Getting to know Gen. Miguel Malvar through art and anecdotes
Last Aug. 31, National Heroes’ Day, marked the opening of “Miguel Malvar: Facets of a Filipino Hero,” an art and historical exhibition at the Pintô Art Museum in Antipolo City. My brother Pete was commissioned to create a sculpture for the exhibition and invited us to the opening reception on Sunday, Sept. 6. It was a pleasant drive with my mom and brother Paul, as we all wanted to lend our support to Pete and his kinetic sculpture, “Malvar on Horseback.”
The sculpture is made of different media, including wood — poplar, mahogany and pine — and metal, including brass, aluminum, iron and stainless steel. Measuring 19.5 by 15 by 43 inches, including its pedestal, it is entirely handcrafted, from the carving and sewing to the milling. Everything was done by Pete himself — no subcontractors, no helpers.
The piece was commissioned by Pablo Gabriel “Gabby” Malvar, the great-grandson of National Hero Gen. Miguel Malvar. Gabby happens to be one of my brother’s lifelong friends; they have known each other since their grade school days at Ateneo.
According to Pete, Gabby gave him considerable latitude in creating the piece, but the two collaborated closely to ensure the historical accuracy of every detail — from the general’s uniform, accessories and armaments to the horse’s tack and saddlery.
Gabby’s original plan was for Pete to create a fully carved wooden sculpture. But as Pete progressed with the project, and after two iterations of the horse and rider in solid wood, he realized he wanted something more impactful.
That was when Pete decided to incorporate motion into the sculpture. He designed and built a mechanism that gives the piece simple yet dramatic movements, transforming it from a traditional sculpture into a kinetic work.
Pete deliberately kept the animatronics a secret from Gabby until ingress day at the Pintô Art Museum. So, when the finished “Malvar on Horseback” finally moved, it was also Gabby’s first time seeing the surprise.
Fortunately, he was most appreciative of the result. And indeed, watching the general and his horse come to life was quite a memorable moment for all of us.
Impressed by the experiential exhibition, which features contemporary paintings, historic dioramas, sculptures, facsimile documents and other memorabilia loaned by the Malvar family, and wanting to learn more about Gen. Malvar, I interviewed Gabby about his illustrious ancestor and the exhibition. How many chances does one get to interview the descendant of a national hero?
Here are some highlights from our Q&A:
What made you decide to have an exhibition on Gen. Malvar at Pintô?
“Dr. Joven Cuanang wanted the Pintô Art Museum to be more than a venue for art exhibitions. He wanted it to be not just an art gallery but also a place where people could learn about and be educated on history. We had an array of artworks, memorabilia, dioramas, letters and artifacts, and Pintô was the perfect place to present Malvar in a complete but different way.”
What was Gen. Malvar’s biggest contribution to Philippine history?
“The capture of Aguinaldo and the surrender of Trias in March 1901 left the First Republican Army without a leader. Malvar’s ascendancy and assumption of the mantle of leadership signaled the continuation of the resistance and provided a much-needed boost to the morale of Filipino troops still fighting in the field. His proclamation was clearly directed at the masses, whose commitment he sought to counteract the wavering support of a portion of the wealthy elite.
“Malvar adopted a new approach to expand his base of support and revitalize the resistance. With Malvar’s assumption of leadership, the resistance was galvanized until December 1901, when Gen. Franklin Bell took over and implemented extreme measures to capture him.”
What is the least-known fact about Gen. Malvar?
“There is no proof that Miguel Malvar was a member of the Katipunan or that he joined through its secret initiation process. He became a Katipunero by default when he joined Aguinaldo’s forces in Talisay in October 1896.”
Can you share a few anecdotes about Gen. Malvar?
“Miguel Malvar was close to the Rizals. Paciano, Jose’s elder brother, was not only a friend but also a comrade-in-arms of Miguel. Jose’s eldest sister, Saturnina, lent Miguel the funds he needed to start his agricultural endeavors. Those loans were paid in full.
“Miguel Malvar’s wife, Paula Maloles, had a pronounced harelip. It was Jose Rizal who operated on her. Fr. Felix Garces, the Augustinian parish priest of Santo Tomas, sent a letter to the provincial governor labeling Malvar a malcontent and an associate of subversives. Garces had Maximo, Miguel’s father, arrested. When the revolution broke out in August 1896, Malvar led a raid in Santo Tomas and Lipa to rescue his father, who had been tortured by the Spanish authorities.
“Miguel Malvar brought his entire family with him to the hills during the revolution and the war against the Americans, fearing they would be used as hostages to force him to surrender.”
Until when will the exhibit run?
“The exhibit will run until Sept. 27, General Malvar’s birthday. He was born on Sept. 27, 1865, in Santo Tomas, Batangas.”
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