FILIPINO ARTIST

Popong Landero

Ronulfo "Popong" Landero, known by the the nickname "Kaliweteng Gitarista" (left-handed guitarist),
is a guitarist and roots reggae musician known for his neo-ethnic musical style and covers of reggae artist
Bob Marley. He first became popular in the Philippines due to his Bob Marley covers. He is also a singer,
songwriter, composer, lyricist, and musical director.

Early life

Born in Davao, Landero has always insisted to use his left hand despite being told by his father to do so
otherwise. He would eat, write, and do other important things with his left hand. While he was still
learning to play the guitar, Landero would invert chordbooks so as to continue playing with his left hand.

As a teenager, Landero was already making and singing his own songs. He co-founded a music
group, Masang Himig, and subsequently quit school to focus on his music, using his talent as his basic
means of survival. Landero then traveled to Manila, inspired by the growth of Original Pilipino Music
(OPM).

Career

He earned his nickname after his first single with the same title Kaliweteng Gitarista hit the airwaves in
1978. Upon reaching Manila, Landero's musical career flourished as he played prolifically, doing gigs in
pubs, clubhouses, and campuses either as a soloist or as part of a band. He traveled around the
Philippines, going from Los Baos, Pampanga, and Quezon to as far as Baguio, Puerto Galera,
andSorsogon. It was during this time that he also grew and kept close corrsepondence with the famous
band Asin (Salt) after jamming with the folk-rock band. He also played for the folk-rock band Ric & Roll,
new wave band Eathlings, and reggae-rock band Lolita & Sulabama. After traveling around the
Philippines as a folk singer and musician, Landero returned to his native home in Davao, where
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hecontinued his education in mechanical engineering. His passion still won over and he pursued his career
as a full-time musician, forming a new group, Prisoners of the Worldbank (P.O.W.)

In 1985, Landero would again perform his original compositions on nightly sets in local pubs and in
1986, he became part of the ethno-rock group Bagong Lumad (New Lumad). The group played live music
for a musical theater production. He also became lead actor, composer, musical director, and musician for
the musical play Sinalimba (Magic Hammock). In 1987, he became the composer and musical director of
the Butuanon musical play, Lawig Balanghai (Sail People). This inspired the folk artist to join
the Mindanao-based theater group Kaliwat Theater Collective. Through the group, Landero was able to
perform in the First National Theatre Festival of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) in 1992; in
the United Kingdom and Ireland 1992 performance-tour; Japan 1993 tour; Baguio Arts Festival 1993; the
1994 to 1995 documentary-musical of indigenous peoples' land struggle called Oya! Arakan; the 1997
International Open Air Theatre Festival in Seoul; and the CCP's 1998 International Theatre Festival.

In 1997, Landero became involved in other theater and musical productions such as Lapu-Lapu (an ethno-
rock opera under Dimitri Productions), Festival of Songs Vietnam-ASEAN in Hanoi, and in A Story on
Moonlit Night at the Philippines-Indonesia-Japan joint production held in Tokyo.

In 1998, Landero became part of the Asian Council for People's Culture (ACPC) in Taiwan and South
Korea and in 1999, he joined the Philippine tour of the ACPC-TENT(Theatre for the Environment)
production Seven Rituals of Mother Earth
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Kublai Millan

Ray Mudjahid Ponce Millan better known as Kublai Millan or Kublai is a prolific artist
from Mindanao. He is known for his giant sculptures. Aside from being a sculptor he is also an
art photographer, painter, digital artist and performance artist.

Millan's Durian Monument in Davao International Airport

Kublai was born on July 8, 1974 in Cotabato City.Kublai started his career when he made all the
artworks both inside and outside of his family's hotel; Ponce Suites. His mother is the manager of
the hotel. He studied at the University of the Philippines for his higher education and attained a
degree of Fine Arts. After his graduation from college he returned to Mindanao, painting and
sculpting subjects relating to the culture of his hometown.[2][3]

He is responsible for two giant works; "Kampilan" by Sultan Kudarat in the city of Sultan
Kudarat, Maguindanao and the "Risen Christ" in the church of Tagum City. He is also
responsible for the giant durian monument in Davao International Airport, the giant eagle and
Bagobo children in People's Park, Davao City
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Benedicto Cabrera

Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (born April 10, 1942), better known as "BenCab", is
a Filipino painter and was awarded National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts (Painting)
in 2006. He has been noted as "arguably the best-selling painter of his generation of Filipino
artists.

Early life and education

BenCab was born to Democrito Cabrera and Isabel Reyes in Malabon, Philippines on April 10,
1942. He was the youngest of nine children. BenCab's first exposure and discovery of the arts
happened through his elder Brother Salvador, who was already an established artist during
Bencab's childhood.

