Patricia C.

Santos Introduction to Philosophy of Man

ABM – 12 Mr. Mark Christian Ventura

MORE BEYOND THE ART

There was something more – more than just an old used things, colorful paintings,
blasted weapons, realistic portrait, and contributions to Philippine History of Art.
There was something else, something more. And sadly, we do not have any
chance to see it anymore.

What we saw inside the different museums stay there. And that is a painful fact.
Some students even just went there to take pictures, or for the required outdoor
class itself. Some wanted to learn, some wanted to know why. Why do old plates
need to be considered as an art? Why is it important to be aware of the clothes
from different indigenous groups? Why does this specific painting needs to be
talked about?

The result is always important than the process. For example, the famous oil-on-
canvas painting named Spoliarium. It was painted by Juan Luna, a very well-
known painter, in the year of 1884. Spoliarium is magnificent. It has story, meaning,
the painting was big, very interesting. And that’s it. People lay their eyes on it, and
that’s it. Little did they know, the story has a big impact not just on the people
who lived in those years and days, but on us as well. The painting signifies what
happened to the Gladiators in the basement of the Roman Colosseum, dragged
by the Roman soldiers to the fire. And if you look closer, there’s a grieved woman
sitting on the right side, crying over a loved one. And the spectators standing in
the left side ardently await the chance to illegally get the metal armory that is left
from the dead Gladiators. Also, think about the time Juan Luna used just to paint
that beautiful painting. He did it himself, thinking he’ll show how the Filipinos life
were like in the hands of Spain government and Roman soldiers to the next
generation. There was something more on the painting that just being painted by
Juan Luna. It screams help and awareness.

I looked around. Ginaw Bilog. A Filipino poet recognized as National Living

Treasure alternatively known as the Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan. Famously
known for his efforts on preserving the mangyan poetry tradition of ambahan; a
kind of poem consisting of seven-syllable line which most of the time contains
message of love and friendship. And that’s it. He preserved the ambahan, and
that’s it. Little did they know, Ginaw Bilog protected one of our forms of expressing
our feelings. He let us have freedom on writing and expressing. He took down
barrier for us to deliver everything with genuine intention.

There was something more. There is something more. It’s up to you if you will keep
your eyes closed, or if you will keep you brain fed by simple information. Look
beyond the art, think about the days which the art made. Take your time and
read what you want to read. After all, it is everything that is left. Short and simple
introduction that will not even justify half of the art’s history and beautiful creation.