From Baguio to Bonifacio: Sculptor wants more focus on the 'Supremo'

Visual artist Ben Hur Villanueva - with four companions - drove more than 200 kilometers from the mountains of Baguio City to the bustling business district in Taguig City on Wednesday, with a simple goal in mind: Pay homage to Filipino revolutionary Andres Bonifacio.

 

After arriving in Manila, Villanueva proceeded to a 15-foot bronze statue of Bonifacio erected at the aptly named district in Taguig - Bonifacio Global City - where he offered Calla lilies at the foot of the statue of the great Filipino hero for his 148th birth anniversary.

 

"Bumaba ako, galing ako sa bundok. May kasama akong katutubo bilang pagpapahiwatig na kami sa malayong lugar, sa kabundukan ay bumaba sa kapatagan at ginugunita ang araw ni Bonifacio," Villanueva told GMA News Online in an interview.

 

Who better to offer a hero's tribute at the statue than the one who made the sculpture itself?  It was more than a decade ago when Villanueva bested 20 other artists and his Bonifacio statue - called "Among Supremo" - was chosen to be installed on that coveted spot at the Fort.

 

Wednesday's commemoration of Bonifacio's 148th birth anniversary, which started with a flag-raising ceremony at 7:30 a.m., was highlighted with a tribal-inspired performance from Villanueva's companions, as well as a flower- and wreath-laying ceremony.

 

Villanueva said police officers deployed to monitor the celebration also offered flowers - handed to them by Villanueva himself - at the foot of Bonifacio's statue.

 

"I was with the natives at nagpa-usok ako ng incense... Binigyan ko ang pulis ng bulaklak then nag-offer din sila," he said.

 

Villanueva - who specializes in sculpting brass, bronze, and wood - has a three-decade teaching career in arts under his belt. Currently based in Baguio City, Villanueva runs a two-storey art museum in the city of pines called "Arko ni Apo."

 

Together with visual artist Santi Bose, filmmaker Kidlat Tahimik, and National Artist for Visual Art Benedicto Cabrera, Villanueva established the Baguio Arts Guild.

 

"Honor Bonifacio too"

 

Noticeably distinct in Villanueva's Bonifacio statue was his depiction of a "peace-loving" hero, not brandishing the usual itak or bolo, but rather holding up a cedula.

 

"Hindi itak ang hawak niya kundi sedula ang hawak niya. Ito ay pagpapahiwatig na bilang ama ng himagsikan parang sa kanya nagsimula ang mapayapang protesta," Villanueva said.

 

Villanueva insisted that Bonifacio should be given the same prominence that national hero Jose Rizal is getting from the public, the media, and even the educational sector.

 

That is why Villanueva said he was delighted to learn recent reports about an appeal to the Commission on Higher Education to give more emphasis on Bonifacio in the school curriculum, in the same way that Rizal has an entire college subject devoted to him.

 

"Sana Bonifacio should be given the same treatment or whatever as Rizal. Kung puwede bang magsalita rin si Andres Bonifacio at hindi lang si Rizal ang bayani natin," Villanueva stressed.

 

Villanueva went further to suggest that guards should also be deployed at the foot of his Bonifacio monument in Taguig, much in the same way Rizal's monument at the Luneta has guards 24 hours daily.

 

"Bakit hindi niyo gayahin iyong sa Luneta... Si Rizal, may guwardiya... That could enhance the monument and enhance interest in Bonifacio," Villanueva said.

 

According to Villanueva, Constantine Ivan Dadio Jr - general manager of the Bonifacio States Services Corp. who delivered a speech at Wednesday's event - gave him the assurance that guards will be assigned at the monument.

 

"May ilang mga elitista kasi eh. Hindi porke’t taga-Tondo at nakayapak ay hindi na pareho ang pag-trato," the visual artist said. — ELR/KG, GMA News