The long wait is finally over! Philippine art lovers and connoisseurs will definitely treasure the two art books recently launched by Vibal Foundation, Inc., about two of the Philippines' greatest visual artists: Carlos "Botong" Francisco, and Francisco V. Coching.

The hitherto dearth of written and visual materials about these two contemporary towering giants of Philippine art scene has finally been solved by Vibal Foundation's authoritative biographies in the lavishly-illustrated art books The Life and Art of Botong Francisco and The Life and Art of Francisco V. Coching, both launched last Friday, December 11, 2009, at the National Museum of the Filipino People. Both books contain scholarly essays by renowned Philippine art historians, and contain hundreds of many never-before seen artworks of Botong and Coching. The books were edited by art historian Patrick Flores, Ph.D, of the University of the Philippines.

The launching of these two important books was highlighted by a visual presentation about Botong and Coching's immense contribution to Philippine culture and art, as well as a retrospective exhibit of their original works at the third floor of the National Museum. Among the hundreds of guests who attended the launch were the families of Botong Francisco and Francisco Coching.

The books are presently available at Vibal Foundation, Vibal Publishing House, Inc., located at Araneta Avenue, Quezon City, but both will soon be available at your favorite bookstores nationwide. Both books have limited runs only so be sure to buy your copies as soon as you can.

The Life and Art of Botong Francisco

The Life and Art of Francisco V. Coching

Gus Vibal, Executive Director and Publisher of Vibal Foundation, Inc.

Dr. Patrick Flores, edited the art books

The family of Carlos Botong Francisco. The man in red polo is Rodolfo Francisco, the son of Botong.

The family of Arnel Coching, son of Francisco Coching

Cultural icon Danny Dolor, Coching daughter Lulu Coching, almost National Artist Cecille Guidote-Alvarez, writer Virgie Moreno, writer Buenaventura Medina, Jr., society matriarch Esther Vibal, playwright Alberto Florentino, and Vibal Executive Director Gus Vibal

Bebe Gandanghari and Delia Razon

Komikeros hannibal and Randy Valiente enjoying the cocktails that were served

Maridel Coching

Manuel Rodriguez Sr., the Father of Philippine Printmaking, attended the launch. He is only 98 years old.

The great Jess Jodloman, legendary Philippine komiks illustrator

Michael De Leon and Gemma Cruz-Araneta

Alfredo Alcala, Jr.

Bebe Gandanghari, Gus Vibal, Joyce Taylor

Rodolfo Francisco, son of Botong, and Mrs. Filomena Coching, wife of Coching, cut the ribbon of the exhibit. Gus Vibal and mother Esther Vibal happily look on

Congressman Roilo Golez and Maridel Coching

Viewing of the Botong Francisco Coching Art Exhibit

Posted by Dennis Villegas at 7:52 AM   

7 comments:

 TheCoolCanadian said...

Dennis:

That Mr. Medina in photo looks like my English professor in FEU, BUENAVENTURA S. MEDINA. I heard he's still teaching in La Salle. He translated a lot of Filipino Literature material from Tagalog into English.

I'm not syre if it's him because the photo is small, but I could see some semblance.

11:43 AM

 Dennis Villegas said...

Hi JM,

Ah siya pala yun...gusto ko sanang tanungin kung ano first name niya eh ang sabi basta mr. medina na lang daw..suplado eh hehehe

6:42 PM

 dodong flores 도동 플로오리스 said...

The cover of the book is so colorful. What more the content of it...

9:47 PM

 Aensland said...

Are there new Komiks that are "patok" to the modern youth in the Philippines? Our tastes seems to be changing, or perhaps had changed a lot already, I can't seem to find mainstream komik artists these days...

7:42 AM

 Lowly Urbanite said...

Dennis, feature the reprint of Lapu-Lapu by Francisco Coching in your blog. Nice to hear that Atlas is now reaching back to the modern youth how wonderful they've missed.

6:13 PM

 Jonathan Aquino said...