About 20 years ago when my Kuya Ben was still alive and very much in the art scene being a graduate of architecture. and friends with many Angono artists including his kumpadre Nemi Miranda, he encouraged me to buy some paintings from his friends. But that time, I didn’t have extra money for art. I enjoyed visiting galleries and spent hours admiring the paintings but that’s just about it. Hanggang admiring lang, no buying.
Sayang my Kuya Ben is no longer around. It would be nice if the two of us could visit his friends’ workshops in Angono. I’d like to meet them and look at their works.
My renewed interest to visit art galleries in Angono was sparked by the Inakay painting by Jose Blanco.
The artist died in 2005 but his children and grandchildren keep his memory alive. They have a big art museum and school in Angono.
My driver and I went to the palengke and just asked for directions to the Blanco Family Museum.
I didn’t expect that it would be that big. Kala ko bahay lang na ginawang gallery.
The art gallery is open 7 days a week.
It was fairly quiet the day I went. There was only one guy, from Switzerland, looking at the paintings when I arrived.
You have to allot at least two hours to look at all the paintings. I didn’t expect it would be this many.
And they were not just any art na isinabit. They were all impressive; subjects well chosen, masterfully executed.
There were hundreds of paintings so hindi ko sya matitingnan lahat because I only allotted an hour. Binilisan ko ang lakad at pinagkukunan ko na lang sila ng pictures.
I think this was done by Jose Blanco’s daughter.
They saved the best for last. The mural paintings of their father, Jose Blanco was at the far end of the museum. Very impressive indeed. Sobrang ang laki, mahirap kunan ng picture.
According to the museum’s curator, Si Jose Blanco daw ay lumalabas araw-araw at nagbabahay-bahay at iginu-guhit ang mukha nang mga kalapitbahay nila. Kaya lahat daw ng tao dito sa mural ay totoong mga tao at lehitimong taga Angono.
Wala pang digital camera nung araw. Ngayon kokopyahin na lang ng artist ang picture.
Inabutan ko pa nung maliit ako na pag Mahal na Araw ay merong mga taga karatig bayan tulad ng Morong, Cardona, Angono at Taytay na nakakarating sa Binangonan na naka-suot Jesus at merong mga hudyo na pinapalo sya. Siguro yun ang naging inspirasyon ni Jose Blanco dito.
Inabutan ko rin na nuong araw, pag may naglilipat ng bahay, buong bahay ay binubuhat kasi kubo at magaan. Ang tawag ay Bayanihan kasi mgraming mga lalaki na tumutulong magbuhat. Nanghihinayang ako, sana pala meron na akong camera nun, para nakunan ko ng picture.
Wala ng libre ngayon. No one would volunteer to help you carry your belongings, baka itakbo nila pauwi.
Hindi na ito sa Rizal, sa Ifugao na yata ito.
This is an original oil painting done by the old man Jose Blanco.
Jose Blanco’s son Glenn Blanco was very nice and accommodating to me; add to the fact that we considered ourselves to be magkababayan. He likes restoring vintage Ford cars.
He was inviting me to go up to the building’s top floor where their work shop is pero nagmamadali ako at mamamalengke pa ako. Tingnan mo naman ang itsura ko, pampalengke.
Siguro next time. thank you Glenn.
Jose blanco died in 2008,not 2005..the painting hilot and one from ifugao is made by my grand father last 2007, it was some of his latest works before he passed.. No elder daughter nor children copied or can duplicate works of my grand father because he always thought every family member to come up with their own subjects, ideas can be inspiring but duplicating the work itself has never happened in the family history.. The blog is nice, but there are details that must be checked wisely po.. Museum is closed also every monday so we can utilize the area..
Dear Jasmin,
I will go back to the specific blog and see which part needs correction and updating. Thank you for the clarification.
The Blanco Family Museum is impressive and I admire the efforts put in to preserve the family heritage.
I intend to go back to bring my daughter and husband. Maybe sometime in August, after the pandemic. Keep safe and healthy.
Thank you for taking time to visit the Blanco Family Museum. As part of our Family bonding, we do travel and paint different provinces in the Philippines that’s why we share the same subject matter. We don’t do reproduction of our father’s paintings.
Hi Michael,
I understand that artists may have similar subjects but interpreted differently based on their style and imagination. Thank you for the clarification. Having an authentic and original piece of art is important for collectors. All the best.
Good pm po regarding dun s painting n ifugao n gawa ng Tatay wla akong kapatid n babae n nag kopya ng trabaho ng tatay o work ng tatay n irreproduce Pra s cliente… Pwede gumawa ng same subject pero ibang composition mali yung pagkkaintidi nyo at kung meron kayong nakita n work ng tatay n ni reproduce ng kapatid kong babae I challenge you n itag nyo ako dahil hindi namin gawain ang magreproduce ng work ng tatay… Thanks po
Hi Noel,
Maraming salamat for the clarification. I am glad that you are preserving the value and dignity of your work and the legacy of your father. Your family is blessed with great artistic talent and I feel blessed to have an oil painting by your dad. For years I’ve been wanting to go back to your museum to bring the painting and the papers for additional authentication. Stay well.
Good pm po regarding dun s painting n ifugao n gawa ng Tatay wla akong kapatid n babae n nag kopya ng trabaho ng tatay o work ng tatay n irreproduce Pra s cliente… Pwede gumawa ng same subject pero ibang composition mali yung pagkkaintidi nyo at kung meron kayong nakita n work ng tatay n ni reproduce ng kapatid kong babae I challenge you n itag nyo ako dahil hindi namin gawain ang magreproduce ng work ng tatay… Thanks po
Tama po Kyo maddevaluate ang value ng work ng tatay pag ginawa namin yun kya ingat n ingat po kami n huwag gawin ang ganung pamamaraan mali po ang sabi s inyo ng kuya ko… May painting po ako s writeup nyo yung canao festival yung may kalabaw n sinisibat recently may nagpa commission s akin ng ganung ganun kopyahin ko n lang po daw pero hindi ako pumayag kahit work ko n yun… Nag compose ako ng bago same theme pero more detailed ang work n natapos Thou same subject matter… Yung isang painting n may naghhilot at may naghharvest s background gawa din po iyon ng tatay at hindi ng kapatid kong babae… Thanks po ng marami s pagsulat nyo.
Hi Noel,
Ang Kuya Ben ko (+) ay kumpare at dikit na kaibigan ni Nemiranda. Silang dalawa ay lubos na tigahanga ng ama nyo.
Kami ay tubong Binangonan, kalapit lang ninyo. Madalas nuon ang kuya ko sa Angono, nagpupunta at nakikibarkada sa mga pintor dyan. Sigurado ko na nagagawi yun dyan sa inyo.
Salamat sa mensahe mo na hindi nyo inuulit ang mga paintings ninyo o ng inyong ama. Mahalaga ito para mapangalagaan ang pamana nya sa inyong pangalan, talento at dignidad.
Thank you for visiting the Blanco Museum and sharing with your followers the love and appreciation of Philippine art.
I wish to clarify that I was misquoted when you said that “we can reproduce” the paintings shown in the museum. We can make a similar painting in-terms of subject ,scene and mood of a painting but we never reproduce a painting. Thank you
Hi Glenn,
Maybe there was a misinterpretation of words. I am glad that the works and legacy of your father is being preserved by your family. Thank you for the clarification.