star in the Philippines. At the age of seven, she made her professional debut performing in the musical The King and I by Repertory Philippines. She became the lead star of Annie and joined other productions, such as: Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, Fiddler on the Roof, The Rose Tattoo, The Sound Of Music, The Goodbye Girl, Paper Moon (film)|Paper Moon and The Fantasticks.
She began her recording career at the age of ten with her first album, Small Voice, which received a Gold certification. Her younger brother Gerard Salonga performed a duet with her with the song, Happiness. Since then he has collaborated with her many times as Musical Director or Creative Director.
As a child star, she has also hosted her own musical television show, Love, Lea, and opened for Stevie Wonder during his 1998 concert in Manila. She won three Aliw Awards for Best Child Performer from 1981 to 1983. In 1983, her sophomore album, "Lea" was released. She was also starred in German Moreno's teen variety show That's Entertainment. The young Lea also appeared with Herbert Bautista in several popular family-oriented Filipino films in the late 1980s such as Ninja Kids, Captain Barbell, and Pik Pak Boom. Lea Salonga also received her first Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS Awards) award nomination (equivalent of an Oscar nomination) for Best Child Actress for the 1981 flick Tropang Bulilit, though she lost to child star Sheryl Cruz for Mga Basang Sisiw.
International Career
Salonga's big breakthrough came when she was selected to play Kim in the musical Miss Saigon in 1989. Not having found a strong enough Asian actress/singer in the United Kingdom, the producers scoured many Asian countries looking for the lead for this major British production. For her audition, Salonga chose to sing Boublil and Schönberg's " On My Own" from Les Miserables, and was later asked to sing "Sun and Moon" to test her voice quality's compatibility with the songs in the musical. The members of the panel were "bowled over" by Salonga's rendition of the songs. After auditioning Salonga and Monique Wilson with songs from the musical, Salonga was offered the lead role and Wilson the alternate lead, as well as a regular minor role.
For her performance as Kim, Salonga won the Olivier for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for the 1989/1990 season. From its original London home, Miss Saigon moved to Broadway in April 1991. Salonga subsequently garnered the Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same role. She also won the 1991 Theatre World Award.
In 1993, Salonga played the role of street waif Eponine in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, then flew to Los Angeles to perform the song "A Whole New World" (of Disney's Aladdin) at the 65th Annual Academy Awards, where the song won an Oscar. (Salonga sang the song in the movie as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine.) In the same year she released her self-titled international debut album with Atlantic Records, which sold slowly in the USA but went platinum in the Philippines and sold 3 million copies worldwide.
In 1995 Salonga performed as Geri Riordan, an 18-year old adopted Vietnamese-American child in the movie Redwood Curtain, which starred John Lithgow and Jeff Daniels. Back in the Philippines, she starred with Filipino matinee idol Aga Muhlach in the critically-acclaimed film Sana Maulit Muli . Her poignant portrayal of Agnes in the film gave her a second Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS Awards) award nomination, this time for Best Actress. She lost to Philippine drama queen Maricel Soriano for her performance as a troubled battered wife in Dahas.
Salonga was invited by Sir Cameron Mackintosh to play the role of Eponine for the 10th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables at London's Royal Albert Hall. Salonga performed as part of a "dream cast" composed of Colm Wilkinson, Michael Ball, Judy Kuhn, and Philip Quast.
Salonga then acted in various musical theater productions around the Philippines and Singapore. She notably starred as Sandy in Grease, Sonia Walsk in They're Playing Our Song, The Witch in Into The Woods, and Lizzie in Baby. In 1997, I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (recordings from her childhood days) was released to gold sales in the Philippines. It was followed by Lea... In Love in 1998. By Heart followed two years later, both albums reaching multiple platinum status in the Philippines.
In 2001, Salonga had a grand homecoming via the Manila production of Miss Saigon staged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. That same year and again in 2003, Salonga recreated the role of Lien Hughes on the soap opera As the World Turns, which was originally played by Ming-Na Wen years before. She also made a guest appearance in the medical drama E.R., playing the role of a patient with lymphoma.
