Vision Petron: Fifteen Artists for the First Fifteen

BY JAY BAUTISTA |

It’s that intangible quality in a painting, a quality so distinct, so unique that onlookers would say, ‘Now that’s a Filipino painting!’

Arturo Luz, 1953

A recent study conducted by the University of Oxford concluded that it is neither class nor status that makes one an artist. Rather it is in the manner one is educated that inspires him; how conducive his community influences him that enables his thoughts and feelings expressed on canvas or paper and create value in art. 

When Vision Petron National Student Art Competition (formerly called ArtPetron) was conceptualized 15 years ago, its sole desire was to inspire the next generation of painters to hone their art, excel and n the process, rediscover and appreciate Filipino culture, the long-time advocacy of Petron. While other existing art contests catered only to fine arts students, Vision Petron opened the opportunity to all college students and those enrolled in a museum-based art classes believing that creativity is not exclusively confined in artist studios and the academe. Petron thus positioned itself as an art patron of the talented youth.

In the course of running the contest we have been witness to some young artists who have shown promise at the onset of their soon-to-be flourishing careers. Here are fifteen of our best painters who we had the privileged of seeing them break their first light in art.    

El Viaje Familoia by John Paul Antido

JOHN PAUL ANTIDO (b.1982)

John Paul Antido is a hall famer having won in 2002 and 2005. A member of Antipolo-based Sanviaje Japs has a peculiar style of painting which is done by impasto technique laying thick paint with finite textured brushstrokes using vivid colors with light hues. With five solo exhibitions travelling has been his constant theme. He has also done illustrations for a children’s book and lately he has dabbled photographer where portraiture is his forte. His paintings were recently featured in a children’s book.

ROBERT BESANA (b.1976)

Manwal by Robert Besana

One of our first grandprize winner in 2001, Besana has always investigated the contemporary possibilities of materiality and perception. His winning work Manwal makes the viewers rotate their gaze as he captures children play a game of slippers giving this a unique perspective. He is now a director at the School of Multi-Media Arts at the Asia Pacific College where he is respected and has proven the best teachers of art are those that actively practice it.

CHARLES BUENCONSEJO (b. 1984)

Multi-media preoccupies Buenconsejo’s work while employing his deep foundation for photography where he was first recognized being first hall of fame in this category. He has won the Ateneo Art Awards two consecutive years and has done residencies in Visual Arts Center in La Trobe University in Australia. His art was shown in his solo exhibitions such as Unending Void, Destination Unknown, and Reality is a Hologram is infused with his inquiries on science. Sometimes to question is enough response. 

Children of the Fields by Charles Buenconsejo

 JOEY COBCOBO (b.1983)

The call of the indigenous is intrinsic to Cobcobo who come from a lineage of Ifugao wood carvers in the north. He has rediscovered his technique by employing a multiple layer of images done thou various media done in heavily indented prints. His subject matter pays homage of his tribal roots to the personal relationships we Filipinos value like our elderly and families. A CCP 13 Artists Awardee he now teaches in his alma mater Technological University of the Philippines.

                                                                   MARK ANDY GARCIA (b.1984)

Punong Puno ng Pag-ibig by Mark Andy Garcia

A graduate of Technological University of the Philippines, Mark Andy Garcia has won three runners up and a grand prize win. A recent CCP 13 Artists Awardee for 2015, he won grandprize in Metrobank Art and Design Excellence in 2007 and Juror’s Choice Award of Excellence for Philip Morris in 2008. Garcia paints autobiographical works bordering on his personal tragedies and joys despite the ruggedness and the raw texture of his works Garcia remains optimistic in his process, a kind of salvation Garcia wants us all to have.

FLORENTINO IMPAS (b. 1970)

What make Vision Petron unique is it is open also to students of museum-based painting classes where we discovered homegrown talents like Florentino Jun Impas. One of Cebu’s most sought after artist. He is also portraitist of choice of cardinals, bishops and has even been invited to the Vatican for a sit down with the religious there. Impas has done the official portrait of St. Lorenzo Ruiz of what we all are familiar with. He had significant solo exhibitions at the SM Art Center in 2009- “Portraits and Figures” and 2011- “Circle of Life”, Metropolitan Museum of Manila and 2014- “Kalendaryo Festival”, SM Art Center, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. This year he participated in painting Art and Anthropology at the Chicago Field Museum Mural Painting “Art ad Antropology” in the United States of America.

