Botong’s 100th year inspires school exhibits, fashion line

About a dozen kids aged 6 to 12 years painted on the spot at the new Glorietta wing at Ayala Center, as part of a homage to mark the centenary of the National Artist for Visual Arts Carlos “Botong” Francisco organized by the fashion house, Freeway. Francisco was born on Nov. 4, 1912.

The children are students of the Blanco Family Academy, a basic education institution with an enhanced arts and music program. Based in the birthplace of the late Botong, Angono in the province of Rizal, the school was put up by the Blancos, a painting family that also calls the town its home.

Demonstrating that Angono continues to spawn Filipino artists, the kids delighted and impressed both invited guests and onlookers as they deftly wielded pastels to produce works that went way beyond stick figures usually associated with children.

The creative display was a fitting complement to the fashion show that officially launched Freeway’s celebration of Botong’s 100th birth anniversary.

The Holiday 2012 Collection of the National Artist Collectors’ Series, featuring designs inspired by one of the Philippines’ most eminent painters, is the latest in Freeway’s efforts to honor distinguished Filipino artists and popularize their works with a broader and younger audience.

Botong’s colorful art, inspired by typical scenes in his beloved Angono, by Filipino myths and legends, and by significant periods in Philippine history, is splashed on Freeway blouses, T-shirts, dresses, skirts and accessories.

The Freeway show included a short panel discussion featuring Ino Manalo, director of the National Archives; Carlos “Totong” Francisco, the artist’s grandson and the only one so far to follow in his  footsteps, and fashion icon Margarita “Tingting”  Cojuangco.

They gave the audience a glimpse of the life and legacy of the painter who remained firmly rooted in his hometown and never ventured outside the country. Award-winning actress Cheri Gil moderated the discussion.

Manalo, who wrote a book about the artist, said although Francisco never left the Philippines, he nevertheless followed closely, and learned from, the trends in other countries, drawing inspiration from, among others, Mexican Diego Rivera in creating his murals.

Botong, who worked in all kinds of media, also brought his art to a broader audience by working as a set designer, primarily for eminent Filipino filmmaker Manuel Conde, in several movie productions.

Sheree Roxas Chua Gotuaco, chief executive officer of Elite Garments which owns the Freeway, Ensemble, Solo and Twenty-two B.C. fashion stores, unintentionally set in motion a collaborative initiative to mark the artist’s centennial when she thought of putting Botong’s works on Freeway’s latest collection.

The consortium of 16 public and private institutions, which includes three major universities, started the centennial celebration with the exhibit, “Botong and Puruganan: A Double Centennial Tribute,” at the University of Santo Tomas Museum.

It will officially close in November 2013 with a combined exhibit and education program, “Botong during the Japanese Era,” at Vargas Museum of the University of the Philippines, Francisco’s alma mater (although he did not finish his fine arts course).

Other members of the Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco Centennial Consortium are Far Eastern University, Angono Artists Association, Ayala Museum, Blanco Family Museum, Botong Francisco Family, Cultural Center of the Philippines, Lopez Museum, Municipality of Angono, Museo ng Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas,  Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Philippine Art Awards, SM Malls and Yuchengco Museum.

For more information on Botong’s centenary, e-mail [email protected] or check out Carlos “Botong” Francisco Centennial on Facebook.

Visit www.FREEWAYONLINE.com.ph and facebook.com/FreewayOnline. Follow Freeway on twitter.com/FreewayOnline.