Fil-Canadian artist holds show for UP Centennial
By Rose Tijam
Toronto, CanadaPROMINENT Canada-based Pangasinan artist Romeo ‘Romi’ C. MananQuil will represent the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Toronto, Canada at this year’s UP Centennial celebration in Manila.
Self portraitOfficially sponsored by the UP College of Fine Arts and the UP Alumni Association Toronto, Romi MananQuil will have a One-man Art Exhibition titled ‘Uniquely Pinoy’ on April 15-30, his first homecoming show since he left for Canada more than 20 years ago, as part of the centennial celebrations at the main campus in Diliman, Quezon City.
UPAA Toronto president Noel Cruz said “the Greater Toronto alumni are honored to send such an accomplished artist to represent the members to the grand events in the Philippines”.
Breakfast in Beach
“Romi MananQuil came from the same school that produced nine National Artists, all giants in Philippine contemporary arts – Fernando Amorsolo, Guillermo Tolentino, Carlos V. Francisco, Napoleon Abueva, Cesar Legazpi, Vicente Manansala, Jose Joya, Abdulmari Imao and Benedicto Cabrera. His works showcase the rare talent of an exemplary Filipino artist. We are very proud of him,” Cruz stated.
Ligaw-tingin
The MananQuil Art Show is also endorsed by the Philippine Press Club Ontario, Filipino Centre Toronto, Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre and several prominent Filipino-Canadian community leaders in Ontario.
Although born in Caloocan, Romi considers himself a true blue Pangasinense, speaks fluent Pangasinan and his mother, Gloria Malicdem Castillo-Mananquil is from San Carlos where he partly spent his childhood and where most of his relatives are. He is married to the former Aniceta Maron Aquino of Binmaley.
MananQuil graduated cum laude, and later became an assistant professor and chairman at the UP College of Fine Arts.
Prior to becoming a serious painter, MananQuil was a sought-after illustrator for top magazines and books published by respected authors including the late National Artist Nick Joaquin and famed author/artist Alfredo Roces.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas had commissioned him, with two others, to design the 1985 series of Philippine bank notes and coins which included the first decagonal Bonifacio 2-peso coin and the tri-hero 1000-peso bill still in circulation. His “Declaration of Philippine Independence” vignette in the now demonetized Aguinaldo 5-peso bill was adapted for the P100,000 Philippine centennial commemorative bank note, accredited by the Guinness Book of Record as the world’s biggest legal tender note.
MananQuil immigrated to Canada in 1985 and in 1988, founded the Philippine Artists Group of Canada and headed that organization for 14 years. An accomplished portraitist, he is now a member of the prestigious Portrait Society of America.
Recently, MananQuil has been invited by Bridges, A Gallery of Fine Arts, in St. Charles, Illinois to be one of its gallery artists. Romi is the only Filipino and the only one from Canada among predominantly American artists whose works are selected based on quality and originality, and considerations of personal and artistic integrity.
U.P. Invitation
To see some of his paintings, pls. visit: www.mananquil.com, www.philippineartists.com, www.bridgesfineart.com/, http://www.bridgesfineart.com/artists.html.
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