BenCab's Baguio
MANILA, Philippines - National Artist for the Visual Arts Benedicto Reyes Cabrera has been a resident of Baguio City for the past 23 years. Away from the hustle and bustle of Manila, Bencab, as he is called, he has made remarkable contributions to the arts scene in the city, revitalizing it with other artists through their creativity. In 2009, he opened the Bencab Museum which is committed to promote the arts, preserve and conserve the environment and the culture and traditions of the Cordilleras, an expression of his gratitude to the country that nurtured and inspired an artistic career that continues to grow, mature and fascinate. This is his Baguio.
I have always loved Baguio — the weather, the quietness, the tranquility. There are also a number of artists like Santi Bose, Robert Villanueva, Dave Barradas, Kidlat Tahimik and Kawayan de Guia who live here because it’s conducive to creativity.
The fact that Baguio is part of the Cordillera region also serves as an inspiration to artists. There’s the Ibaloi art, the Kalinga art, which are all really fascinating. I consider the Ifugaos complete artists — they’re farmers, carvers, and weavers.
An American friend who was farming here told me he was moving to Thailand, and asked me if I wanted to take over the remaining 12 years of his lease. At first I wasn’t interested, but he gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
At first, we were just farming, but the owner of the land, who was Ibaloi, came to me and started selling portions. I was buying little by little until it became mine. And then I started liking it and had it terraced. And then the idea of having a museum combining art made by man and art made by nature came up.
The idea of a village as a venue to learn about the culture of the Cordilleras came about in 1998 when some Baguio artists including myself started Tam-awan Village.
It’s an artist’s village as well and I love the place.
I have been collecting art for more than 30 years — Cordillera art as well as the works of young artists. After some time I thought I have to house this properly, and the idea of having a personal museum and sharing it with others came about.
Raymond Sarmiento, an excellent designer who used to work for National Artist Leandro V. Locsin volunteered to design the place, and I’m very happy with it. It took us 2 1/2 years to build before we opened in February 2009. We’ve had good reactions since that time.
Bencab Museum is located on Km. 6 Asin Road, and commands a breathtaking view of the adjacent garden, farm hill and mini-forest, the surrounding mountains, and the South China Sea in the distant area.
SM has changed the way people live and shop in Baguio. It is a one-stop shop that has everything.
