As the “ilaw ng tahanan,” mothers and nurturers are the heart and foundation of Filipino families. Being a mother is all about the deep commitment to nurturing, protecting, and guiding another life. This Mother’s Day, the Cultural Center of the Philippines celebrates the strength, grace, and quiet resilience of mothers and women through visual arts.
“Childbirth’ by Romeo Tabuena is an unusual genre of work that captures the folk quality in situation and settings. The painting centers on the mythological being of the underworld, and a woman in the agony of parturition.
Agnes Arellano’s “Tatlong Buddhang Ina” portrays three deities from the Yoruba religion, Dea, Vesta, and Lola; each representing the stages of motherhood. Dea reflects Arellano’s struggles in giving birth through caesarean, her transition into motherhood, and as a stepmother. Carrying a large lizard as an emblem of fertility, Vesta provides milk and honey as nourishment, symbolizing breastfeeding. Freed from reproductive and sexual responsibilities through aging, Lola gains a love lost through intellectual fulfillment by turning inward.
Galo Ocampo’s “”Brown Madonna is a pre-war modernist work departing from a traditional colonial iconography and giving a Caucasian cast to the figures. Set in a background of rural scene with thatched hut, tropical bamboo, and evocative mountains of rice terraces, the painting represents rural Filipino through the baro’t saya and tapis of Mary, along with brown complexion and features.
Modernist pioneer Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s “Chickens” is part of a series depicting women harvesting fruits and grains, and vending fish in the market. Created in the late 1960s, it emphasizes movement and busy interactions by using bold and dynamic brushstrokes, strong contrast of shadows, and lights.
“The Quiason Family” is a group portrait of an ilustrado in the 19th century done by Simon Flores. Painted in full figure, the artist meticulously catches all details of embroidery, textures of their outfits, and their accessories in a miniaturist way. Also present in the portrait is a vase of flowers that symbolize beauty and abundance. The round chandeliers and open doors give an impression of a stylish interior, and the curtains on the left side and an elegant column at the right well match the composition.
The CCP EPA is the most comprehensive resource on anything and everything artistic and cultural. With its latest edition, the CCP EPA has over 5,000 articles in its 12 volumes. Meanwhile, its digital edition (CCP EPAD) holds over 5,000 articles and hundreds of video excerpts from dances and musical performances from the CCP archives.
