{"id":27593,"date":"2014-10-02T09:28:46","date_gmt":"2014-10-02T01:28:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=27593"},"modified":"2025-01-13T09:38:03","modified_gmt":"2025-01-13T14:38:03","slug":"master-of-art-romeo-romi-mananquil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2014\/10\/02\/master-of-art-romeo-romi-mananquil\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Art: Romeo \u2018Romi\u2019 Mananquil"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/a>
The Maestro, Romi Mananquil, working on a painting in his basement studio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To his colleagues and friends in the industry, he is known as the \u201cMaestro\u201d (master). Having spent most of his life painting, his mastery of the art is, indeed, unquestionable.<\/p>\n

Romeo Mananquil, also known as Romi, discovered his passion for the arts early in life. In fact, he learned how to draw before he learned how to write. The discovery of a world-class talent came when he found his father\u2019s old painting of the Caloocan town hall and some old copies of \u201cLiwayway\u201d magazine\u2014one of the oldest magazines published in the Philippines\u2014with Fernando Amorsolo\u2019s artwork on the cover in his aunt\u2019s old \u201cbaul\u201d (chest).<\/p>\n

When he opened the old chest, it seemed like a whole new world had opened for him as well. He was fascinated by what he saw. Using the little money he had, he immediately bought paper and excitedly copied the paintings and the comic series in the magazine using a pencil. \u201cRight there, I made up my mind that I would be an artist,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

From then on, he never stopped creating art.<\/p>\n

Painting a colorful beginning<\/h6>\n

He was just 10 years old when he got his first art commission for a school project. \u201cI was ecstatic. It was a big job… a colored map of the Philippines in paper mache on a whole plywood. I labored on it for days, but I felt so fulfilled when I finished it and my customer was very happy with it. I got paid seven pesos (less than a quarter in CAD), which to me was a big, big amount,\u201d said Romi.<\/p>\n

He was, then, just a boy who was happy with seven pesos; a boy who did not know yet that one Mananquil painting would cost much more in the future.<\/p>\n

Publicity came right away for Romi. His work was first published in The Torres Torch, the official publication of Torres High School in Tondo, Manila. Eventually, he became the paper\u2019s chief artist. But young Romi did not just excel in the arts and extra-curricular activities. He also excelled in academics.<\/p>\n

Because he was the best student in his class and graduated with honors, he didn\u2019t have a hard time getting admitted to the prestigious University of the Philippines (U.P.). He was one of the first to major in Illustration in U.P.\u2019s School of Design, alongside other notable artists like Daniel H. Dizon, Ruben Nicdao, and National Artist Benedicto \u201cBencab\u201d Cabrera.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

During his university studies, he also met the person who would become his mentor\u2014Professor Jose Joya, one of his teachers.<\/p>\n

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As Joya\u2019s prot\u00e9g\u00e9, Romi assisted in many of his teacher\u2019s artistic projects, like painting the backdrops for the ballet presentation \u201cGiselle\u201d at the Rizal Theatre and a mural at the new mansion of big-time punter Felipe Ysmael. \u201cI was his first choice (among his students that included Bencab) as student assistant for bigger commissions. Once, he gave me a job he couldn\u2019t do and asked Bencab to be my assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Romi, Jose Joya was the most encouraging teacher. The professor knew that his student\u2019s talent had no limit and that he would go far. Despite that, he taught Romi one important thing: \u201c[He told me], \u2018do not overwork, you should know when to stop.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Romi<\/a>
Romi (second from right) with his fellow Fine Arts students at U.P., including artists Daniel Dizon and Benedicto Cabrera.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Becoming the \u2018master of art\u2019<\/h6>\n

Because his talent was ready for the world to see, \u201cLiwayway,\u201d the same magazine that first introduced him to the world of the arts many years ago, hired him to do illustrations before he even finished school. After graduating with Latin honors from U.P., he continued working for the magazine and became one of the country\u2019s most illustrious artists. Romi also became a respected teacher at U.P.\u2019s Fine Arts College.<\/p>\n

In the 80\u2019s, Filipinos across the country would see his work. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) hired him to design the 1985 flora and fauna series of banknotes and coins together with two other artists. He was the artist behind the first two-peso Bonifacio decagonal coin, the Balagtas 10-centavo coin, the one-peso tamaraw coin and the Tandang Sora five-centavo coin. He also designed the now discontinued green five-peso Aguinaldo bank note, the tri-hero 1000-peso bank note, and a 500 pesos Marcos bill that never circulated.<\/p>\n

He also became famous for using the dry brush technique when illustrating for magazines back in the day. Many artists who were his seniors and were more famous than him even copied his style.<\/p>\n