In 2002 Salonga returned to Broadway to play the role of a Chinese immigrant in a reinterpretation of Rogers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song opposite Jose Llana. The show was given a brand new libretto which presented Asian Americans with more dignity than the original while at the same time playing with the stereotypes. It was considered one of the 10 best plays on Broadway in 2002 by Time Magazine [3]. The musical, which had a short run on Broadway, later on garnered nominations for Best Book, Best Costume Designer, and Best Choreographer. However, Ms. Salonga's performance, which had received mixed reviews, was not nominated at the Tony Awards.
In February and March 2005, Salonga played her first US concert tour in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, and Chicago. Dates in Washington, D.C., and Norfolk, Virginia followed in July 2005. On November 7, 2005, Salonga performed with a 26-piece ensemble to a sold out crowd of 2,804 at the Isaac Stern Hall in Carnegie Hall for the benefit of Diverse City Theater Company. Salonga is only the third Filipino solo artist to perform at the venue (the first was Regine Velasquez followed by Jose Mari Chan).
In honor of her international achievements, the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences bestowed her with the Golden Artist Award on June 26, 2005 in the 53rd FAMAS Awards. The award is given to Filipino performers who received international acclaim and prestige from their work. Lea Salonga accepted the award and serenaded Filipino audiences with her rendition of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from the musical Sunset Boulevard.
Salonga's Disney film credits include the singing voice of Princess Jasmine for Aladdin (1992), and Fa Mulan for Mulan (1998), as well as the voice of Mrs. Kusakabe (Satsuki and Mei's mother) in Disney's 2005 English dub of Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro.
Salonga has performed for three American Presidents (George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) and for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.
In the 15th Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar on December 15, 2006, the closing ceremony concluded with the song "Triumph of the One" sung by Salonga at the Khalifa Stadium before an audience of 50,000 people.
On January 3, 2007 it was announced that Salonga will return to Broadway in the musical Les Miserables, replacing Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine.
Personal Life
On January 10, 2004, Salonga married Robert Charles Chien, a Chinese-Japanese managing director of an entertainment software company in Los Angeles, California. Their daughter, Nicole Beverly, was born on May 16, 2006. She was named after Lea Salonga's late mother-in-law, Beverly Chien.
Recordings
Inspired
Songs From Home Live Concert Recording
Songs From The Screen
The Broadway Concert
The Christmas Album
By Heart
Lea... In Love
Mulan (1998) (singing voice) .... Mulan
Flower Drum Song (2002)
Miss Saigon (Kim)
The King and I Studio Cast Recording (Tuptim)
Filmography
Tonari no Totoro/My Neighbor Totoro (USA) (2004) (voice: English language version)
Mickey's PhilharMagic (2003) (voice) (uncredited)
Aladdin in Nasira's Revenge (2001) (VG) (singing voice) .... Princess Jasmine
Mulan (1998) (singing voice) .... Mulan
Sana maulit muli/Hopefully, Once More (1995)
Bakit labis kitang mahal/Why do I love you so much (1992)
Aladdin (1992) (singing voice) ... Princess Jasmine
Dear Diary (1989)
Pik pak boom (1989)
Ninja Kids (1986)
Captain Barbel/Mars Ravelo's Captain Barbel (1986)
Like Father, Like Son (1985)
Tropang Bulilit (1981)
Read more
Friday, January 1, 2010
FEATURED ARTIST: Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo , Painter and Businessman
Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo (1924–1984) was a Hispano-Filipino businessman, patron of the arts and one of the greatest Filipino painters. he was a member of the prominent Zobel de Ayala family of the Philippines.
Zobel was born on August 27, 1924. He was the youngest child of Enrique Zobel de Ayala and Fermina Montojo de Torrontegui. His siblings were Matilden, Gloria, and Consuelo. His half siblings were Jacobo, Alfonso and Mercedes.
