Art exhibit for kids/Christmas at Manila Bay

An artist compatriot, who made good in Austria with his paintings, is in town for a five-day art show, after a series of highly successful exhibits in his adopted country, Austria, in some Asian countries, and in the East and West coasts of the United States.

Thomas “Picasso” Aquino is all set to hold his art exhibit of 25 paintings at the newly constructed Selah Garden Hotel on 2714 Park Avenue, San Rafael, Pasay City, starting December 17 at 4 p.m., and will run until December 22. After that, he will hold another exhibit at the Austrian Embassy.

Tommy Aquino is donating the proceeds from the sale of his art pieces to Visions of Hope, headed by Peer Servant Arlene Sy, a ministry involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of street children. Visions of Hope is a ministry of the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) led by my friend Ruth S. Callanta. 

This year he did exhibits in Busan, Korea World Fair in July, London Art Fair at the Saatchi Gallery in September, and Shanghai in November.

Billed “Be My Guest,” the art show in Manila is Tommy Aquino’s “homecoming exhibit. “Tommy has earned the name “Picasso,” since most of his paintings belong to the genre and style of famous Pablo Picasso. His masterpieces will feature “The Blond Hair Woman” and “The Heart, Body and Soul.”

He is quick to add though that, unlike Picasso’s, his artistic creations are brighter. “I bring sunshine to all my paintings,” he volunteers, “because I want my audience and those who buy my pieces to have joy in their hearts.”

His painting titled “Tranquility,” had won the approval of peers and critics from the Art Association of the Philippines. The art piece was subsequently included in prestigious exhibits held in various Asian capitals.

Tommy Aquino’s catalogue of paintings includes landscapes and seascapes that are marked by luminosity and cheery sentiment, according to his art partner and art aficionado Corrina Stener who, by the way, owns the Gallery Steiner located within the First District of Vienna.

Tommy migrated to Austria in 1999, and lives in the 19th District of Vienna. Former Ambassador to Austria Lourdes Yparraguirre conferred on this artist the title “Ambassador of Goodwill” due to his art and winning ways.

“I migrated to Austria because I wanted to live in a country which truly values culture, music, and the art,” he said. “My career flourished in Vienna, and so now I want to share my time and resources for my compatriots in my native land. ”

Artist Tommy will be in the Philippines up to first week of February, before he proceeds to Miami for an exhibit that month, and in New York City in March.

His artistic debut – a successful one – in Vienna was held in 2000, called “Be My Guest.” It featured 50 paintings. He has been featured in “Balitang Global” and “Balitang Europe.”

Not yet 60, Tommy comes across as one full of energy and enthusiasm, which shows in his paintings,” says Jefferson Tomas, builder and owner of Selah Garden Hotel.

An AB mass com degree holder from Far Eastern University, Tommy reportedly excelled in his art classes. He is also a song writer. He began composing songs at age 10. In June 2014, he won a song writing contest held in Vienna.

*      *      *

We’ve enjoyed Christmas celebrations, and we shall experience our 2017 Christmas celebrations with more pomp and circumstance from December 15 to 17, through an event called “Christmas by Manila Bay.”

The three-day festival, sponsored by the Automobile Association of the Philippines, the Department of Tourism, and the International School of Sustainable Tourism, “will put to the fore the Filipino’s trademark resiliency and indomitable spirit,” says AAP president Augusto Lagman.

The festival features a Christmas market from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on December 15-17 at Fort Santiago, Intramuros. To be showcased are  native Pinoy delicacies, novelty items and crafts, daily items, Christmas goodies, lanterns, costumes, native jewelry, footwear and everything nice.

Aside from giving visitors a taste of how Pinoys celebrate the yuletide season, the festival has a noble purpose: raise P60,000 to help child victims of Marawi and other areas of devastation. Guests can purchase a gift worth P200, and donate it to a fund precisely for the victims. One may donate outright cash at a counter designed for the purpose.

The whole day of the three days, there will be musical performances at Fort Santiago. Banda Kawayan Pilipinas, the country’s top bamboo orchestra based at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, will serenade the crowd with well-loved Filipino carols.

Other opening day activities are celebrity performances, revival of indigenous games through the Palarong Pinoy spearheaded by Quezon province, and an “acoustic night” featuring Peter and Vangie up-and-coming musical talents.

On December 16, there will be the Pagkaing Pasko cooking exhibition which will showcase the culinary heritage of the province of Quezon, appearance of the Hermana Mayor of Christmas by Manila Bay, and an evening mass at the Manila Cathedral Basilica to kick off the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi.

Highlighting the festival on December 17 is the turnover of the 60,000 gifts by Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for the children of Marawi City, Yolanda victims, Hospicio de San Jose, and children of soldiers who died in Marawi.

This will be followed by a grand Christmas Parade by the Bay at 4 p.m. from the CCP Complex to the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park. The parade will feature vintage and classic cars from Vintage Cars Philippines, and corporate and government-sponsored floats. Quezon province will show off samples of its Pahiyas ang Niyogyugan, the municipality of Angono, Rizal, its famed papier mache “higantes”, Pulilan, its kneeling carabaos, and the province of Negros Occidental its Masskara festival dancers.

The event draws to a close with a musical concert featuring artists from MCA Universal and a spectacular fireworks display at Fort Santiago.

*      *      *

Advance greetings to Aurelia (Aurie) Ampaya Reyes, who is celebrating her 70th birthday on December 20, in her own country after living in the US for several years. Aurie was born and raised in Muntinlupa, finished her BSEED at the University of the East, and trained as an intern at De LaSalle Greenhills in Mandaluyong, where she was awarded outstanding student teacher. She was one of the four pioneer teachers of kindergarten in public schools founded by the late Mayor Antonio Villegas in 1969, with Dr. Rose Biron as director-adviser.Taking up residence in the US with her husband, she worked for the LA school district, and was a supervisor for one of its financial and budget services until she retired in 2005, after serving for 25 years.

Aurie and her husband Emmanuel Datu (now deceased) actively promoted Philippine culture in the Los Angeles community. Her husband was the leader of the Filipino-American Family Cultural group composed of Fil-Am children who were the performers, and parents the choir members and rondalla players. The group performed in different parts of the US, and as far as Marseille, France, and Rome, Palermo and Sicily in Italy, and in Mexico, with Aurie as the soloist.

Aurie is here for good, having  gladly accepted the baton for program director from Dr. Rose Biron, president of the board of trustees of C.A.R.E. Philippines, a holistic mission embracing evangelism and social responsibilities.

*      *      *

Email: [email protected]