Maningning Miclat was a true creative force who is an inspiration to young artists today.
Written by
Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista
Maningning Miclat at age 28 was already an accomplished artist and published poet in both China and the Philippines. She had exhibited a grand abstract work at the Cultural Center of The Philippines. Being fluent in three languages, she translated her poems in Mandarin to English, Filipino and vice versa. Apart from this she was a generous soul, wanting to give young artists the same opportunities that had been granted her. She went on to teach in Far Eastern University.
Bamboo Scroll – Charcoal Brush on Rice Paper, 1986 by Maningning Miclat.
So it was an immensely painful tragedy when the world lost her creative genius. She took her own life, 18 years ago, September 29, 2000. Soon after, her mother, Alma Cruz Miclat along with their closest friends and supporters put up the Maningning Miclat Art Foundation Incorporated (MMAFI). One of its main missions is to search for and support young artists through competition.
From left: Inquirer Lifestyle’s resident Artist / Critic Cid Reyes, San Carlos Seminary Dean of Studies Fr. Sid Marinay, MMAFI VP for Ext Affairs Orestes Monzon, MMAFI Pres. Alma Miclat, U.P. College of Fine Arts Professor Emeritus (and former Dean) Nestor Vinluan and world-class sculptor Ramon Orlina open the 2018 MANINGNING MICLAT ART AWARDS exhibit. It ran from Sept 3-26, 2018 at the Nicanor Reyes Hall, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista
The foundation organizes the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards, a competition held every 2 years specifically for artists 28 years old or younger. Since 2004, the competition has been synonymous with discovering budding artists who have progressed to fruitful careers.
FEU Chorale; FEU Auditorium, September 26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
For this year’s edition, held at the Nicanor Reyes Hall of Far Eastern University is a special homecoming of sorts. MMAFI President Alma Cruz Miclat explains, “It has been very difficult for me to imagine coming to FEU specifically here at the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts. For 17 years I could not even pass by Nicanor Reyes Avenue without crying. It was from the 7th floor of this building that my beautiful daughter Maningning fell to her death September 29, 2000. She was an art teacher here. I am coming to terms with my anguish, fear and anxiety all related to this place. Entering the campus was a test of will and courage. Last year during Nick Joaquin’s centenary I felt as if he bade me come. And so I did. As contributor, not often though in the arts and books section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, I wrote about the Nick Joaquin event and my experience coming here.”
MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat; FEU Auditorium, September 26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
Shards of Our Own Lives
Alma took note of a description of Nick Joaquin’s work as inspiration, “I quoted Vicente Rafael in his introduction to Nick’s THE WOMAN WITH TWO NAVELS and TALES OF THE TROPICAL GOTHIC, made available world wide through a single Penguin Classics release. It says, ‘We whoever we are receive his stories told from a ruined world, hearing and perhaps sharing them as the shards of our own lives’. I did pick up the shards of my own ruined life and set forth to share them. Facing my pain and grief head on resulted in this partnership between the MANINGNING FOUNDATION, the artist playground DISTRICT GALLERYand the FEU President’s Committee On Culture; Headed by the great gentleman here Mr. Martin Lopez who arranged this beautiful activity.”
from left: FEU Pres. Committee On Culture Dir. Martin Lopez with Top Four finalists- Harddy Santos, Jessica Lopez, John Nikko Pelaez, Wendi Patoc, Jurors- Dexter Sy, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat, Historian / Writer Prof. Fe Buenaventura-Mangahas, MMAFI Board Member Julie Lluch, Author / U.P. Prof Mario Miclat and MMAFI VP for Ext Affairs Orestes Monzon. Photo taken during the awarding ceremonies of the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018. It was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Maningning Loved FEU
Alma talked about how her daughter felt for the esteemed educational institution she taught and worked for, “After all Maningning did love teaching here. Telling me how her students were so gifted. ’Nay ang gagaling ng mga kamay nila’. She was also in awe of the campus, this leading art museum, buildings done in art deco style. And she happily told me once that she was being asked to curate for a few exhibits here at the exhibit hall. That was 18 years ago. Now I feel it in my heart Maningning had a hand in bringing us all together here to put an end to the painful past and move on more vigorously in helping young artists have a place in this world.“
Bananaue Miclat-Janssen; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Martin Lopez
As director of FEU President’s Committee on Culture, Martin Lopez was instrumental in the successful and memorable homecoming of the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards exhibit and ceremony held last September 26, 2018.