After early studies in Madrid and Switzerland, he attended the Brent International School in Baguio between 1936 and 1941. He started medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas but his education was interrupted by the eruption of World War II. Because of health problems he spent a year recuperating in bed. At 18 young Zobel started to sketch caricatures, landscapes and doodles of his own fancy. He would sometimes sketch postcards which he sent by mail to his friends and family. After the war his family encouraged him to pursue studies in business management, although he inclined more to the humanities.
He continued his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where he majored in history and literature, graduating magna cum laude in 1949. During his Harvard sojourn he was greatly impressed by the art of calligraphy. He also studies the works of Reed Champion, James Pfeufer, and Hyman Bloom. He began experimenting with all kinds of techniques, including oils, watercolors and serigraphy. His artistic inclinations were influenced by both his mother and father who were both amateur painters. His father Don Enrique was a lover of art and culture and was the benefactor and patron of young Fernando Amorsolo, sending him to Spain to study at the Academia de San Fernando de Bellas Artes. In gratitude Amorsolo taught young Zobel the basics of painting.
When Zobel came back to the Philippine in the 1950s, he befriended fellow artists who were interested in the then emergent field of modern art, helping set the stage for the Philippine modernist movement. He not only experimented painting that way, he also collected modernist art.
Artistic Career
He held his first solo exhibition at the Philippine Art Gallery in 1952. His first works were characterized by lush colors and quick energetic lines depicting Philippine landscapes and folklore. His entrance in the Philippine art world stimulated the scene. While pursuing his artistic concerns he actively participated in the family's business for 10 years, working at the personnel department of Ayala Corporation.
In 1953 he started shifting to abstraction. It was a period of crisis for him, as he was trying to satisfy the demands of business life while seeking out new artistic avenues. In 1954 he left Manila and entered the prestigious American art school, Rhode Island School of Design. There he discovered the works of Mark Rothko which was to illuminate his artistic enterprise.
When he returned to Manila he followed up his abstract direction with studies on Chinese and Japanese art. In 1960 he decided to move to Spain and resigned from Ayala y Cia.
His first major series was called "Saetas". "Subtle, subdued, and understated" were the words used to describe his paintings. His Saeta paintings which was described as "brief, acidic and highly emotional" (Reyes 1989). His "Serie Negra" experimented with using black as its only color. He wrote: "After almost two years, I realized that use of color was quite arbitrary, not to say merely decorative. Any combination of two colors, provided that it had certain vibration to it, could be useful to me. I think that, in a work of art, anything that fails to prove necessary is superfluous and can even distract, weaken and hinder. Little by little, I eliminated color to work like black strokes on a white background."
In 1963 he ventured back into color, but this time not to use it to depict descriptive details but only for its emotional depiction of the most essential element of the subject. His last major project was called "Dialogos" in which he visited museums all over Europe to look at classic paintings which he would later transform into its abstract qualities.
In 1963 he also published his landmark book, Philippine Religious Imagery and many articles on Philippine colonial art in journals like Philippine Studies. He also reviewed books on numismatics and religious images. Scholar Bentio Legarda, Jr writes that these studies of "churches and Philippine religious imagery was part of Zobel's search for the elusive 'Filipino artistic expression.'"
He became the director of the Ateneo Art Gallery. He was its true patron and advocate. He donated his personal art collection to his alma mater, thus establishing the first and finest modern art gallery of the Philippines. In recognition of his role as a arts advocate, he was conferred a doctorate in humanites by the Ateneo de Manila Univeristy. Art critic Purita Kalaw-Ledesma observed that Zobel "lifted the vision [of Filipino artists] from the purely parochial to the international level."
He became a lifelong friend of fellow modernist painters Lee Aguinaldo and Arturo Luz. He was fabled for his generosity, donation scholarships, books, art materials and gifts to encourage the abstract and modernist movement. He found artistic inspiration in the town of Cuenca, Spain, in a house set high on a cliff, which he would fill with modernist art. Eventually this would become the first museum of abstract art in all of Spain. Such was its renown that Alfred Barr, the first director of New York's fabled Museum of Modern Art would describe it as the most beautiful museum that he had ever seen. In 1983 in recognition of his promotion of Spanish contemporary art, King Juan Carlos I conferred on him the Medalla de Oro al Merito en las Bellas Artes. He was later elected to the elite Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.
