The Hanas Gallery of UPV MACH*

Ahead of the KASIKAS, the Hanas Gallery-UPV MACH showed a collection titled, Leading Lights, containing the rarest works by recognized names, award-winning painters, and national artists. They are considered Filipino trailblazers who became distinguished icons of modernism in the Philippines.

The artists and their works also describe the meaning of the Hiligaynon word Hanas, or a well-trained and skilled—usually a characteristic of the finest artists.

The Hanas Gallery shows 30 of the most precious and rare artworks of the country’s leading lights in modern art, led by names like Ofelia Gelvezon-Tiqui, Brenda Fajardo, Virginia Flor-Agbayani, Mauro Malang, Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., Niel Doloricon, among others.

It has the works of six National artists: Ang Kiukok, Carlos Francisco, Cezar Legazpi, Arturo Luz, Jose Joya, and Napoleon Abueva.

The works in Leading Lights embody a small fraction of Filipino artists who confined themselves and endured art making despite the dynamism of the country’s economic, social, political, and cultural contexts. It demonstrates a rich macrocosm of Philippine art and invites a deeper look at a story that needs to be written and shared with the public.

About the UPV MACH**

The University of the Philippines Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage (UPV-MACH) is a fulfillment of the vision of Dr. Dionesia A. Rola, the first Chancellor of UP Visayas, who is a respected movant of arts and culture and whose vision was embraced by the UP community and pursued as a mission to develop the city campus as an arts and cultural hub.

The 86-year-old Neoclassical Art Deco building carries the fine fingerprint of famed Filipino architect Juan Arellano, and its sculptural decorations were rendered by Italian sculptor Francesco Monti with the assistance of local artisans.

The arts and cultural hub has seven galleries and a performance hall. ive of the galleries are depicted in meaningful Hiligaynon, like Taliambong (art) UPV Art Gallery, Lantip (a skilled artisan), Hanas (a skilled person), Panapton (garments or clothing), and Duna (inherent). Two legacy galleries honor the valuable contribution to art development of ceramicist Nelfa Querubin and multidisciplinary artist Ed Defensor.

The museum served as the former town hall of Iloilo from 1936 to 1947 and was thereafter donated to the University of the Philippines for educational purposes. The building was restored beginning in 2017 through a grant from the National Historical Commission of the Philippines and converted to a museum upon the approval of the Commission on Higher Education in 2019.

The iconic structure is regarded by the current Chancellor, Dr. Clement Camposano, as the “Crowning Jewel of Iloilo” following its gradual opening in 2021 and public launch in October 2022.

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* The UP Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage: A Cultural Crown Jewel of Panay and Iloilo,  Iloilo Art Review 2022, Vol. 1. No. 1.

** The Museums, Galleries and Art Spaces of Iloilo, Iloilo Art Book 2021-2022, 2022 Edition.