He went on to study at the University of the Philippines, where he explored different art visual
forms - photography, draftsmanship, printmaking - while honing his chosen craft as a painter. He
received his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in 1963.

Family and European Career

BenCab met British journalist Caroline Kennedy in Manila in 1968, and married her in London
in 1969. The couple decided to stay in London. They have three children. The eldest, Elisar, was
born in 1971 and is now a film and web series producer, married to award-winning playwright
and web series writer, Lisa Gifford, based in London; Their middle child, Mayumi, was born in
Manila in 1973 and became a successful model both in London and Los Angeles. She currently
lives in Los Angeles with her partner, John A. Fries and their two children, Ronan (2011) and
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Ione (2013). Their youngest, Jasmine was born in 1977 and currently lives and works with
BenCab at the BenCab Museum in Baguio.

Bencab's first years as a painter in London "were not particularly easy", but his talents were
immediately recognized. Over the next four decades, he established for himself a name of
international importance, holding exhibitions from London to New York to Macau, and winning
several major art awards in a career spanning four decades.

When BenCab returned to the Philippines in 1972, he was hailed as a Filipino pioneer of the arts
and a significant influence among his peers. However, he returned to London once more in 1974,
partly to get away from the tightening grip of Martial Law, which Ferdinand Marcos had
declared in 1972. That event is said to have "marked the beginning of [BenCab]'s passionate
involvement with social commentary and the topics of repression and freedom.". His Larawan
series developed out of his nostalgia for the Philippines. He and Caroline used to scour local flea
markets all over Europe looking for early maps and prints of the Philippines. This collection
became the basis for his Larawan series.

In 1985, however, BenCab's 16-year marriage with Kennedy ended in divorce, and he eventually
decided to come home to the Philippines.

The Baguio Years

BenCab eventually returned to the Philippines, and settled in the City of Baguio in Northern
Luzon, eventually putting up a studio and a secluded little farm on Asin road, in the nearby town
of Tuba, Benguet. He and a small group of fellow artists - visual artist Santiago Bose,
filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, and sculptor Ben Hur Villanueva, among others, established
the Baguio Arts Guild (BAG). It was during this period in his career that BenCab began to more
deeply explore the use handmade paper as a medium on which to work.

When the 1990 Luzon earthquake struck, BenCab and the BAG helped out by instituting
programs such as the ArtAid workshop for traumatized children, and a fund-raising art auction
they titled "Artquake." Bencab was elected president of the guild the following year.
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Later in the 1990s, BenCab's input was a critical element in the creation of Tam-awan Village, "a
refuge for local artists who desire a nurturing environment in which to develop their talents, and
a community for all those who wish to take part in the harmonious fusion of art, culture,
environment, and history."

BenCab also exhibited considerably during the last decade of the Millennium, also reaping many
accolades. Among the most prominent of the many awards received by BenCab during this
period was the Gawad CCP Para sa Sining (Cultural Center of the Philippines Award for the
Arts) in 1992.

National Artist and Recent Awards

In 2006, the Philippine Government conferred upon him the Order of National Artist for Visual
Arts. In 2009, the University of the Philippines conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of
Humanities degree.
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Federico Aguilar
Alcuaz

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz (June 6, 1932 February 2, 2011) was an award

winning Filipino painter who exhibited extensively Internationally and whose work earned him
recognition both in the Philippines and abroad.

Alcuaz was conferred the title of National Artist for Visual Arts, Painting, Sculpture and Mixed
Media in 2009. However, four nominees for the award other than Alcuaz became embroiled in
the 2009 National Artist of the Philippines Controversy, which led the Supreme Court of the
Philippines to temporarily issue a status quo order on August 25, 2009, blocking the conferment
of the awards on all seven nominees - despite the fact that no objections were ever raised
regarding the conferment of the award to Alcuaz and two other nominees.[1]

About

Federico Aguilar Alcuaz was born on June 6, 1932 in Santa Cruz, Manila. He was the 6th of 11
Children of Mariano Aguilar a Lawyer and a Musician and Encarnacion Alcuaz. He finished
early schooling at the Dr. Albert Elementary School and San Beda High School. He studied law
at the Ateneo de Manila and finished his degree in 1955. In 19491950 he took up painting
subjects at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts. In 1955 he went
to Madrid with a scholarship at the Academia de San Fernandowhich he got through the help of
the Jesuits from the Ateneo de Manila. In 1956 he chose Barcelona as his career base.He also
became a member of the La Punalada Groupwhich counted among its members Tpies, Cuixart
and Tharrats. In the same year he began signing his paintings with Aguilar Alcuaz to distinguish
himself from two other Aguilars who are also members of the La Punalada Group. In 1959, he
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met Ute Schmitz, a woman from Hamburg, Germany, whom he married 3 years later and they
had 3 sons: Christian, Andreas and Matthias.