He died in Rome on June 2, 1984 and was buried in his beloved town of Cuenca, on its highest point with a view of Jucar River.
Awards from the Art Association of the PHilippines:
first prize for Carroza in 1953
second prize for Number 344 in 1960
first prize for Painting in 1962
Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo , Painter and Businessman
Read more
Zobel was born on August 27, 1924. He was the youngest child of Enrique Zobel de Ayala and Fermina Montojo de Torrontegui. His siblings were Matilden, Gloria, and Consuelo. His half siblings were Jacobo, Alfonso and Mercedes.
After early studies in Madrid and Switzerland, he attended the Brent International School in Baguio between 1936 and 1941. He started medical studies at the University of Santo Tomas but his education was interrupted by the eruption of World War II. Because of health problems he spent a year recuperating in bed. At 18 young Zobel started to sketch caricatures, landscapes and doodles of his own fancy. He would sometimes sketch postcards which he sent by mail to his friends and family. After the war his family encouraged him to pursue studies in business management, although he inclined more to the humanities.
He continued his undergraduate studies at Harvard University, where he majored in history and literature, graduating magna cum laude in 1949. During his Harvard sojourn he was greatly impressed by the art of calligraphy. He also studies the works of Reed Champion, James Pfeufer, and Hyman Bloom. He began experimenting with all kinds of techniques, including oils, watercolors and serigraphy. His artistic inclinations were influenced by both his mother and father who were both amateur painters. His father Don Enrique was a lover of art and culture and was the benefactor and patron of young Fernando Amorsolo, sending him to Spain to study at the Academia de San Fernando de Bellas Artes. In gratitude Amorsolo taught young Zobel the basics of painting.
When Zobel came back to the Philippine in the 1950s, he befriended fellow artists who were interested in the then emergent field of modern art, helping set the stage for the Philippine modernist movement. He not only experimented painting that way, he also collected modernist art.
Artistic Career
He held his first solo exhibition at the Philippine Art Gallery in 1952. His first works were characterized by lush colors and quick energetic lines depicting Philippine landscapes and folklore. His entrance in the Philippine art world stimulated the scene. While pursuing his artistic concerns he actively participated in the family's business for 10 years, working at the personnel department of Ayala Corporation.
In 1953 he started shifting to abstraction. It was a period of crisis for him, as he was trying to satisfy the demands of business life while seeking out new artistic avenues. In 1954 he left Manila and entered the prestigious American art school, Rhode Island School of Design. There he discovered the works of Mark Rothko which was to illuminate his artistic enterprise.
When he returned to Manila he followed up his abstract direction with studies on Chinese and Japanese art. In 1960 he decided to move to Spain and resigned from Ayala y Cia.
His first major series was called "Saetas". "Subtle, subdued, and understated" were the words used to describe his paintings. His Saeta paintings which was described as "brief, acidic and highly emotional" (Reyes 1989). His "Serie Negra" experimented with using black as its only color. He wrote: "After almost two years, I realized that use of color was quite arbitrary, not to say merely decorative. Any combination of two colors, provided that it had certain vibration to it, could be useful to me. I think that, in a work of art, anything that fails to prove necessary is superfluous and can even distract, weaken and hinder. Little by little, I eliminated color to work like black strokes on a white background."
In 1963 he ventured back into color, but this time not to use it to depict descriptive details but only for its emotional depiction of the most essential element of the subject. His last major project was called "Dialogos" in which he visited museums all over Europe to look at classic paintings which he would later transform into its abstract qualities.
In 1963 he also published his landmark book, Philippine Religious Imagery and many articles on Philippine colonial art in journals like Philippine Studies. He also reviewed books on numismatics and religious images. Scholar Bentio Legarda, Jr writes that these studies of "churches and Philippine religious imagery was part of Zobel's search for the elusive 'Filipino artistic expression.'"