JEFFREY SALON (b. 1986)

Salon is a hall of famer having won in 2005 and 2010. Mark by his own realism and monotone palette, Salon is old school with his palette focusing on children and their plight and welfare. He has had solo exhibitions at the SM Art Center, Nineveh Art space and Singapore. He won in Sining PSE National Art Competition and the Miguel Malvar National Art Competition.

 
MARK SALVATUS (b. 1980)

Balwarte ni Lolo, Aming Munting Kastilyo by Mark Salvatus

Even when he joined ArtPetron and submitting wall bound paintings, Salvatus was always one step ahead of his contemporaries. For his winning piece in ArtPetron 2 he used red car paint Salvatus won the most white he etched with a white primary base his figures to come up with a toned down but still celebratory image of the Pahiyas from his hometown in Lucban. Always on the experiment for new technologies to debunk old myths found in history or even memory, he now and then gets to be invited in biennales and residencies while keeping his focus on his contemporary practice here. A product of UST Fine Arts where he taught for a time, Salvatus is a CCP 13 Artists Awardee and runs his art collective 98B virtually or wherever he is. 

ARTURO SANCHEZ (b. 1980)

Sanchez is proof that someone so technical can be the most artistic. Sanchez took up architecture at the Technological Institute of the Philippines. Mirrors have always fascinated Sanchez in fact his pieces are meticulously done by etching selected magazine images to reflect his art on the mirror. Based in the art town of two national artists, Sanchez has exhibited in local galleries and his artworks have participated in the auction houses in Hong Kong and Singapore. He won the Grand prize Philip Morris Philippine Art Awards 2013.

Market in Motion by Paul Quiambao

 CJ DE SILVA-ONG (b. 1987)

De Silva-Ong is a graduate of UP Diliman College of Fine Arts and award winning creative director at TBWA\Digital Arts Network. Right after graduating, she handling brands where she has been recognized in local and international shows: she has won in AdFest, Spikes Asia, One Show, D&AD and is part of the team that bagged the country's first Webby.

CJ is also a well-known painter. Versatile in her own illustration, her book covers for Sen Miriam Santiago “Stupid is Forever” have recently been lauded.

Ober Ober by Orley Ypon

RONALD JERESANO (b. 1984)

Social realism served its artistic purpose the turbulent times during Martial Law. With its strong political content the movement’s aesthetics revolves around anatomies of people as allegories to the dark perils of our country. Jeresano is a proud heir to social realism as his images speak of  our emancipation as a nation. He has won other major art competition and had solo exhibitions locally and abroad. 

RAFFY NAPAY (b. 1986)

From two-dimensional works, EARIST graduate Napay shifted into threads and fabrics into his canvases. Often dealing with his personal life, he stitches, tufts and weaves stories from memory. He has won in Metrobank Arts and Design Excellence, Ateneo Art Awards 2013. He had artist residencies in Artesan Gallery and Studio in Singapore in 2013 and Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool United Kingdom last year. He just attended the Florence Biennale in Italy. 

JAMES ONA (b. 1986)

Tulay ng Kalakalan at Hanap Buhay by James Ona

Despite the surplus of the DSLR cameras it takes an amount of time and dedication for a master lensman to emerge. Trained as a photojournalist in his alma mater PUP Manila, Ona would eventually cover more important events for his corporate clients. He does art photography for Studio 5 Designs coffee table book projects. He continues to work and teach for PUP Manila.

PAUL QUIAMBAO (b. 1991)

There are only three photographers in this list Quiambao is the one who seeks to elevate photography the most into an art form it rightfully deserves. School spirit runs deep for him UST in particular where he graduated with a degree in architecture. With his loyalty and perseverance Quiambao has been bestowed as UST’s quadricentennial photographer during its celebration in 2011. Motion and depth best describe his images. Remote islands has of late fascinated him most specially Batanes which he has visited many times over and he has photographed extensively.

ORLEY YPON (b.1973)

When Ypon won in the first ArtPetron in 2001 National Artist Napoleon Abueva commented that “he has Amorsolo’s light.” Based in Cebu, Orley is one of ArtPetron’s first grand prize winners and our first hall of famer for painting. A self-taught artist, realism has been Ypon’s trademark having been influenced by the master Martin Abellana. He has had an art residency last year at the Artist Renewal Center in New York. Our first hall of famer in Painting Ypon has come full circle as was our judge in the recent and previous Vision Petron. His first solo exhibition Bidlisiw ( -->sunrise) at the Altro Mondo Gallery is still ongoing. 

