Last Wednesday I actually had fun when we went to the Philippine Embassy in The Hague to get me a new passport since the old one was damaged. Yes you read it right, I had fun! Aside from seeing beautiful paintings of Filipino artists hanging inside the walls of the Embassy, also I met some nice people there like Ms. Helen Guevarra (attache and finance officer), Ms. Mila Monje at the consular department and two Filipino artists 1. Edwin Edralin whose work was featured at the exhibition A Journey of Filipino Visual Artists held in Museum Jan van der Togt last June 2007. Mr. Edralin later introduced me to a well known artist who happens to be there waiting for the Philippine ambassador. The second artist was Mr. Manuel Baldemor- a painter, sculptor, printmaker and graphic designer, try to google him to see his accomplishments. We chatted a bit but not really long because the ambassador has finally arrived and I quietly exited the room.
I found works of our very own artists impressive that I just had to take photos of some of them, of course I was permitted to do so. I really liked this one hanging on the wall of the consular section, just when you enter the room, this painting will greet you.
I was told that this particular painting was finished by several artists within an hour, right there at the Embassy. Unfortunately I only remembered two names, Aris Bagtas (another painting) and Fidel Sarmiento.
If you look closely on top of the canvas, you’ll see what seems like a masking tape, but that’s actually painted. I thought that was so cool!
The below painting is owned by Helen Guevarra (finance officer) and hangs in her office. I was not able to take picture of the whole canvass because the room was so small and I only had my 105mm macro lens, I didn’t had the needed room to move.
title (if I’m not mistaken) ” Magkai- VIGAN”
Like I’ve said before: fortunate that you will share this lovely paintings with us!
i like the second painting more. it’s like vigan. probably as a pun to magkai-vigan. :hehe:
these are nice looking paintings ma’am thess… and the masking tape looks so real… :hehe:
Those are lovely paintings. Thanks for sharing.
RENNY: thank you my friend!!
IRONNIE: If I’m not mistaken, I was told that this was actually a house in Vigan! the painter is also an architect.
LINO: sir Lino, hello!! How have you been? The tape does look real :hehe:
KC: hi!! I think so too…and thanks for the visit!
very impressive paintings indeed. talo si picasso :shh:
off topic:
‘lam mo bang ayaw akong tigilan ng gagang nabanggit ko doon sa site ko? baka akala niya dahil pinay lang ako, kaya niya akong talunin. aba, nakatagpo siya ngayon ng katapat :darn: di ko rin siya tigilan.
i loved the masking tape hahaha! galeng!
napaka-talented talaga ng mga pinoys. sana lagi silang mabigyan ng opportunity para maipakita ang galing nila. 
Maraming salamat at maraming natutuwa sa ginawa kong masking tape at ang magkai-VIGAN!
Sana ay maimbitahan uli kami na makapagtanghal ng aming sining hindi lang sa Holland kundi pati sa ibang parte pa ng mundo. para ipakita ang talentong Pinoy !(YABANG noh)
Muli SALAMAT KABAYAN !
Fidel Sarmiento
Mr. F. Sarmiento, thank you for visiting my e-home and leaving a message…I am honored, sir! sounding like a true fan ano, eh totoo naman eh!
I also edited your work’s title, salamat for correcting me.
Nasabi ko nga sa mga empleado sa Philippine Embassy na nanghihinayang ako na hindi ko napanood ang
exhibition nyo sa The Hague…I really hope you and your peers will get the chance again to WOW Europe!
Huwag po kayong magsasawa dumalaw..and the soonest I get the chance, I will visit your multiply page.
Thess, thanks for sharing these. I like both paintings. The first one is so unique… ang ganda ng babae. Nakakatuwa yung tape. I thought ng una ay may nanira ng painting pero part of it pala… hehehe… it looks so real… yun nga lang medyo nakakadistract ng attention.
I also like the paintings of the old vigan houses. I told Pinky that dream ko magkaroon ng mga “brick-brick” effect din sa bahay namin.
If I am not mistaken, medyo known artist na si Baldemor di ba? Naku, no offense to the other artists who you mentioned (baka they might read this)… medyo poor lang ako with names. Anyway, very talented talaga ang mga Pilipino!
Leap of Faith!’s last blog post..Lost?
Thess, sorry I did not see the comment of Mr Fidel Sarmiento… I had to go back a second time
Nakakatuwa how these known artists are so humble no…walang ere! I suddenly am starting to appreciate them more. I always felt that art (and paintings)kasi are for the elite pero obviously I am mistaken. Sobrang down to earth ng mga Pinoy artists.
I’m so sure na star struck ka din when Mr Sarmiento left you a message. I can’t get over the feeling… hehehe!
Leap of Faith!’s last blog post..Lost?
OO well known nga si Mr. Baldemor.
tara, bisitahin nyo kami ni Pinky dito, puro bricks bahay namin
k: