Raul D. Arellano- the artist who paints his paradise

“Art not only imitates nature but also completes its deficiencies.” Such a powerful statement from the Greek philosopher Aristotle. Art is the divine reflection of the artist’s soul. It is not just a means and an end for recreating the natural world but is a leeway to see and express it in a myriad of ways. Thus, art is the power that gives voice to nature. 

For centuries, the artist has used nature as a muse and a motivation that spirals him to create different forms of art. With this comes awe and understanding as he observes and works with the natural world. Such is the awe, understanding, and deep connection to nature of my friend, mentor, and fellow artist Raul D. Arellano. As he dips his brush into his palette and paints on his canvas, time is momentarily suspended as the divine merges with the temporal through his brush. It is also this deep connection to nature that serves as a driving force for him to regularly plant different varieties of trees and other vegetations with great care and thoroughness. Indeed, both nature and art are the fire that ignite his soul as he exalts and gives importance to man’s symbiotic relationship with nature through his art. 

Raul is in a constant flux; thinking, creating, moving. To catch him and his thoughts is to think and act the same way. His is a persona of grit, down to earth charm who loves the mundane and derives inspiration from it. Who cannot be awed by this artist who is ever evolving like the earth, the wind, and the fire?

ONLY  WOMEN BLEED 2- Empowering women through art

In celebration of the National Women's Month, Gabriela, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino, and Pinoy na Pinoy Visual Artists Association present an all women art exhibit, "Only Women Bleed 2."

Based on the idea that art empowers women and is a powerful tool in creating awareness and advocating change, fifty three women artists came up with works that keep the discussion moving and the mind advancing in terms of how women have the ability to shape perceptions on sexuality, gender equality, family, society, and life in general.

The exhibit was further enhanced by the performances in different art platforms by some of the participating artists.

"Only Women Bleed 2" which opened on March 18 at Sikat Events Place is for the benefit of Gabriela's Violence Against Women and Children Program. The exhibit will run from March 19 to 25, 10am to 6pm. For inquiries, please contact Sikat Events Center at tel. nos. 2823096, 09052114886, and 9272529312

My painting, "Dancing with Birds"

"Dancing with Birds" by Adecastroan

Ms. Julie Po, Chairwoman, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino

Ms. Eunice de Asis, Producer, Springfilm Foundation

Ms. Gert Libang, Vice Chairwoman, Gabriela

An interpretative dance number

Poems by Adecastroan

A musical piece by Jeanette Kamphuis

Song on women by Gina Luz Francisco and interpreted through a dance number

With participating artists Nitz Hernaez and Elizabeth Bustamante

Yolanda de Castro- Cabuco and her painting

Precy D. Brady and her painting

Corinne Juliano Salazar and her painting

Gina Luz Francisco and her painting

Cocoy and Iris

Some of the paintings on exhibit

Some of the paintings on exhibit

MAKULAY NA SINING AT KULTURA, YAMAN NG PILIPINO

"The environment is in us, not outside of us. The trees are our lungs, the rivers our bloodstream. We are all interconnected and what we do to the environment, ultimately we do to ourselves."

-Ian Somerholder


To celebrate the National Heritage Month this May, the Rizal Park Visitor's Center and Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino present "Makulay na Sining at Kultura, Yaman ng Pilipino." It is an art exhibit that showcases paintings of flowers as May is also the month of flowers, and our

natural resources as part of our heritage.

The youth are the future leaders of our country. One best way to instill patriotism in their hearts and minds and make them eco warriors at a young age is by having them participate in making art with social consciousness. As such, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino together with Mr. Romeo Ebio
and the other leaders of the San Jose del Monte Towerville 6 spearheaded an art workshop about flowers, other elements of nature, and taking care of our environment.  The art workshop was participated in by children aged eight to twelve years old and was held every saturday for eight days last March and April at Towerville 6, a relocation site, in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. Their colorful and meaningful paintings are the main highlight in this exhibit.

The fine arts students of Guhit Pinoy are also participants in this exhibit. They are Benji Vasquez, Zashi Aguilar, Lianne Azada, Cyrill John de la Torre, and Joe Armaz.
The exhibit further showcases the paintings of flowers by Sandra Herber of the Bahay Nakpil Bautista and the painting, "The Last Daughters of a Dying Earth", by Arlene de Castro Anonuevo.

Please visit the Rizal Park Visitor's Center for the exhibit which was successfully facilitated by Ms. May Ann Peacita of the Rizal Park Visitor's Center. It formally opened on May 2 and will run until May 31, 2016.

With Ms. Virginia Arnold, Chief. Cultural and Public Affairs Division, National Parks Development Committee
 and Ms. Julie Po, Executive Director of the Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino

Mr. Romeo Ebio of San Jose, Bulacan Towerville 6

The paintings done by the children from San Jose, Bulacan Towerville 6

"The Last Daughters of a Dying Earth" by Adecastroan

Ms. Julie Po, Executive Director, Linangan ng Kulturang Pilipino

Adecastroan with her painting which is about the destruction of the environment due to mining

Paintings of flowers by sandra Herber and a painting by adecastroan

Ms. Virginia Arnold, Chief, Cultural and Public Affairs Division, National Parks Development Committee

"THE ESSENCE OF EVE THROUGH THE EYES OF AN ARTIST" at the Rizal Park Visitor's Center

"I am the poet of the woman the same as the man,
And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of man."

Walt Whitman
"Song of Myself"

March is the month when we celebrate the beauty and empowerment of women and there is no better way to celebrate it but by presenting women as they embrace multiple roles in society. As such, it is with great pride that the Rizal Park Visitor's Center features the art of eleven Filipino artists to salute women in an art exhibit entitled, "The Essence of Eve through the Eyes of an Artist." The participating artists are Miguel Wong, Arlene de Castro-Anonuevo, Ding Royales, Elmer Ponce Pacio, Edgar Jose, Manny Palo, Francis Landicho, Iel Castillo, Vicente Reyes Santos, Jose Erwin Mallare, and Rene Canlas. The exhibit was organized and ably curated by Miss May Ann Peacita of the Rizal Park Visitor's Center.

Arlene de Castro-Anonuevo (Adecastroan) and her "Pagsuyo ni Nanay"

"Pagsuyo ni Nanay" by Arlene de Castro-Anonuevo

The theme for this month 

"Kasuglong ng Pusod" by Vicente "Bimbo" Reyes Santos

Iel Castillo and his "Embrace"

"Ugat" by Jose Erwin Mallare

Ding Royales and his "Madre y Bambino lll"

Miguel Wong and his "Panagbenga Mother and Child"

Four of the participating artists together with Miss May Ann Peacita, organizer and curator for the exhibit

The Rizal Park Visitor's Center serves as an information hub to international and local visitors. It has a lounge area, audio-visual facilities, a souvenir shop, and regularly holds art exhibits that showcase the rich culture and heritage of the Philippines. Please visit the center for the art presently on display.