National Heritage Month features Donald Tapan's " CORDILLERA "

location: The Podium

The Heritage Month, created by Proclamation No. 439 and signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in August 2003, declared the entire month of May as a festival of exhibits, performances, tours, and processions celebrating the nation’s history and cultural traditions. The Filipino Heritage Festival is supported by the Department of Tourism, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, and Security Bank Corporation.

Donald Tapan, a photographer whose name is synonymous with countryside scenes. Tapan depicts his subjects with a strong combination of colors, composition, and depth of field, making them a feast for the eyes.

“When I take photographs, I try to look for something outside of the obvious, something not always noticed,” Tapan said. “Photography is an art and should be treated with respect, as with any art form.”

The National Heritage Commission together with Donald Tapan came up with an idea of promoting CORDILLERA to preserve it's natural beauty and culture. The exhibit is on display in Metro Manila until today and forms part of the annual Filipino Heritage Festival’s month-long celebration.

Rediscovering Romeo Tabuena

location : Ayala Museum

Presented in partnership with the Filipino Heritage Festival and the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, the exhibit is part of the annual celebration of National Heritage Month.

“Rediscovering Romeo Tabuena: The Later Work” re-presents the works of Tabuena, who, since the 1950s, has settled in San Miguel de Allendre, Mexico.

Tabuena was born in Iloilo City in 1921. He was one of the pioneering artists who was part of the Philippine Art Gallery (PAG) which opened in 1951. The PAG was an institution that played an important role in the development of the Philippine art scene from the 1950s to 1969 when it closed its doors. It was also in this gallery where Tabuena, together with the postwar Neorealist group — Vicente Manansala, HR Ocampo, Cesar Legaspi, Victor Oteyza, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, and Nena Saguil — found a home with their groundbreaking works.

Tabuena’s works were constantly exhibited and were very saleable in this gallery. Most of these artists were later to be recognized as National Artists by the Philippine government.