Angono artists to give a face to PHL's 2nd saint Pedro Calungsod

Pedro Calungsod, the Philippines' upcoming second saint, will be immortalized in paintings by the famed artists of Angono town in Rizal province.

 

The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines said the artists will interpret Calungsod's likeness in 50 to 70 paintings by September.

 

“Walang mukha si Pedro Calungsod. Kaya kayo nariyan para ipakita ang hitsura niya for the next centuries,” Clarke Nebrao, who heads the promotions and merchandise team for Calungsod’s canonization, told the artists in a meeting Sunday at the Blanco Family Museum in Angono, according to a CBCP report.

 

Citing an earlier suggestion by retired Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, he suggested that the artists portray Calungsod as “very Filipino” and “always on the move.”

 

He also suggested that the artists show him wearing bakya (thick wooden shoes) as the Marianas Islands, where Calungsod did much of his missionary work, had rugged terrain.

 

Blessed Pedro, who died a martyr in 1672, will be canonized on October 21.

 

On the other hand, Nebrao stressed Calungsod will not be depicted as European-looking and even most probably be painted as being “pango” or flat-nosed.

 

50 to 100 artists

 

The CBCP quoted Angono’s tourism cultural officer Patnubay Tiamzon as saying 50 to 100 artists will be involved in this collaboration between the National Commission for the canonization of Pedro Calungsod and several Angono artists’ groups like the Angono Ateliers, Angono Artists’ Association, the University of Rizal System-Angono and the Neo Angono Artists.

 

Nebrao said 10 to 12 paintings measuring 2x3 feet will accompany Calungsod's image from his canonization in Rome on October 21 to the “Duaw Nasud,” the image's pilgrimage visit to several locations in the Philippines.

 

The paintings will also be exhibited on November 30 during the National Thanksgiving in Cebu, the report said.

 

Some 50 to 70 smaller paintings measuring 16x20 inches will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the artists. –CGL/KG, GMA News