Andres Barrioquinto at Provenance Gallery

Raul and Joanna Francisco recently opened their new gallery called Provenance at Shangri-La at The Fort hotel in Taguig City. It was fitting that they chose award-winning artist Andres Barrioquinto to open their gallery.

Barrioquinto’s huge and colorful canvases were indeed a sight to see hanging on the walls of what is probably one of the most beautiful galleries in Manila. The artist had four black and white works on paper as well, which had animals with some colored butterflies behind them.

Art lovers, press, socialites and the curious crowd attended the opening exhibit to see what the Philippine art world is so excited about. I have followed Barrioquinto for the past few years because I am a big fan of his works.

Barrioquinto is known for his paintings layered with Japanese style art and patterns but his latest works have been shifting away from that style. He spent his teenage years in Hong Kong and went back to Manila to study Fine Arts major in Painting at the University of Santo Tomas in 2000. He has had several solo exhibits in Manila and around Asia since. Barrioquinto was awarded the prestigious 13 Artists Award by the Cultural Center of the Philippines in 2013 and his works can be seen at the Singapore Art Museum.

His latest exhibit titled Nocturnes really proves that his works are evolving. I am happy that I have some of his small works from the past and I am still looking forward to the time when I can finally have a big Andres Barrioquinto in oil hanging on my wall.

Congratulations, Andres! I (and thousands of your fans) really do look forward to seeing more of your exhibits.

(Provenance Gallery is located at the Shangri-La at The Fort’s Retail Unit 2F9, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. For inquiries, e-mail [email protected].)

Discovering the Philippines on two wheels

French couple Fabrice and Celine Garlenque, together with their three children Titouane, Amielle and Fantine, discovered the beauty of the Philippines on two wheels. They saw firsthand the country’s  people and culture as they visited fantastic destinations on bicycles.

The Garlenques have traveled around Europe, Australia and Asia but they were smitten by the Philippines’ natural beauty and unique customs. According to them, their trip to the Philippines was incomparable to anything they experienced before.

Their biking adventure started at Romblon’s largest island, Tablas. The Garlenques then biked around the islands of Marinduque and Mindoro and were awed by spectacular mountains, enchanting caves and breathtaking beaches.

Riding their own special bikes made it easier for them to enjoy nature up close. It also allowed them to interact with the locals and experience a taste of rural life.

“There is a huge diversity of things that can be seen and experienced in the Philippines,” noted Celine. “Filipinos are very friendly towards tourists. It is authentic and inherent among the people.”

The Garlenques were able to experience many firsts such as riding a bangka (an outrigger boat) and bathing at a communal water source or poso. The children also got to climb coconut trees to pick the fruits themselves, a practice common in the country’s provinces.

They were also amused by local delicacies such as quail eggs, which are eaten as snacks. They also enjoyed eating the sweetest bananas, papayas and mangoes. Above all, they were delighted to eat rice — the staple food of Filipinos — for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The last leg of their three-week holiday was a visit to Intramuros in Manila. Instead of using their custom bicycles, they rode around the Walled City on bamboo bikes to get a glimpse of the country’s history during the Spanish period. Their trip to Intramuros included stops at Casa Manila, the plaza of San Agustin Church, Puerta Real, Plaza Roma and Fort Santiago.

“With so many things to see and experience, we will definitely come back. We’ve only been to three islands and there are more than 7,000 islands to explore. In fact, we have to come back many times!” shared Fabrice. For their next visit, they are looking forward to explore more of Romblon; they also intend to visit Palawan.

The Garlenque family is only one of the millions of tourists who are continuously impressed by the vast natural wonders of the Philippines. Their experience of the Filipinos’ unique brand of hospitality makes them want to visit the Philippines again and again.

(To find out more of the beauty and splendor of the Philippines, visit www.tpb.gov.ph and www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com.)

A fun & chic collaboration

Fun and chic Brazilian footwear brand Ipanema launched its latest collection in time for the sizzling summer season — Ipanema with Starck.

Designed in collaboration with world-renowned French creator, inventor, designer and architect Philippe Starck, Ipanema’s latest sandals and flip-flops feature four distinctive designs in several colors: Arty, Glamour, Nature and Chic.

During the Manila launch, the ballroom of Discovery Primea was transformed to reflect Starck’s signature minimalist and timeless look. Models soon took the catwalk as they showed the newest collection of flats, flip-flops and sandals.

Hosted by Samantha Purvor, the launch was graced by ELRO Retail Corp. president Francisco Elizalde and ELRO Corp. president Carlos Elizalde.

Francisco said, “I believe that Starck’s ability to impressively design a whole range of products is what sets him apart as a designer. And the Ipanema with Starck collection is proof of this, as exemplified by minimalist and timeless elegance.”

(For more updates about Ipanema’s newest collection, visit www.facebook.com/IpanemaPhilippines.)

(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)