A Tiger With a Lens: The Photography of Paul Quiambao

BY JAY BAUTISTA |

Despite the emergence and the easy accessibility of digital camera in recent years, viewing prevalent photographic practice as an art form in the Philippines is still a blurred picture. Photography has yet to evolve from its commercial roots into a discipline it was meant to be, more than a century when it was first introduced to our shores. More so, lacking is a substantial writing on contemporary photography. One finds signification in the examining production of images taken from its various genres such as photojournalism, or government institutionalized images (even reading the positioning in photo opportunities), to how we portray our weddings has specific readings. 

Not that there is a dearth of worthy recipients, there has never been a National Artist awarded to a photographer though many a master lensmen have brought honor to the country by winning international photo competitions and exhibiting abroad. Rather photography is just relegated as one of those subjects under visual arts.

My belief in photography was reawakened with this young photographer who should we say obviously became obsessed with his alma mater as his subject. But I am writing ahead of my story.

Paul Quiambao considers himself a late bloomer in the arts, his epiphany arriving only after documenting his mother’s Christmas party at the Bank of the Philippines Islands Head Office in Makati when he was barely 12-year old. It was then that Paul began his love affair with the camera. He was just in first year high school.

Unlike other parents, Paul is blessed to have supportive ones: “My parents taught me to be independent and appreciative of my surroundings. This value resulted in my being a maverick; I work best when I’m alone.”

Santo Tomas, You are Stunningly Beautiful, 2011

A Realization called ArtPetron

As fate would have it, Paul entered University of Santo Tomas (UST) just as it was gearing up for its quadricentennial celebrations in 2005. As an inquisitive freshman, it was the UST Main Building that initially fascinated him: “First year pa lang ako, masyado na  kong attracted sa UST Main Building, shinu-shoot ko na lagi.”

Looking back now he noted how he wasn’t impressed at all with the photos in the Varsitarian, the university paper. The opportunity to make a change, or be the change could not have come sooner. In 2006, the Varsitarian photo editor announced an opening for photographers in the paper. As a sophomore, with fire burning in his belly, Paul submitted sample works and was immediately taken in. This was the same year he won in ArtPetron (now Vision Petron).    

On the two consecutive occasions he won in ArtPetron, Paul preferred quality over quantity, and submitted only three photos as entries. “I have always been disciplined on quality,” he emphasizes, “and even if ArtPetron allowed unlimited submission. Restraint is a quality a photographer must possess.”

His Favor of Carrying The Largest Human Cross

On March 9, 2011, Ash Wednesday, the officials of the Guinness World Records (GWR) watched as UST community of 13, 266 UST students and faculty formed a human cross and was still for five minutes in prayer. This beat the previous record of 935 people in red forming a giant Red Cross set at the Oslo Opera House in May 2010.

Paul was assigned to photograph this historic event, which was UST’s concrete collective contribution to its quadricentennial celebration.

“I was chosen to do this task because of my being a two-time ArtPetron grandprize winner. The UST Rector called the adviser of Varsitarian and inquired of this award-winning photographer who won twice in ArtPetron. I was called to his office and immediately given the responsibility.”

Recalling the incident, however there’s more to this story which makes Quiambao more thrilled.

Through the generosity of taipan Lucio Tan, a helicopter was made available. Meeting place was at the helipad of the Century Park Sheraton in Pasay City. The agreed time was that at 3:34 pm they should already be at the vicinity of UST for the official five minutes of being still to be recorded by GWR.

“However at 3:54 pm we had not left the helipad. My superiors at UST were already getting worried. The helicopter would and could only accommodate four people. Lima kami -- dalawang piloto, isang member ng Presidential Security Group (dahil dadaan over Malacanang), official photographer of Lucio Tan and me,” Paul narrates.

Paul was able to convince the photographer of Lucio Tan that he would just give him his best shots. To make the long story short, they were able to finally leave after the delays and infighting. Paul felt as if God orchestrated the act, by the time they reached UST it was already 4:11 pm, or as their watches were synchronized it was 16:11, the digital year UST was founded.

It was this time he felt the anointing spirit of his calling: “naramdaman ko na may mission ako sa UST. Di ako basta photographer dito. It was serendipitous that I am in UST,” Paul believes.

As earlier reported that day, because of the bad weather, the pilot said they could just go around UST quadrangle only once. Paul must take as much shots as possible. Again, as if God opened His window, they were able to go round the assembly ten times without interruption! And Paul’s best shot was the one with the sunlight beaming on the whole human cross, as if it was spotlighted.

