An Afternoon with Nemiranda

Edmund suggested that I should ask master artist Nemiranda to do my portrait. Wala akong portrait, it never crossed my mind to have one, especially now, ang pangit-pangit ko na.

He said it’s something I will leave with my children. I told him eh kung patay na ako, baka katakutan pa yung mukha ko. Itatapon lang yun pag patay na ako. Hindi daw.
Eh di sige. I texted Nemi. I told him if he could do my portrait less wrinkles. He answered “of cors yes. Wud gladly do it. Visit anytime”.

Last Wednesday I left the office at 1 pm to reach Angono at 3 pm. Naku kahit ala-una pa lang ng tanghali, grabe na ang traffic sa EDSA. Umiwas kami and went to Kalayaan to C5, nay ko mas grabe pa. Balik sa EDSA. That wasted some 40 minutes of my time.

Luckily, traffic in Ortigas Avenue extension Eastbound was light to moderate. From the corner of C5 and Ortigas Avenue, it was only a half hour easy drive to Ford Cainta.

Edmund joined me in what was supposed to be a 15 minute drive to Angono but turned into 40 minutes because of the traffic congestion at the intersection from Jollibee to way past Puregold and Bahay Kawayan. Nakaka pagod pag ganito lagi ang buhay. Araw-araw na lang ganito ang traffic. Dapat meron tayong award na mga Pilipino sa pagka pasensyoso natin. My husband kept on telling me to just accept this “lifestyle”. Masakit na nga ang bewang pwet, balakang ko sa kauupo ng 3 -4 hours sa traffic. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit ganito.

Finally we reached Nemiranda’s Museum and Art Gallery. Buti na lang free daw sya today, nadun lang sya.

The town of Angono also popularized what they call Higantes. Eto giant head of a carabao.

Malakas at Maganda. Nung araw kahit pangit ang lalaki, basta malakas, kayang mag-igib ng dalawang baldeng tubig at mag taga ng kahoy.

Nemi mentors young artists from Angono.

Notes on the exhibit

I was the model for this giant sculpture. I have it so I flaunt it.

Goddess of Wind, blessing the farmers with abundance. I really like large paintings but I don’t have a wall to hang it. And I don’t have that money to spare.

I showed him the study of the Last Supper he did in 1978. The paper kasi is turning yellow, baka masira yung drawing. I asked how to preserve it. He said the paper would turn yellow but the drawing would not be affected. I also showed him the other frame, ganun din. It was a Mother and Child done in ballpen ink.

My brother, Kuya Ben, his kumpare and barkada, eh inarbor daw yun. That was when Nemi was still starting. Kuya Ben told him daw “sisikat ka”. Tingnan mo, nagdilang anghel ang kuya ko. Kita nya kasi magaling ang kamay at may estilo.
His first solo exhibit was in 1979.

Selebrasyon sa Bukid, Oil on Canvass, Size 60″ x 70″

Edmund likes this oil on canvass a lot. Titled “Kapatas”, this depicts carpenters , builders in action. The word kapatas means co-worker, partner in a project or venture. It could also refer to a foreman in a construction project.

This is a beautiful piece, Maria Makiling, acrylic on canvass. Acrylic is less expensive than oil.

As an artist, Nemi derives his inspiration from where he came from, the environment he grew up in, his experiences when he was a child. Angono and Binangonan are adjacent to each other. Rice fields, rural folks, probinsya living, bahay kubo. Although we both lived in the town, there were still many parts of Rizal 20 years ago that had bahay kubo. Ngayon wala ng rice fields, puro subdivision na. No one plants palay anymore.

In his painting, a guy is seen playing a guitar. Ngayon wala ng ganyan sa Binangonan, puro karaoke na lang kaya ang ingay.

Sabungero, acrylic on canvass. I like this one too kasi merong manok.

While I went around looking at the paintings, Edmund and Nemi enjoyed their kwentuhan.

Nemi pointed out the bench they are sitting on. It’s art in itself. My brother also had a bench similar to that (the artist in him).

Ang sarap ng upo nila, sali rin ako.

I encourage you to come here and spend two hours art appreciation tour. It’s fun and relaxing. They also have a restaurant where you can eat before you go. Tyempuhan lang ng wala pang traffic, siguro umaga. So dito kayo magtanghalian.

I thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon visit. Looking at Nemi’s masterpieces was so much fun.

I also feel a special connection to him because he and my brother (+) were best friends and he treated my brother well. Tingin ko sa kanya parang kuya ko rin. I feel grateful to him for being so kind to my brother.

The future art student of Nemiranda, who knows baka sumikat din ako.