Cebu Plaza Hotel opens Abueva Art Lounge

For many years, a grand, thought-provoking sculpture of National Artist Napoleon Abueva hung dominantly against one of the massive walls of the Cebu Plaza Hotel.

Recently, the management of the city’s pioneer five-star hotel thought it was high time the Cebuanos paid tribute to the father of modern Philippine sculpture. And what better way than to have an art gallery named after the artist himself?

The first lady of the city Margot Osmeña, assisted by the artist himself, Pathfinder Holdings Philippines Inc. vice president Nestor Encinas, general manager Randy Baron were guests of honor at the inauguration ceremonies of the Abueva Art Lounge on the right wing of the property’s lobby. The artist’s wife, la doctora Sergia Abueva, who has been his inspiring inspiration, graced the occasion as well.

The sculptor is the son of the late congressman of Bohol Teodoro Abueva and the former Purificacion Veloso of Cebu, thus the Cebuanos rightfully claim him as one of their own.

Former childhood neighbors remember his early love for sculpture as he constantly formed figures of animals made of clay. Some recall he did busts during his high school days using plaster of Paris. Others even claim he did tombstones from cement.

Abueva’s unique ability to blend different materials such as wood, adobe, stainless steel, marble, metal, bronze, brass and iron alabaster has earned him praises and numerous awards worldwide. A number of his works are permanently exhibited in various museums here and abroad. Singapore has his "Asean Boat" while his "The Sculpture" may be found at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

Abueva was named National Artist in 1976, the youngest ever to receive such a prestigious and much-coveted award at the age of 46.

* * * Three Cheers For ‘Tres Sopranos’

"Tres Sopranos," a first-of-its-kind concert spotlighting three gifted singers and an accomplished pianist, was a sell-out.

Held recently at the Sinulog Ballroom of the City Sports Club Cebu, it was a laudable project of the Cebu Arts Council, headed by its dynamic and dedicated president Petite Garcia in coordination with the Instituto Cervantes and its Manila-based director Javier Galvan.

The well-attended show featured Ana Luisa Espinosa, a scholar of the Fondation Riyaumont de Paris who enhanced her technique under David Ferro and Lorraine Nubar of the Juilliard School in New York, Rachelle Gerodias, an honor student at the famed Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York where she received a Master of Music degree in vocal performance and literature with a Performance certificate under Professor Masako Toribara and Josephine Roces Chavez, who attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois were she received a scholarship as a voice major and has been actively promoting Philippine music in her desire to increase national consciousness among Filipinos.

Among the favorites of the concert are Chavez’s interpretation of Danza Española number 5 followed by El Pano Moruno, a selection of Spanish songs by Manuel de Falla, Gerodias’ rendition of the three classic songs by Fernando Obradors and Espinosa’s performance of the Cancion de Paloma from the Spanish zarzuela El Barberillo de Lavapies by Francisco Barbieri.

The three sopranos were accompanied by multi-awarded pianist Johnny Torres, who is currently on the faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Music and forms part of the jazz trio Majam. He plays the clarinet, baritone saxophone and the flute.

The memorable evening concluded with the trio singing together the well-applauded Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Amigos para Siempre (Friends Forever) that confirmed the success of the event which was enjoyed by all, bringing smiles to chairpersons Elvira Luym, Marissa Fernan and Vivina Chiu.