Did you know

Today, May 30, is the 119th birth anniversary of the country’s first national artist, the late painter Fernando Amorsolo. Born in Paco, Manila, in 1892, Amorsolo was one of the first graduates of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts where he taught for 38 years. He popularized the image of the “dalagang Filipina” and extensively portrayed traditional Filipino customs. In 1973, he became the first artist to be named a National Artist.—Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research