Death

He died on February 2, 2011 in Manila, Philippines due to natural causes.

Awards

1st Prize, UPCFA Art Competition, 1953

1ST Prize, Roadside Squatters, 4th SNSAC Modern Painting Category, 1954

1st Prize, Montcada Award Barcelona, 1957

Francisco Goya Award, Cercle Maillol Barcelona, 1958

Republic Cultural Heritage Award, 1965

2nd Prize Prix Vancell, 4th Biennial of Terrassa (Barcelona Spain),1964

Exhibitions (Philippines)

Solo Exhibition, San Beda College, 1953

Solo Exhibition, Centro Escolar University, 1954

Solo Exhibition, PAG, 1955

Exhibitions (International)

Solo Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art, Madrid, 1956

Solo Exhibition, Galerias Layetanas Barcelona, 1956

Solo Exhibition, Galerias Manila Barcelona, 1956

Solo Exhibition, Hispanic Cultural Hall Madrid, 1957

Solo Exhibition, Galerias Layetanas Barcelona, 1957

Solo Exhibition, Galeria Dintel, 1957

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Solo Exhibition, Galeria Dintel, 1958

Exhibited at th Gallery of the City Hall of Burgos Spain, 1958

Solo Exhibition, Asociacion Artistica Vizcaina Bilbao, 1959

Solo Exhibition, Galeria Ilescas Bilbao, 1959

Solo Exhibition, Galeria Ilescas Bilbao, 1960

Solo Exhibition, Sala Vayreda Barcelona, 1960

Solo Exhibition, Galeria Ilescas Bilbao, 1962

Solo Exhibition, Galeria Ilescas Bilbao, 1972

Solo Exhibition, Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao (tapices), 1973

Solo Exhibition, Eindhoven (tapestries), 1973 (2)

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Mariano Ching

Mariano Ching is a ChineseFilipino artist, painter, illustrator, and photographer. His works
have been exhibited in Philippines, France, Singapore, Malaysia and United States.

Biography

Mariano's first experience with art was at fours years old with his cousin, teaching him how to
draw simple shapes. He and his brother, Jonathan Ching who would also grow up to become an
artist, would spend their time to draw instead of playing outside. He was greatly influenced by
the anime Mazinger Z and Voltes V which was widely popular during his youth. They would
significantly affect his future works. Reaching his high school years, his parents reminded him to
think carefully about his life career. They said there is no money in art and should consider
medicine or engineering as career and to make art as a hobby. But despite his parents' constant
reminder, Mariano still pursued the road of becoming an artist. He enrolled to a lot of art
workshops to hone his skills. One of the workshops that he attended became the turn point of his
life. At the art workshop which is headed by Elemer Borogan and Gina Morales, the art style of
the paintings has touched him and made him to decide to switch from his fourth year engineering
major to painting major in University of the Philippines. During his years in University of the
Philippines, he co-founded the art group Surrounded by Water. There, he found his future wife,
Yasmin Sison which is also a member of Surrounded by Water. Mariano Ching, at that time, was
still new at the art scene and he has not garnered any recognition yet.
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In 1998, Mariano won his first major award from the Philippine Board on Books For Young
People (PBBY), a nonprofit and non-governmental organization committed to the development
of children's literature in the Philippines.[3] This event is held on every third week of July. His
illustration work on a book entitled Mayroon Akong Alagang Puno had won him the grand prize
of the event, the Alcala Illustrators' Prize, a cash prize of P25,000.00, a gold medal, and an
opportunity for the book to be published.

In 2001, he won an award again at the same competition for the same category with a book
entitled Bakit Matagal ang Sundo Ko? Cover Illustration for Bakit Matagal ang Sundo Ko?"
2001.

In 2002, he won the Monbusho Scholarship. The Monbusho scholarship is given to foreigners
under the Japanese government to study in Japan. He became a grant awardee as a research
student in Kyoto University. He majored in printmaking, specializing in Japanese woodblock
printmaking.

In 2006, Mariano Ching received the Thirteen Artist Award given by the Cultural Center of the
Philippines (CCP).

Surrounded By Water

The art group Surrounded by Water was founded by Wire Tuazon. The group was named
"Surrounded by Water" after the first gallery that was held in Angono, Rizal. Its concept is based
on Neo-Angono. The group moved the Surrounded by Water gallery to Mandaluyong. They
established a concept that is based on emerging and experimental art in and around Manila. They
exhibited art that is not regularly shown in galleries and there were few galleries that took in
emerging young artists