My National Artist
Eduardo Verchez Garcia
(May 2, 1929 – June 20, 2019)
If I were given a chance to nominate an
individual to become National Artist, it would be Eddie
Garcia known colloquially as Manoy. He was a Filipino
actor, television personality, film director and producer.
With almost 700 film and television roles and a career spanning seven decades, he is widely regarded as the
"greatest Filipino actor of all time". He had the highest number of appearances in Philippine films, portraying a
variety of roles which include gay, antihero, and villain roles. He is the only artist to be inducted into the FAMAS
Hall of Fame as Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director for winning in these categories multiple times.
His life was a long and inspiring career, whose greatness never waned, even as he generously
contributed to the national film culture as an actor right up to the age of 90. Despite his record-breaking awards
and hundreds of films, he remained humble and grateful to Philippine cinema which he helped mold and develop
through his years of service. Garcia kept most of his life private, viewing his acting profession and personal life as
separate. He lived a relatively simple life without any luxury cars and expensive equipment. Throughout his career,
he had been known for his professionalism, and evaded intrigues and controversies linking him to any of his fellow
co-stars. Marichu Maceda, a film producer, described Garcia as "a disciplined and independent person, carrying
things on his own without needing assistants or managers despite
being popular".
Garcia is best known for portraying villain roles. Being a
critically acclaimed villain portraying characters that are usually
loathed or feared, Garcia said in an interview that he had been
attacked by a fan at one point in his career, hurting him with an
umbrella because his character raped Gloria Romero's character in
a role he portrayed for a Sampaguita Pictures production. He did
not lash out at the fan, however, believing that "he did a good job
in portraying it". He is also known for his trademark humorous lines
mostly in action films or comedy films.
Garcia gained a reputation as one of the Philippine film industry's most reliable, versatile and competent
actors and has influenced a lot of prominent actors like Coco Martin, whom he worked with for three years at one
of the longest-running television shows in the history of Philippine television. Television presenter Julius Babao
refers him as "a true icon of the Philippine movie industry". Journalist Ruel Mendoza dubbed him as the Ama ng
Pelikulang Pilipino (lit. '"Father of Philippine Movies"').
Fernando Amorsolo
Fernando Amorsolo, the first National
Artist of the Philippines for painting, grew up
during a time of transition for the country.
Amorsolo and his mother moved to Manila
and lived with his uncle, Fabian de la Rosa, a
painter. Under his uncle’s watch, he learned
artistry which set the tone for his career. At
27 he was sent to Madrid to further his art
education by Don Enrique Zobel. Under the
Mango Tree (1952), was sold for
P46,720,000 in 2018 making it his most
expensive piece.
Amorsolo was born on May 30, 1892, in Paco,
Manila. Don Fabián de la Rosa, his mother's cousin,
was also a Filipino painter. At the age of 13,
Amorsolo became an apprentice to De la Rosa, who would eventually become the advocate and
guide to Amorsolo's painting career. During this time, Amorsolo's mother embroidered to earn
money, while Amorsolo helped by selling water color postcards to a local bookstore for 10
centavos each. Amorsolo's first success as a young painter came in 1908, when his painting
Leyendo el periódico took second place at the Bazar Escolta. After graduating from the Liceo,
he entered the University of the Philippines' School of Fine Arts, where De la Rosa worked at
the time. Amorsolo's most notable work as a student at the Liceo was his painting of a young
man and a young woman in a garden, which won him the first prize in the art school exhibition
during his graduation year. To make money during school, Amorsolo joined competitions and
did illustrations for various Philippine publications, including Severino Reyes’ first novel in
Tagalog language, Parusa ng Diyos ("Punishment of God"), Iñigo Ed. Regalado's Madaling
Araw ("Dawn"), as well as illustrations for editions of the Pasion. Amorsolo graduated with
medals from the University of the Philippines in 1914.
Style and techniques
Women and landscapes - Amorsolo is best known
for his illuminated landscapes, which often portrayed
traditional Filipino customs, culture, fiestas and occupations.
Sketches - Amorsolo was an incessant
sketch artist, often drawing sketches at his
home, at Luneta Park, and in the
countryside. He drew the people he saw
around him, from farmers to city-dwellers coping with the Japanese
occupation. Amorsolo's impressionistic tendencies, which may be seen in
his paintings as well, were at their height in his sketches. His figures were
not completely finished but were mere "suggestions" of the image.
Historical paintings and portraits - Amorsolo also painted a series of historical paintings on
pre-Colonial and Spanish Colonization events. Amorsolo's Making of the Philippine Flag, in
particular, was widely reproduced. His “The First Baptism in the Philippines” required
numerous detailed sketches and colored studies of its elements. These diverse elements were
meticulously and carefully set by the artist before being transferred to the final canvas.
World War II-era works - After the onset of World War II, Amorsolo's typical pastoral
scenes were replaced by the depictions of a war-torn nation. During the Japanese occupation
of the Philippines during World War II, Amorsolo spent his days at his home near the
Japanese garrison, where he sketched war scenes from the house's windows or rooftop.
