The Ed Defensor portrait by National Artist José T. Joya, featured in the exhibition Hiyas: The Drawings of José Joya at the University of the Philippines Visayas Museum of Art and Cultural Heritage (MACH), is more than a remarkable work of art. It stands as a testament to the deep friendship Joya shared with Ilonggo academic leaders and artists.

The bond and camaraderie between Joya and the Ilonggo art community began in the 1970s during the term of Dr. Dionisia A. Rola, who became Dean of the University of the Philippines College Iloilo (UPCI) in 1976. When the UPCI evolved into UP in the Visayas in 1979, Dr. Rola became its first Chancellor.

Joya, on the other hand, was the Dean of the College of Fine Arts at UP Diliman from 1970 to 1978.

Ed Defensor recalls, “The collaboration began when Dean Rola tasked me with organizing the visual artists of Iloilo under the UPCI. It was Dr. Rola who invited Dean Joya to Iloilo to conduct workshops and help nurture the Ilonggo art scene.” This partnership laid the groundwork for what would become a transformative era for art in the region.

The efforts of Joya and Dr. Rola created an enduring impact, making them towering figures in the Iloilo art movement from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s.

Also a good read: Ed Defensor carves a legacy for Philippine sculptures in Súpat

“I was very close to the late National Artist,” Defensor reflects, “and we affectionately called him Dean Joya.”

Dean Joya’s organizational workshops led to the formation of Hubon Madiaas in 1983. The group became a prominent art collective in Panay Island.

“Upon the formalization of the collective, Dean Joya generously donated six of his drawings with the instruction to sell them to raise initial funds for Hubon Madiaas,” shared Defensor. 

Chancellor Rola swiftly arranged for the Cultural Committee, headed by Prof. Dea V. Doromal, to purchase the drawings. These artworks are now celebrated as part of the UP Visayas collection and featured in Hiyas: The Drawings of José Joya.

One cherished memory of Joya’s visits to Iloilo is a portrait he created of Defensor in 1995.

“During that visit, Joya and fellow artist Lito Carating were welcomed by Hubon Madiaas members,” Defensor recalls. “Joya’s habitual generosity included treating us to lunch, and at that time we had it at Breakthrough Restaurant.”

A playful exchange during this lunch stands out: “I jokingly warned him not to overeat, saying, ‘Dean, please don’t eat so much; you might have a heart attack, and I still don’t have any of your work.’ To which he humorously replied, ‘No, you will die ahead of me,’ and we both laughed.”

After lunch, when Joya’s flight to Manila was delayed, Defensor invited him to kill time to his nearby studio. “With time on our hands, Dean Joya requested a sketchpad and pencils. He began drawing my portrait, capturing a moment of our friendship. Though he didn’t finish it before leaving, he completed the drawing in Manila and sent it to me through PG Zoluaga, a charter member of Hubon.”

“I treasured the portrait until a devastating typhoon hit Iloilo, destroying my studio and home,” Defensor recounts. Faced with the need to rebuild, he reluctantly decided to sell the portrait, hoping Joya would forgive him.

An essential read: ED DEFENSOR: Reintroduce yourself to the life and art of Iloilo’s living legend

Defensor offered the artwork to Dr. Rogelio Laraya, a friend and art connoisseur, who purchased it and later donated it to UP Visayas. This donation contributed to the portrait’s place in the UPV Gallery Collection.

Hubon Madiaas members didn’t just spent time on lunch dates with him; Joya cultivated their creative minds through live sketching sessions, one of which took place at the Galeria Madiaas, the first Hubon Madiaas gallery, a grand room on the ground floor of what is now Balay Sueño in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Black and white photos of live sketching sessions and exhibition activities of Hubon Madiaas with Joya are also part of the Hiyas exhibition. 

Dean Joya, a passionate supporter of Ilonggo artists and the local community, made his mark during a particularly challenging time. When Iloilo was hit by a super typhoon, Joya stepped forward with a generous heart. According to Defensor, “He held a solo exhibition of his drawings at the Hubon Madiaas Gallery, and all the proceeds from the show were donated to families affected and displaced by the super typhoon.” This act of kindness not only showcased Joya’s affection for his art but also his unwavering commitment to helping his community in times of need.

“The portrait of Ed Defensor, created in February 1995, stands as one of José T. Joya’s final works before his passing in May 1995,” says Defensor.

During his untimely death, Hubon Madiaas was hosting a print exhibition at the Ayala Museum, supported by no less by Joya’s contributions, including a grant and a printmaking press donation. 

“The members of Hubon Madiaas who were in Manila at the time joined the vigil at the UP Diliman Chapel to pay our last respects to a revered artist and friend whose legacy continues to inspire us. We are heavily indebted to him,” says Defensor.

Since Joya’s passing, Hubon Madiaas has annually nominated him for the National Artist award. In 2003, eight years after his death, this persistent effort in tandem with the nomination of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) paid off with Joya’s posthumous conferment as National Artist for his pioneering work in Filipino abstract art.

The portrait of Ed Defensor is more than a reflection of Joya’s artistic brilliance; it embodies the deep impact of his friendship and support on the Philippine art community, especially Ilonggo artists. Through his contributions and the portrait he left behind, José T. Joya’s influence endures, a testament to the enduring power of art and the generosity that shapes its legacy.