He became the director of the Ateneo Art Gallery. He was its true patron and advocate. He donated his personal art collection to his alma mater, thus establishing the first and finest modern art gallery of the Philippines. In recognition of his role as a arts advocate, he was conferred a doctorate in humanites by the Ateneo de Manila Univeristy. Art critic Purita Kalaw-Ledesma observed that Zobel "lifted the vision [of Filipino artists] from the purely parochial to the international level."
He became a lifelong friend of fellow modernist painters Lee Aguinaldo and Arturo Luz. He was fabled for his generosity, donation scholarships, books, art materials and gifts to encourage the abstract and modernist movement. He found artistic inspiration in the town of Cuenca, Spain, in a house set high on a cliff, which he would fill with modernist art. Eventually this would become the first museum of abstract art in all of Spain. Such was its renown that Alfred Barr, the first director of New York's fabled Museum of Modern Art would describe it as the most beautiful museum that he had ever seen. In 1983 in recognition of his promotion of Spanish contemporary art, King Juan Carlos I conferred on him the Medalla de Oro al Merito en las Bellas Artes. He was later elected to the elite Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid.
He died in Rome on June 2, 1984 and was buried in his beloved town of Cuenca, on its highest point with a view of Jucar River.
Awards from the Art Association of the PHilippines:
first prize for Carroza in 1953
second prize for Number 344 in 1960
first prize for Painting in 1962
Fernando Zobel de Ayala y Montojo , Painter and Businessman
Read more
Thursday, December 31, 2009
FEATURED ARTIST: Fil Dela Cruz, Filipino Painter and Printmaker
Fil dela Cruz (22 November 1950- ) is a Philippine painter and printmaker known for his finely detailed works showing indigenous peoples in mezzotint, a printing technique in which different gradations of black tones are shown.
He majored in Advertising Arts at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts. He went to the Art Students' League in New York for further studies, finishing in 1983. He studied printmaking techniques at a 1992 lithography workshop in Paris, France.
Some of his Achievements:
First Prize, Graphic Arts Category, National Commission for Culture and the ArtsThird Biennial Arts Competition (1998)
President, Philippine Association of Printmakers (1995)
Senior Lecturer, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1992-95
Philippine Representative to the Republic of Namibia, Global Print Portfolio (1992)
Thirteen Artists Awardee, Cultural Center of the Philippines (1992)
Best Entry - Light Foundation Art Competition (1989, 1990)
Second Prize - Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) - Rotary Open Art Competition (1986)
Honorable Mention - Art Association of the Philippines - Rotary Open Art Competition Graphic Art Experimental Category (1986)
Outstanding Bulakeño in the Field of Arts (1985)
Grand Prize - 36th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1983)
Finalist, First International Biennial for Print, Republic of China (1982)
Grand Prize - 35th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1981)
Gold Medal - 34th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1980)
Grand Prize - Bancom Graphic Arts Competition1975
Honorable Mention - Rotary Club On-the-Spot Watercolor Painting Contest (1974)
Benavidez Awardee - University of Santo Tomas, College of Architecture and Fine Arts 1973
First Prize - Graphic Arts Competition, UST, Annual Students' Art Competition (1973)
First Honorable Mention - Photography Contest, UST, Annual Students' Art Competition (1973)
First Prize - YMCA 19th Annual Students' Art Competition of the Philippines (1971)
Some of his Exhibits
Tribute kay Inang, Casa Victoria, Newark Ave., New Jersey, U.S.A (1998)
Larawaginip, Lopez Memorial Museum (1992)
Oil on Wood and Mezzotint, Galerie Lafayette , Paris, France (1992)
Paintings and Prints, Jupiter Art House (1991)
Painting: Mezzotint, Museo Iloilo (1991)
Wood Nymph, Ayala Museum (1988)
Painted Dreams I, Ayala Museum (1987)
Painted Dreams II, Lopez Museum (1987)
Goddess of the South and Other Painted Dreams, Cultural Center of the Philippines (1986)
Mezzotint, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (1983)
Pasimula, Philippine Consulate, New York, U.S.A. (1983)
Mezzotint, Hiraya Gallery, Manila, Philippines (1982)
Mga Pinakabagong Likha, City Gallery, Manila (1981)
Fil Dela Cruz - Filipino Painter and Printmaker
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He majored in Advertising Arts at the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture and Fine Arts. He went to the Art Students' League in New York for further studies, finishing in 1983. He studied printmaking techniques at a 1992 lithography workshop in Paris, France.
