“His
figures are un-anatomical, his work more evocative than literal. Aside from
these we think De Guzman is recording some metaphysical insights by means of
his personal mythology," written by then Cultural Center of the
Philippines Director Raymundo Albano on Gomburza
Martyrs (1971) by Jaime De Guzman (b.1942) which prominently hangs on the
second floor of the Cultural Center of the Philippines Main Building.
It
was in Pasinaya, the CCP Open Arts
Festival in 2015 that Billy Bagtas first caught attention to this visual masterpiece
which was De Guzman’s artistic ode to the three Filipino priests who inspired
Jose Rizal to write the El Filibusterismo.
For close to an hour Bagtas was enthralled and unmindful of his friends who
were with him--intently stared at the mural which features a distortion of the
three priests as martyrs done in feverish brushstrokes and emotive colors.
Bagtas was immediately transformed by Gomburza Martyrs as these Filipino clergy ignited the clamor for Philippine revolution during the 19th century. And every chance Bagtas gets to visit the CCP he would never fail to see the De Guzman mural like a venerated image with religious devotion.
From the Gomburza
Martyrs Bagtas would learn and gain the confidence that paintings can be
dark both in theme and in composition; that one can include one’s anger,
doubts, dreams with the surreal historical and bespoke myths and legends as Jaime
De Guzman proved it can be done in black and red. In his first solo exhibition God Bless Our Home Bagtas introduces us
to his beloved family and provides a tell-all tale of the inner workings of
their Caloocan household.
 |
| Luha at Pangil |
In
the Name of the Father
Our story starts off fresh in a bakery in Orion,
Bataan where Bagtas’ parents, Crisanto and Cory met. Cory was working there when
Crisanto chance upon her and introduced himself. He then asked her employer if
she could go out with him on her next availability. Cory is seven years older
than Crisanto but the age did not matter and soon they were an inseparable
couple.
Soon Crisanto would accept an offer to work in Saudi
Arabia for their common future. By the time he finished with his working
contract he went home and married Cory and eventually settled down.
Crisanto, being a natural tinker and works well in a
junkshop, is the one Bagtas thinks he owes his creativity to, imbibing his meticulous
attention to detail. Crisanto’s biological genes however may be his only
contribution to their blood relations. Deep within him is a man exuding with
false machismo. He was once a philandering husband leaving his family for
another woman. Being ghoulish and full of deceit, Bagtas paints him as is with protruding
horns and hanging pangs in Bukal ng
Buhay, Tatlong Sungay. Despite
Crisanto’s shortcomings, this painting
occupies the biggest exhibiting space not only in the gallery but in Bagtas’
heart in his honor. Their ongoing relationship is one wrought in love-hate.
Bagtas remains to be a true Christian and as a dutiful son, Bagtas still accords
him with the greatest respect.
In Aso Krus Bagtas even strikes a
pun intended only for him as he calls to attention Crisanto’s four unruly dogs
who furiously roams around the house during the day. They even spread their
litter everywhere. No wonder Bagtas sees his father as being a dog himself
later on.
In Luha at
Pangil Bagtas is elegiac as he hopes
his father will still humble himself and repent for his past sins not only as a
husband and father but as a mortal being. As tears freely flow, one day he will
weep, ask forgiveness and maybe be proud of what Bagtas has already accomplished
as a visual artist.
And
of the Son
The Bagtases are a brood of three children with
Bagtas being the middle child. They are your typical Filipino family barely
surviving their daily struggle with the economics of life in the suburbs of
Caloocan. In fact they were once saddled and lived in a former pig pen with only
curtains as decoration.
Cryam is Bagtas’s elder brother and one he is
closest with. In Panalangin ng Laman Bagtas believes that he will find
heavenly favor and be converted from his earthly ways as his stigmata suggests.
Last April, during the intense lockdown, Cryam’s girlfriend suffered a
miscarriage. This fortuitous event has affected the whole family and
overwhelmed Bagtas who was already preparing for his show. He timely marked the
sad milestone in Anghel Gabay (Bulaklak) mourning for the baby’s passing as
Buchokoy (his name) was already two months in his brother’s girlfriend’s womb
as evident in Anghel Gabay (Kaluluwa).
 |
| Anghel Gabay (Kaluluwa) |
When Bagtas become Born Again Christian his works
became darker yet he introduced other colors particularly violet and pink signifying
acceptance as a leap of faith. He will often use them to mean it is done and a
gentle reminder to remember them only in memory. Such is Tao (Alaala) where he
immortalizes his dearly departed nephew and never to relive the pain again.
And
of the Holy Spirit
Yvonne is Bagtas’ youngest sibling. She was adopted
from an aunt who almost sold her because they lived in dire poverty and could
no longer support her. Yvonne was adopted by Bagtas’s parents and treated her
as their own. She is the first to be renewed as a Born Again Christian. One
day, when Bagtas was so distraught and needed help after a failed suicide
attempt, it was Yvonne that he reached out. Bagtas pleaded her to bring him to
the Lord.
Two years ago, 18 year-old Yvonne got pregnant by
her boyfriend. Sa Pagiyak at Pagtanggap captures that moment when the family
found out her delicate condition. Garbed in white Yvonne gets emotional as Cory
in her floral aura anguish with her. Succeeding this scene is Apoy at Dugo where Yvonne and her baby Ishang have already strengthened their
bond as mother and daughter. In Salitang Dumurog sa Sariling Puso Bagtas reminds Yvonne’s boyfriend
to keep his promise to marry her and provide for their better future.
 |
| Apoy at Dugo |
Before Bagtas was saved by the Lord in 2017, he was
experiencing many pains both physical and emotional in nature. He had a
recurring ache on the chest and lower abdomen. In fact during his graduation
with a Fine Arts degree from EARIST he almost could not muster himself on stage
and collect his diploma. Because of its recurring presence, he had to beg off
being in the first batch of the Tuklas Program of Eskinita Art Gallery to be
mentored by Alfredo Esquillo and Renato Habulan.
Since he became a Born Again he was relieved of
whatever negative he was constantly feeling. He also summed up that practicing kindness
will always make you feel light and happy. Another installation is Trono ng Awa which is about conquering pride and let mercy rule our bare existence.
In Di Purong Tinik Bagtas pays homage to the epitome of mercy, his mother, Cory. She exemplifies
stability in Bagtas’s life, the calm before (and even after) every storm of
their lives.
Expect Bagtas to unapologetically explore the
defining mood to a certain sentimentality to his own self-portraits. In Wasak
Loob he is at his lowest depression being heart-broken. It is as raw as
done in spontaneous strokes. He was badly hurting from a girl who just took him
for a romantic spin. He thought she loved him--to think she was of the same faith
as he is.
 |
| Wasak Loob |
Espiritu
ng Hayop
reflects
his softer side as a cat lover. As a young boy he will often bring home stray
cats from the streets. Often fascinated with their eyes and fur, he is always
surrounded by their feline comfort while painting and even when asleep beside
them.
For Bagtas one has to trust the Lord and He will
make everything beautiful in His time. Then maybe his family will finally come
and see themselves in his paintings. In the end, home is where the art is.
 |
| Pagiyak at Pagtanggap |
Note: God Bless Our Home, first solo exhibition by Billy Bagtas opened at the Eskinita Art Farm on November 22 until December 20, 2020.
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