Asean Must-See Selection
Asean Must-See Selection
By Cesare A.X. Syjuco
Published in: The Manila Times, April 29, 1987
ON exhibit through most of May at the Kulay-Diwa Galleries in Sucat, Paranaque, is a special preview of paintings by the 1987 ASEAN Selection bound for Singapore in June. I was fortunate enough to have been invited to take a peek at some of the work destined for overseas, and to meet the five young artists who will be personally representing the Philippines in the 5th Asean Youth Painting Workshop and Exhibition under the sponsorship of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
I can think of enough good reasons why local aficionados should take the time to see this show, notwithstanding the 12-kilometer trek that such a trip entails. For one thing, these five young artists have literally earned our attention by besting their peers in open competition. And to have won the right to represent their country abroad was certainly a feat in itself, regardless of the frail mechanics of contests in general.
Being a poor country, we hardly ever get the chance to send any of our compatriots abroad — particularly not developing young artists. These winners, then, will have the very rare opportunity to meet head-on with a larger, foreign audience, and to interact with artists from other nations. Such “expeditions” abroad are of inestimable value not only to the beneficiaries themselves, but also to the development of our own creative resources. It is hoped that these chosen few will not only seek to broaden their personal horizons, but to return to us and to share the wealth of their experiences with their peers. To represent one’s country, therefore, is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Orville Tiamson, Sid Hildawa, Gerardo Merino, Jeho Bitancor and Jesus Medina may not be household names as yet, but fate has virtually singled them out for prominence — built, as it were, on this auspicious landmark encountered so early in their creative careers.
If only because we cannot afford to send each and every one of our bright young talents overseas, we should make it a point to give these five as much of our support and encouragement as we possibly can. It is shameful enough that some “out-of-the-way” private gallery has had to take up the cudgels for them — in lieu of our government-funded exhibitional venues. Then, too, conversely, by rising to the occasion, Kulay-Diwa has taken a significant step towards establishing itself as a major cultural outpost in our suburban outback.
This writer salutes the young “ASEAN 5”! If they are to do us proud, we must first do well by them.
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Cesare A.X. Syjuco, “Asean Must-See Selection” (page 1 of 1), The Manila Times, April 29, 1987
