Bulacan artists interpret Christ in ‘Kristo’

Clockwise from upper left:  Works by Jill Arwen Posadas, Reynaldo Amido, Francisco Nacion, and Gerrico Blanco. Photo by Jilson Tiu.

“KRISTO,” THE annual Lenten offering of visual artists from Bulacan, is now on its 10th year with a larger participation of homegrown talents—from beginner artists to established and acclaimed names.

The month-long exhibition opened April 13 and features the works of 64 artists from the province, who tackle through their styles and idioms this year’s theme “Alay,” also the theme of its Manila counterpart exhibit, “Kristo Manila.”

The exhibit’s founder, artist Salvador “Buddy” Ching says the exhibit aims to showcase the works of professionals, students and hobbyists, to pay tribute to the “true Master.” Ching started “Kristo” in 2001 as his panata (religious commitment) during Lent.

Santo Domingo Museum exhibits works by Joey Velasco

“HAPAG ng Pag-asa” and other works of the late religious artist Joey Velasco are on exhibit at Museo de Santo Domingo in Quezon City until April 24.
The exhibit “Beyond Life” seeks to help Catholics this Lent to “meditate on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ through the paintings,” said Fr. Giuseppe Arsciwals, OP, prior of the Sto. Domingo Convent. 

Quoting Velasco’s wife Queenie, Father Arciwals said the exhibit was so titled “[because] Joey has left this world but he continues to live through his paintings.”

Velasco, who died last year, was noted for his paintings and other artworks that combine Christianity and social realism.

“Hapag ng Pag-asa” is Velasco’s version of the Last Supper on a 4x8-ft canvas. It depicts Christ breaking bread with Filipino street-children. Models for the children were street urchins who have since been rehabilitated.

Also on exhibit is “Hele,” which shows Christ with special children.

Velasco’s affection for the young people is displayed in “Munting Sereneo,” in which three children help the suffering Christ carry the Cross.

Lavish coffee-table book honors heroes, trailblazers, saints and valiant history of Bataan

THE DEBACLE of Bataan on April 9, 1942 was never meant to go down history as a nation’s insurmountable defeat, for “it made heroes out of many, carving their niches as warriors in the glory of battle.” As a contemporary historian puts it, it’s ”the very reason why the historic event earned its fitting title, ‘Araw ng Kagitingan.’”

Such is how historian Jose Victor Torres puts it in his article, “Defeat and Glory: The Battle of Bataan (1942),” which is the closing essay of the lavish coffee-table book, “Peninsula of Faith and Valor: Bataan Through the Centuries” (Tomas Pinpin Publications, 2010).