Meeting BenCab in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines -  It is not often that Cebuanos have the opportunity to meet up close with a National Artist.

However, recently The Bluewater Gallery at the Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort proudly hosted a solo exhibit of portraits and nude figure drawings on paper, mostly done with charcoal and pastel by the man of the hour, Ben Cabrera, popularly known as BenCab.

The intimate gathering started with cocktails where fresh vegetable and fruit drinks were served together with bite-sized canapés.

Guests-of-honor BenCab, the property's visionary and owner Consul General of Austria Arcadio Alegrado, his daughter and resort manager Julie Alegrado Vergara, Cagayan de Oro-based art patron Rafaelita Pelaez, and accomplished photographer Raul Arambulo did the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

Welcoming the invitees was Victor   Vergara who was instrumental in bringing the artist to the islands.

The main attraction for the invitees that starry, moon-lit night was personally meeting the very shy artist. BenCab spent a good part of the evening graciously signing copies of his books and brochures, and posing for pictures with the invitees who were remarkably impressed with the artist's virtuosity in rendering beautiful images and figures.

As the glass doors opened, attendees were awed, and some I dare say even mesmerized by the sheer beauty and simplicity of the portraits. The contoured forms are highly expressive, even at times emotional .

The opposite wall had 10 sketches of women in their natural beauty which were done with a sensual brush. BenCab continues to display his fascination of the unadorned female figure whose beauty lies in their form and delicateness, which represents both the interaction between the artist and his model and his mastery of the formal beauty of the draped material.

With careful study of the subjects with its lines and light, expressions and shadows, the guests began to narrow in on their favorite pieces and one by one the blue dots, indicating acquired pieces, appeared .

Beaming with joy and   pride as owners of a BenCab masterpiece included former Department of Tourism Secretary Ace and Carmi Durano, Baguio resident and friend of the artist Freddie Alquiroz, realtor Ato and Gigi Alvarez, restaurateur Marlene Mondoñedo, lawyer Joseph Gonzales, educator   Rafaelita Pelaez, sisters Julie Vergara and June Alegrado, and frequent traveler Alice Plaza.

Before the evening came to a close, each painting had a new home.

BenCab whose illustrious career spans over four decades is a pioneer in addressing social and political issues, as well as portraying Filipino identity. He is commended for his draftsmanship in expressing universal human emotions and everyday narrative drama.

In 2006, by virtue of a Presidential Proclamation he was conferred the title of National Artist for Visual Arts and again in 2009 BenCab was honored with a doctorate in the Humanities, honoris causa, by the University of the Philippines, his alma mater. (FREEMAN)