Ayala Musem presents a traveling exhibit on Botong Francisco

MANILA, Philippines - After reaching three destinations in the Western Visayas from August 2013 to January 2014, and nine more destinations all over the Philippines in 2014, Ayala Museum’s traveling exhibition on Carlos “Botong” Francisco is scheduled to visit six more venues this year.

Titled “Botong Francisco: A Nation Imagined,” the show features 25 reproductions of Botong’s paintings from institutional and private collections. Accompanying these images is a film produced by Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI), and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Peque Gallaga on Botong’s vision and artistry.

This outreach initiative of AFI’s Arts and Culture Division is a traveling version of the museum exhibition held last December 2012 to March 2013 in celebration of Botong Francisco’s centennial birth anniversary at Ayala Museum in Makati City. The exhibition showcased over 40 actual paintings by Botong supplemented by a short film that captured his large-scale works and murals commissioned for public buildings. The film had also been selected for inclusion in the documentary category at the 2013 Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.  An exhibition catalogue with the same title was also published for this exhibition. Together with the film documentary presentation in each site, the exhibition catalogue also forms part of the educational component for each site. Copies are donated to partner venues for their reference centers and library.

“Under the Mango Tree”                                            “Woman and Boy Walking Against the Wind”

The traveling exhibition was launched at the District North Point Mall in Talisay, Negros Occidental and subsequently toured to Museo Negrense at the University of St. La Salle, Bacolod and Museo Iloilo, Iloilo City in 2013 through early part of 2014.

By partnering with malls and centers of education such as universities, museums, and tourism councils, Ayala Museum believes that the life and legacy of the artist will be widely promoted, particularly to students and general audiences outside Metro Manila, where its main building and exhibition spaces are based.

“Botong: Francisco: A Nation Imagined” is currently on exhibit at Casa San Miguel, Zambales City as part of the 22nd Pundaquit Arts Festival. It will be on view until April 6.

The show will soon be presented at the Art Gallery of the People’s Museum and Library, Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya from April 10-30.

Ayala Museum will collaborate with the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) in presenting this traveling exhibition in five NHCP-sites: Rizal Shrine, Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila from May 6-31; Museo ng Katipunan, San Juan, Manila from June 5-30; Museo ng Mabini, Tanuan, Batangas from July 3-29;  Barasoain Church Historical Landmark, Malolos, Bulacan from Aug. 6-31; and  President Ramon Magsaysay House, Zambales City from Oct. 7 to Nov. 3. This partnership with NHCP was initiated with the presentation at the Aguinaldo Shrine, in Kawit, Cavite City, as part of their Christmas celebration in December 2014.

“Botong Francisco: A Nation Imagined” exhibition catalogue and film by Peque Gallaga are now available for sale at the following Fully Booked branches: The Fort (BGC), Alabang Town Center, Rockwell, Greenhills-Promenade and Cebu.

For information, email Aprille Tijam at tijam.ap@ayalafoundation.org or call 759-8290.