A large part of artist and his family is the town they are currently, and always have been installed in. What was it like for a town to boast of the famous artists is has contributed to the Filipino heritage, and what was it like to lose one of them?
Which Blanco family member created this?
Which Blanco family member created these?
After a visit to the Blanco Family Museum in Angono, Rizal, it was not this author's intention to publish the beauty the author experienced there. Mostly the pictures were intended for a private blog, an experience that could be revisited later on. However, after hearing the tragedy that came along with the museum, the author had a sudden urge to share what he had seen and learned that day. It may have been an ordinary visit to ‘the museum" as others may put it but in a way the Blanco Family Museum had its own special mystery to share, not just with the artworks featured there but by the Blanco family themselves. As for the stolen Jose "Pitok" V. Blanco paintings themselves, wherever they may be and whomever has them, I hope they are being recognized for the work of art they truly are because the family who lost a father and a husband twice with the artist gone and his paintings stolen, they are being remembered and revered, the same goes for a nation who lost an artist as well and a heritage too.
Through my researches on the net and other sources, the author found this quote from the Jose V Blanco himself, "I am just a brush in the hand of our Lord, without his guidance I can paint nothing." It was also dated November 2, 1979. The author saved the link from where the information was located, it has been made accessible here as it would very much want to be shared to you:
Another point of interest was a poem written by a Father Nante Unidad which aims to recognize what the artist had contributed to their town among which are his talents and from what the author has been finding out, the artists' love as well for his hometown which he never left. The poem has been copied below for easy access:
Ama At Pintor
(Father and Painter)
Dakila ka Jose Pitok Blanco, Lahi at Dugong taga-Angono. Ikaw ay Ama at pintor na tunay. Sa pag-ibig ay walang kapantay.
Sayo'y walong pintor ang isinilang. Guro ka ng buhay at kulay. Ikaw ay walang kaparis na tunay, Pamilya mo'y laging pinagsasanggalang.
Diyos ang dahilan ng iyong pag-iral. Pag-ibig sa Kanya'y lagi mong pangaral. Pananampalataya una sa bawat pinta. Katoliko kang huwaran sa bawat obra.
Tahimik ka sa iyong pagkatao, Subalit malinaw ang hangarin mo, Gamitin ang biyayang talento, Sa pagpupuri sa Diyos at sa tao.
Pitok larawan ka ng totoong buhay. Sa iyong mga pininta ay higit ka. Pumunaw man ang iyong hininga, Mananatili kang kulay ng aming buhay.
fr. Nante 8-18-08
The author dare not translate the poem to the Filipino language for fear of totally changing what it is supposed to have meant so it has been decided to be left at that. Should we have someone kind come across this article and is knowledgeable in translation, please, be our guest. This sixth installment so far has left us with the want to know more. It is obvious that the father and artist has not kept his gift confined to himself, instead he has unleashed it to his family as evidence by the paintings featured in all six articles posted by the author which again, has been created by one of the family members in the Jose "Pitok" V. Blanco household. And as you can see, each painting has its own beauty to flaunt, apparent for all to see the mind and talent behind each. The author wishes there is more that can be found about his seven children, as of right now there isn't much to publish, hopefully in the articles there can be more to share about the artists family.