Some of his Achievements:
First Prize, Graphic Arts Category, National Commission for Culture and the ArtsThird Biennial Arts Competition (1998)
President, Philippine Association of Printmakers (1995)
Senior Lecturer, College of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1992-95
Philippine Representative to the Republic of Namibia, Global Print Portfolio (1992)
Thirteen Artists Awardee, Cultural Center of the Philippines (1992)
Best Entry - Light Foundation Art Competition (1989, 1990)
Second Prize - Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) - Rotary Open Art Competition (1986)
Honorable Mention - Art Association of the Philippines - Rotary Open Art Competition Graphic Art Experimental Category (1986)
Outstanding Bulakeño in the Field of Arts (1985)
Grand Prize - 36th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1983)
Finalist, First International Biennial for Print, Republic of China (1982)
Grand Prize - 35th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1981)
Gold Medal - 34th Annual Art Competition - Art Association of the Philippines (1980)
Grand Prize - Bancom Graphic Arts Competition1975
Honorable Mention - Rotary Club On-the-Spot Watercolor Painting Contest (1974)
Benavidez Awardee - University of Santo Tomas, College of Architecture and Fine Arts 1973
First Prize - Graphic Arts Competition, UST, Annual Students' Art Competition (1973)
First Honorable Mention - Photography Contest, UST, Annual Students' Art Competition (1973)
First Prize - YMCA 19th Annual Students' Art Competition of the Philippines (1971)
Some of his Exhibits
Tribute kay Inang, Casa Victoria, Newark Ave., New Jersey, U.S.A (1998)
Larawaginip, Lopez Memorial Museum (1992)
Oil on Wood and Mezzotint, Galerie Lafayette , Paris, France (1992)
Paintings and Prints, Jupiter Art House (1991)
Painting: Mezzotint, Museo Iloilo (1991)
Wood Nymph, Ayala Museum (1988)
Painted Dreams I, Ayala Museum (1987)
Painted Dreams II, Lopez Museum (1987)
Goddess of the South and Other Painted Dreams, Cultural Center of the Philippines (1986)
Mezzotint, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (1983)
Pasimula, Philippine Consulate, New York, U.S.A. (1983)
Mezzotint, Hiraya Gallery, Manila, Philippines (1982)
Mga Pinakabagong Likha, City Gallery, Manila (1981)
Fil Dela Cruz - Filipino Painter and Printmaker
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Monday, December 21, 2009
FEATURED ARTISTS: The Philippine Madrigal Singers (The MADZ)
The Philippine Madrigal Singers, also known as the MADZ, is one of the most awarded choirs in Asia and in the world. The group has consistently won major prizes in the most prestigious international choral competitions for decades. Because of its impressive track record and musical virtuosity, the Philippine Madrigal Singers is now regarded as one of the best choirs in the world.
The MADZ was initially organized as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers in 1963 by Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1999. In 2001, after almost four decades of leadership, Prof. Veneracion passed on her legacy to its present Choirmaster, Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio.
Read more about them in their official website.
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MADZ ABOUT LOVE
Valentine Concert of The Philippine Madrigal Singers for the benefit of Project Bravekids and Kalinangan Youth Foundation
February 13, 2010, 730pm
Meralco Theater
The MADZ was initially organized as the University of the Philippines Madrigal Singers in 1963 by Prof. Andrea O. Veneracion, proclaimed National Artist for Music in 1999. In 2001, after almost four decades of leadership, Prof. Veneracion passed on her legacy to its present Choirmaster, Mr. Mark Anthony Carpio.
Read more about them in their official website.
