Betty Go Belmonte and the timeless portraits of artist Edwin Sion
MANILA, Philippines - As The Philippine STAR celebrates its 26th year, it is also fitting to reminisce about the publication’s well-loved founder, Betty Go Belmonte. A philanthropist and art lover, Belmonte encouraged artists and patronized their works, especially during the decades of the ‘80s and ‘90s. One of the artists whose career Belmonte supported was portrait artist Edwin Sion.
Belmonte so strongly believed in Sion’s talent that she chose his now-famous portrait of President Cory Aquino to be featured on the cover of The Fookien Times’ 1986-1987 issue. After the yearbook came out, Sion recalls how flattered he felt when Belmonte called him to predict that “he would be famous” because President Aquino liked the portrait very much.
To further encourage Sion and other artists, Belmonte supported the first group exhibit of the Punla Art Group on Aug. 23, 1987 at the Manila Hotel where Sonny Belmonte was then president. The event was featured prominently in The Philippine STAR and Sion’s career was further given a boost when his photo with President Aquino appeared on the front page.
In 1991, Sion presented the sepia portrait of Belmonte that she had commissioned. The artist recalls how Belmonte immediately phoned him in appreciation and exclaimed, “Thank you for the beautiful portrait. This is my face when I get to heaven!”
Edwin has also done the official portraits of the Speakers of the House that grace the walls of the Philippine Congress. Sion is also a sought-after portrait artist of prominent celebrities and personalities including Rep. Manny Pacquiao and other congressmen.
Although he first became known for his signature sepia portraits, Sion has broadened his style to include colored portraits in pastels and watercolor on paper. At a single glance, those knowledgeable of portraiture can easily spot Sion’s work because of his distinct soulful style. Critics have described how Sion adds vivid “life” to his portraits by emphasizing his subjects’ eyes and making these the focal point of the artwork. First sketching and outlining a portrait in sepia, Sion then finishes the work in watercolor, said to be the most difficult medium to use in portraiture. The final artwork has a classic dreamlike and ethereal quality.
Sion also gained international exposure when he was invited to join an exhibit of Filipino artists at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York in 1993. He has been recently active in Mindanao where he has held exhibits at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao.
Sion can create portrait masterpieces from pictures given to him — even old black and white photos can be preserved as unique and genuine works of art. If you’re looking to invest in artwork that is timeless and transcends generations, commissioning a work by Sion is a good choice. For inquiries on Ed Sion’s portraits, call Thess Sion at 0917-9486494 or 952-6168 or e-mail ed_thess@yahoo.com.