Paul describes: “Buong university madilim, sa cross lang may ilaw. Yung sunray, nag-form into cross. I considered this my turning point in being a Thomasian. Pagdating ko sa UST, tumakbo agad ako sa simbahan to thank God, that I was privileged to do the task.”

World's Largest Human Cross

400 moments for the 400 years

With the wealth of Paul’s photos taken of the many facets of UST, he first thought of the 400 photos to mark its quadricentennial anniversary.

Entitled “400 Shots to Immortality, Timeless Photographs of the University of Santo Tomas Towards its Neo-Centennial,” his eagerness for UST was rejuvenated. Since he was an insomiac, Quiambao would wait for the perfect sunrises at UST buildings.

“Biased aside, lahat ng panahon maganda sa UST. It is a heaven in the middle of a desperate city.” Paul beams with pride. “Wala akong pinapiling araw o kundisyon for UST. One must work with the weather, there’s no such thing as perfect. I have shot UST in almost weather possible -- rainbow, kidlat, lunar eclipse, moondog, sunrise, sunset, even mini-tornado.”

Was it Paul’s aesthetic sense of architecture that became his canvas for creation or it was his pure passionate love for his alma mater that drove him to achieve such meticulous perfection?

Even Paul was amazed at his somewhat obsessive work ethic: “I would even stay overnight on a rooftop just to get a shot. Who would opt to capture UST’s gaudy rooftops on its seminal laboratories in the wee hours of the morning?”

In zest, Paul speaks further “another favorite time was when it rained kasi sure may reflections, something I became known for.” One of my most memorable shot was when I spent overnight at a tower just to frame a sunrise over the UST Main Building. A security guard had to wake me up and say ‘Paul tingnan mo sa likod mo.’ That’s when I saw a beautiful rainbow on top of the UST Main Building, which has always been on top of my wish list.”

Like a revolving carousel, his fun never stopped. “I was really after quality. The 400 carefully selected photos had to be timeless and still relevant when UST’s 500^th anniversary comes along. In fact, the day of the opening I was still shooting. That week I literally didn’t sleep and I had whatever chicken pox left in my skin. Until now, after the 400 photos marami pa rin akong di nailalabas sa UST. Sinacrifice ko sarili ko para makita ng Thomasians na maganda pala ang UST.”

Aside from reflections Paul ’s trademarks in his photos are fireworks and sunsets/sunrises. He also leans towards the unusual, more like puzzles for viewers to trigger them as to ask how the shot was taken and how the photo turned out to be.

“After 50 years gusto ko balikan and take another photo of these place. Given another chance, I will do it again,” he sentimentalizes.

Neo-Centennial 2012

Lasting Impressions

Symbolizing UST’s commitment to Excellence, the Benavidez Outstanding Achievement Award is given to students who have “extra excellence” in their respective fields. Given annually the Benavidez award is named after Bishop Miguel Benavidez, OP who in his desire to put up an academic institution bequeathed his funds and donated his personal library for the establishment of UST in 1611.

Paul holds the distinction of having been awarded with the most Benavidez trophies – four (out of the five years he has been a student). Two were for his two grandprize wins in ArtPetron. His third Benavidez award is a collective one, as he was part of the Varsitarian Quadricentennial coverage as its photo editor. The fourth is his being the Philippine delegate in the Asean Youth Camp in Indonesia in 2012.

Castlevania, 2012

Paul confessed that he did not previously have any formal technical know-how of a camera. He acquired the skill the long and hard way, by shooting as many images in the streets as possible: “Trial and error. I do not like to be confined with the technical complexities of photography. Mata pa rin ang importante.” Although the learning curve is long, he is fulfilled.

The Founder, 2011

In a world where everyone who has a camera considers himself a serious photographer, he advises that one must become more responsible with the photos one take.

To this day he would still receive thank you notes in his Facebook account for his contribution of bringing out the beauty of his alma mater. His photos showed – not a 400 year old institution -- but a living dynamic and iconic educational institution.

Currently, he is part of the forming of Fotomasino, a UST-based Photo club, initiated together with alumni and more advanced photographer students. His advice to budding lensmen is the investment in time: “You have to be there at the right time and place. However minsan talo ka. Kahit ang tagal-tagal mong naghintay, overcast pa rin or pangit ilaw. No one can predict the right formation of clouds and sunset. Second, dapat may puso ka, kailangan passionate ka sa ginagawa mo kahit anong mangyari. Dasal, diskarte, tiwala, ‘Wag susuko.”