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MADZ ABOUT LOVE
Valentine Concert of The Philippine Madrigal Singers for the benefit of Project Bravekids and Kalinangan Youth Foundation
February 13, 2010, 730pm
Meralco Theater
Friday, December 18, 2009
FEATURED ARTIST: Ang Kiukok, Painter
Ang Kiukok was a leading Filipino painter and a National Artist for Visual Arts.
He first attained prominence in the Philippine arts scene in the 1960s with a distinct style that fused influences from cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Some classified his style as "figurative expressionism", others merely called it ugly. What could not be doubted was the violence in his imagery, a factor that slighted the commercial viability of his works until the 1980s. He favored such subjects as fighting cocks, rabid dogs, and people enraptured by rage or bound in chains. He painted multiple depictions of the crucified Christ that did not shirk from portraying the agonies normally associated with the crucifixion. When asked why he was so angry, he replied, "Why not? Open your eyes. Look around you. So much anger, sorrow, ugliness. And also madness." The intensity of his works stood in contrast to his own personality, described as "placid and affable".
It did not escape attention that many of Ang Kiukok's most violent or gruesome imagery was painted during the martial law rule of Ferdinand Marcos, though he did not build a reputation for himself as a prominent critic of the Marcos regime. In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named him a National Artist for Visual Arts.
He was born in Davao City, Philippines to Chinese-Filipino parents who had emigrated from Fukien on 1 March 1931. He pursued Art Studies at the University of Santo Tomas, where he was taught by Filipino art masters, most notably Vicente Manansala who was to become a lifelong friend and mentor. Upon his death from cancer on 9 May 2005, it was reported that he and fellow National Artist Fernando Amorsolo were the most widely bidded after Filipino painters in auctions. In the end, Ang Kiukok emerged not only as a critical favorite, but a commercially popular artist as well.
Source
He first attained prominence in the Philippine arts scene in the 1960s with a distinct style that fused influences from cubism, surrealism and expressionism. Some classified his style as "figurative expressionism", others merely called it ugly. What could not be doubted was the violence in his imagery, a factor that slighted the commercial viability of his works until the 1980s. He favored such subjects as fighting cocks, rabid dogs, and people enraptured by rage or bound in chains. He painted multiple depictions of the crucified Christ that did not shirk from portraying the agonies normally associated with the crucifixion. When asked why he was so angry, he replied, "Why not? Open your eyes. Look around you. So much anger, sorrow, ugliness. And also madness." The intensity of his works stood in contrast to his own personality, described as "placid and affable".
It did not escape attention that many of Ang Kiukok's most violent or gruesome imagery was painted during the martial law rule of Ferdinand Marcos, though he did not build a reputation for himself as a prominent critic of the Marcos regime. In 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo named him a National Artist for Visual Arts.
He was born in Davao City, Philippines to Chinese-Filipino parents who had emigrated from Fukien on 1 March 1931. He pursued Art Studies at the University of Santo Tomas, where he was taught by Filipino art masters, most notably Vicente Manansala who was to become a lifelong friend and mentor. Upon his death from cancer on 9 May 2005, it was reported that he and fellow National Artist Fernando Amorsolo were the most widely bidded after Filipino painters in auctions. In the end, Ang Kiukok emerged not only as a critical favorite, but a commercially popular artist as well.
Source
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
FEATURED ARTIST: Isay Alvarez
Isay Alvarez is the Spotlight Artist Director.
As a teacher, Isay spent many years teaching acting and musical theatre both at ABS CBN and GMA - 7. She was an original cast of Miss Saigon in London. She has done numerous films and had innumerable TV appearances. She was producer of albums Dueto, and iDream
As one of the respected talents of the Philippines, she has done various concerts and corporate shows here and abroad. In the field of stage performance, she has done theatre productions with Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).
Source
As a teacher, Isay spent many years teaching acting and musical theatre both at ABS CBN and GMA - 7. She was an original cast of Miss Saigon in London. She has done numerous films and had innumerable TV appearances. She was producer of albums Dueto, and iDream
As one of the respected talents of the Philippines, she has done various concerts and corporate shows here and abroad. In the field of stage performance, she has done theatre productions with Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA).
Source
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