Maningning’s mural sized work was exhibited at the Cultural Center of the Philippines
Lopez said the event coincided with the 90th anniversary of Far Eastern University. But also noted many other celebrations, “We had a ceremony in this very space to mark the 100th anniversary of Nick Joaquin our National Artist for Literature, whose work and exhibit is on the 5th floor of this building. With the reopening of the auditorium after two and a half years of waiting (sister) Banaue was one of the first artists to inaugurate the newly reopened auditorium when we closed our Nick Joaquin Centennial year. We are all here to celebrate Maningning, we are here to celebrate art and music and her gift of art and poetry. We are very, very fortunate to participate and to partner with the MANINGNING MICLAT ART FOUNDATION in this endeavor and hopefully we have many more partnerships in the future.“
FEU Pres. Committee On Culture Dir. Martin Lopez; FEU Auditorium, September 26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
Grand Prize Winner: Jessica Lopez – MOTION OF LIFE
Prior to GINUGUNITA KITA performance art of Maningning Miclat’s poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, was the awarding ceremony of the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards. The newly renovated FEU Auditorium was the perfect venue for the glittering night last September 26, 2018.
Grand Prize winner Jessica Lopez in front of her work Motion of Life, the trophy was sculpted by Julie Lluch. The Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018 was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista (10)
Jessica Lopez of Pangasinan State University was awarded the Grand Prize for MOTION OF LIFE. She is the first female winner, perhaps the only one to highlight and use waste material (bangus fishbone) in her work.
Artist: Jessica Lopez Title: Motion of Life, Fish Bone on Plywood, 48 x 36 inches
As Grand Prize winner, Lopez received a Julie Lluch Sculpture Trophy, P28,000.00, Maningning Miclat Book Collection and a solo exhibit at District Gallery.
from left: MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat with Top Four artists: Wendi Patoc, Jessica Lopez, John Nikko Pelaez and Harddy Santos, Author / U.P. Prof Mario Miclat Mario Miclat. The Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018 was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Top four artists were further recognized from among 18 semifinalists (including Lopez). They are John Nikko Pelaez (.U.E.) – BEG, Harddy DC Santos (.U.E.) – COVER UP and Wendi T. Patoc (EARIST) – HINDI NA MAIBABALIK PA. Both Nikko Pelaez and Harddy Santos are from the University of the East. These three artists, as part of the top four, were given Honorable Mention awards.
Artists from left: Harddy Santos, Jayroll Francisco, Ralph Lauren Barola, Kenneth Santiago, John Nikko Pelaez Dominic Nelson Jinon, Dhan Louie Bautista, Cyrill Mustera, MMAFI Pres. Alma Miclat, Christine Capili, Arvin Santos and Previous winners Niño Cubacub and Dexter Sy. The artists are among 18 semifinalists of the 2018 MANINGNING MICLAT ART AWARDS. Their works were exhibited in Nicanor Reyes Hall, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila, Sept 3-26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista (13)
18 Semifinalists
Hundreds of entries were sent online and were whittled down to 18 semifinalists. Being chosen to be part of the 18 is prestigious by itself as they were able to display their work at the Nicanor Reyes Hall in FEU from September 3-26, 2018.
Among them:
Andres M. Catig (EARIST)-DINADALAW NA NAMAN TAYO NG KALULUWA NI PAPA
Arvin Santos (.U.E)-ORDINARY DAY
Christine Capili-TABULA RASA
LEFT: Artist-Cyril Cleope, Title-PEACE, 2018, Oil and Acrylic, 36×24 inches RIGHT: Artist-DeoAmarante, Title-Longings of the Heart, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas 24×30 inches (14)
Cyriel Cleope (EARIST)-PEACE
Cyrill Jan Mustera (U.E.)- SINNERS
Deo Carlos Amarante (EARIST)-LONGINGS OF THE HEART
Renato Lucas; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Dhan Louie Bautista (EARIST)-COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Dominic Nelson Jinon, (T.U.P.)-COME, HE’S HERE!
Harddy DC Santos (U.E.)-COVER UP
Artists from left: Dominic Nelson Jinon, Dhan Louie Bautista, Cyrill Mustera, MMAFI Pres. Alma Miclat, Christine Capili, Arvin Santos and 2014 winner – Niño Cubacub. The artists are among 18 semifinalists of the 2018 MANINGNING MICLAT ART AWARDS. Their works were exhibited in Nicanor Reyes Hall, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila, Sept 3-26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
Jayroll P. Francisco (U.E.)-ICON
Jessica Lopez, (Pangasinan State University)-MOTION OF LIFE
JhecoLorica, (F.E.U)-THE MODERN THRONE OF BASIC NEEDS
Artist: Kenneth Santiago, Title: Different State of Emotions, 2017, Oil on Canvas, 30 x 40 inches.
