ARTISTS FROM PAMPANGA

Norma Belleza
Norma Jaciledo Belleza (3 May 1939) now 79 years old, is a painter who
began by painting dark and sombre representations of religious subjects. Then, she
progressed into colorful and detailed works on folk genre subjects, including Metro
Manila aides, peasants in various rural activities, women vendors, and potters. She
emphasizes the physical strength and native appearance of her subjects.

“Tres Tinderas”
Oil on Canvass (24”x30”)
Carlo J. Caparas
Magno "Carlo" Jose Caparas (born December 15, 1958) now 59 years old,
widely known as Carlo J. Caparas, is a Filipino comic strip creator/writer-turned
director and producer, who is best known for creating such Filipino superheroes
and comic book characters as Panday, Bakekang, Totoy Bato, Joaquin Bordado,
Kamagong, Kamandag, Elias Paniki, Tasya Fantasya, Gagambino, Pieta and Ang
Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang, among others.

“Ang Panday”
Comics by Carlo J. Caparas (1981)
The Panday (blacksmith in the Filipino language), whose real name is Flavio,
is a fictional Philippine comics character created by writer Carlo J. Caparas and artist
Steve Gan. His adventures were serialized in the series Ang Panday in Filipino
Komiks in the 1970s. The character took his place in Philippine pop culture when
the comics were adapted to film, starring Fernando Poe Jr. as Flavio and Max
Alvarado as his archenemy Lizardo. The film spawned three direct sequels as well
as other more loosely connected films.
Vicente Manansala
Vicente Silva Manansala (January 22, 1910 – August 22, 1981) was a Filipino
cubist painter and illustrator. Vicente Manansala, a National Artist of the
Philippines in Visual Arts. Manansala was born in Macabebe, Pampanga. From 1926
to 1930, he studied at the U.P. School of Fine Arts. In 1949, Manansala received a
six-month grant by UNESCO to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Banff and
Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In 1950, he received a nine-month scholarship to study
at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris by the French government.

“Madonna of the Slums”

Painting by Vicente Manansala (1950, Cubism)
Madonna of the Slums is a portrayal of a mother and child from the
countryside who became urban shanty residents once in the city.
Brillante Mendoza
Brillante "Dante" Mendoza (born 30 July 1960) now 57 years old, is a Filipino
independent film director. He was born and raised in San Fernando, Pampanga. He
took advertising arts of the then College of Architecture and fine arts at the
University of Santo Tomas.

“Kinatay”
A film directed by Brillante Medoza (2009)
Kinatay is a 2009 independent drama film directed by Brillante Mendoza and
written by Armando Lao. The story is centered on a criminology student (played by
Coco Martin) who accidentally joins a syndicate to make enough money for his
family. The film premiered at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best
Director Award, the first Filipino film to do so. The film was included in the 2009
Cinemalaya Film Festival.
Galo B. Ocampo
Galo B. Ocampo (16 October 1913 – 12 September 1985) was a Filipino artist.
He was also the first Filipino to study heraldry and was a member of the
International Institute of Genealogy and Heraldry in Madrid. Ocampo was born in
Santa Rita, Pampanga. In 1929, he studied Fine Arts at the University of the
Philippines in Manila.

“Seal of the President of the Philippines”

Originally designed by Galo B. Ocampo (1947)
The Seal of the President of the Philippines (Filipino: Sagisag ng Pangulo ng
Pilipinas) is a symbol used to represent the history and dignity of the President of
the Philippines. Its original form was designed by Captain Galo B. Ocampo,
Secretary of the Philippine Heraldry Committee, and patterned after the Seal of the
President of the United States. It was first used by President Manuel Roxas in 1947.
Claude Tayag
Claudio Suarez Tayag (born 27 August 1956) now 61 years old, more
popularly known as Claude Tayag, is a Filipino artist (Painter & Sculptor),
restauranteur and food critic. He is best known for depicting scenes of
impressionistic landscapes and scenes of Philippine folk festivals and religious
imagery in his art.

One of the Paintings in “Palete or Pallete: Watercolor Travelogue”

Painting by Claude Tayag (n.d.)
In this watercolor travelogue, Tayag comes full circle in his exploration of the
aquarelle medium, starting with his first one-man show in 1978 of Philippine
landscapes, fiestas and religious images.
Carlo J. Caparas
Norma Belleza
Vicente Manansala
Brillante Mendoza
Galo B. Ocampo
Claude Tayag