Starting with a blank canvas again<\/h6>\n

At the height of the Marcos movement and also his career, Romi decided to leave the Philippines with his family. \u201cI thought I have to do something for my family in that kind of situation,\u201d he said. He had the opportunity to meet the Canadian Consul General at the time, and he and the Consul General immediately became good friends. He used his newfound friendship to be able to bring his family to Canada. \u201cI was able to get immigrant visas for all of us in 3 months.\u201d<\/p>\n

Starting a new life in a foreign land is never easy for many, and Romi couldn\u2019t agree more. \u201cFor the first time, I experienced job hunting, applying, and getting rejected for the strange reason of being \u2018overqualified\u2019 and not having \u2018Canadian experience.\u2019 I finally got hired as an artist in a flag factory when I cut down my education to \u2018high school graduate,\u2019\u201d says the Maestro.<\/p>\n

Having taught art courses back home, Romi eventually got hired as an art instructor at the Hilltop Community School for Continuing Education in Etobicoke, Ontario, and also conducted workshops in oil painting for Etobicoke School of the Arts. In 1989, he also got a job as a graphic artist at the Yellow Pages Group.<\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

\"Romi<\/a>
Romi (extreme right) with fellow artists during the first ever Philippine artshow in Toronto. (L-R) Papu Leynes, Ike Dizon, Art Cunanan, Ed Araquel, Rol Lampitoc, and Hubert Sabelis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Looking into new horizons<\/h6>\n

It was his feature in Filipino newspapers as the artist behind the flora and fauna Philippine banknote collection that led him to meet and be recognized by other artists in Canada. \u201cThat signaled the need for binding together,\u201d Romi said. Together with his new friends, he joined Pilipino Artists in North America (PANA).<\/p>\n

In 1988, he reorganized PANA and renamed it as the Philippine Artists Group (PAG), which later became the Philippine Artists Group of Canada. He became the organization\u2019s first president and served for 14 long years.<\/p>\n

Art was the only thing that connected Romi to his life back home and he wanted to share that connection with other Filipinos in Canada. \u201cThe PAG was organized to unite Filipino artists practicing their art [and] to primarily promote and showcase Philippine visual arts in this part of the world,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

No matter how prestigious it may sound to be a president of an organization, Romi admitted that becoming the leader of a struggling group was a daunting task. \u201cAs president of a new struggling group composed of ultra sensitive members, I had to swallow my pride many times just to keep the group alive. To top it all, nobody wanted the job, and so for its first 14 years I was at the front line, doing most of what was to be done and getting most of the heat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Despite all the challenges, Romi remained strong for the group and said he would not have traded the experience for anything else. \u201cNow I feel fulfilled seeing the PAG as a robust and respected group in the community, especially now that more and more Filipinos are starting to patronize Philippine art through the PAG,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Romi\u2019s hard work in promoting Filipino visual arts in Canada was recognized when he received a Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal, which is a commemorative medal awarded to Canadians who made significant contributions to their community. In addition, the PAG now has more than 20 members, including young Filipino artists, and holds shows and exhibitions all throughout the year.<\/p>\n

Appreciating the greatest art of all<\/h6>\n

After years of service to the PAG, he decided to hand over the reins to another person. \u201cI felt that somebody had to take over, so the PAG could shift gears and freshen up,\u201d he said. However, he still wanted to continue looking after the group. Today, he still serves as an advisor to the organization.<\/p>\n

Romi also decided to leave his career at the Yellow Pages Group to retire. But even though he is retired, he still has lots to do. \u201cI just retired from my regular job. There is no retirement [when it comes to] being an artist, a househusband, a father, a grandfather and a family man.\u201d<\/p>\n

He spends most of his time now conducting workshops in his basement studio, supporting the new PAG officers, and enjoying every moment in life with his family. He is happy that he now gets to spend more time with his loving wife Necie, who has been at his side for almost four decades. Romi said that even though he looks up to artists like Juan Luna, Fernando Amorsolo, Botong Franciso, John Singer Sargent, Nicolai Fechin, Carolyn Anderson, Robert Coombs and Richard Schmid for inspiration, his greatest influence and inspiration is his wife.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was pursuing her, I used to include her in my illustrations for Liwayway, whenever I can,\u201d he fondly recalled.\u00a0 \u201cHer likeness is always there when I paint Philippine women\u2026 There is something of her in practically all of my paintings,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

When asked about his plans for the future, Romi Mananquil, the master of art, said he would place everything at the hands of the true Master. \u201cWhatever is next, God will guide me.\u201d Following his mentor\u2019s advice to know when to stop, the master of art is putting down his brush to finally appreciate the greatest art he created\u2014his life and his wonderful journey in it.<\/p>\n

\"Romi<\/a>
Romi stands by his mural with wife Necie at the U.P. Bahay ng Alumni lobby.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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