John Nikko Pelaez (U.E.)- BEG
Kenneth H. Santiago (U.E.)- DIFFERENT STATE OF EMOTIONS
Ralph Lauren Barola (Marikina Polytechnic College)-The ARTstoppable
from left: Jurors- Dexter Sy, Egai Talusan Fernandez, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat, Historian / Writer Prof. Fe Buenaventura-Mangahas, MMAFI Board Member Julie Lluch, Author / U.P. Prof Mario Miclat and MMAFI VP for Ext Affairs Orestes Monzon. Photo taken during the awarding ceremonies of the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018. It was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Ronald Dulay (U.P. Baguio)-BALIK TANAW
Rhicelle Kirk Tabanera (EARIST)-DIFFERENT MOTIONS THROUGH EVERYDAY SITUATIONS
Wendi T. Patoc (EARIST)- HINDI NA MAIBABALIK PA
Top Four Artist – Wendi Patoc and MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat. Title-Hindi Na Maibabalik Pa, 2018, Acrylic on layers Canvas panel on canvas 7 wire spring, 24 x 48 inches. The Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018 was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Maningning Miclat was a true creative force who is an inspiration to young artists today. (20)
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National Artist for Music Ramon Santos; FEU Auditorium, September 26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
from left: FEU Pres. Committee On Culture Dir. Martin Lopez with Top Four finalists- Harddy Santos, Jessica Lopez, John Nikko Pelaez, Wendi Patoc and Juror Dexter Sy during the awarding ceremonies of the Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018. It was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
from left: FEU Pres. Committee On Culture Dir. Martin Lopez, MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat and writer Ibarra Mateo; FEU Auditorium, September 26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
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right: Dancer Angela Castro and Banaue Miclat-Janssen; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Artists from left: Harddy Santos, Jayroll Francisco, Ralph Lauren Barola, Kenneth Santiago, John Nikko Pelaez are among 18 semifinalists of the 2018 MANINGNING MICLAT ART AWARDS. Their works were exhibited in Nicanor Reyes Hall, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila, Sept 3-26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
Artist: Christine Capili, Title: Tabula Rasa, Oil and Ink on canvas, 24 x 24 inches (26)
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Jesse Lucas; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Semifinalists / Exhibiting Artists from left: John Nikko Pelaez, Christine Capili, MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat, Grand Prize winner Jessica Lopez, Dominic Nelson Jinon, Dhan Louie Bautista, Kenneth Santiago and Ralph Lauren Barola. The Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018 was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
from right: Vim Nadera, Juror Egai Talusan Fernandez (29)
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Artist: Cyrill Mustera Title: Sinners, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 24 x 36 inches
from left: Al Gatmaitan, Toots Tolentino, Banaue Miclat-Janssen and Jesse Lucas; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Teresita Ang See is a huge fan of Maningning’s Chinese poetry. (32)
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Top Four – Artist: Harddy DC Santos, Title: Cover Up, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 40x30inches.The Maningning Miclat Visual Art Awards 2018 was held September 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
from left: Jesse Lucas, Banaue-Miclat Janssen and Renato Lucas the stars of GINUGUNITA KITA a performance art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems and the Music of Jesse Lucas with performances by Al Gatmaitan, Angela Castro and Nasser Lubay. It was held on Sept 26, 2018 at the FEU Auditorium, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila. Photo by Jude Bautista
LEFT: Artist-Rhicelle Tabanera, Title-DIFFERENT MOTIONS THROUGH EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, 2018, Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 24 inches RIGHT: Artist-Dhan Louie Bautista, Title-COLLATERAL DAMAGE, 2018, Oil on Canvas (35)
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from right: Rome and Jing Jorge with MMAFI Pres. Alma Cruz-Miclat; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
Maningning Miclat’s oil painting “Trouble in Paradise,” Art Association of the Philippines’ grand winner in 1992. Photo courtesy of Miclat family
Artists from left: Dhan Louie Bautista, Cyrill Mustera, Christine Capili, Arvin Santos are among 18 semifinalists of the 2018 MANINGNING MICLAT ART AWARDS. Their works were exhibited in Nicanor Reyes Hall, Far Eastern University, Sampaloc, Manila, Sept 3-26, 2018. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Artist: Robert Tiaño, Title: Innermost Self, 2018, Oil on Canvas, (2016) Grand Prize winner
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Al Gatmaitan and Banaue Miclat-Janssen; GINUGUNITA KITA a Performance Art of Maningning Miclat’s Poems set to music by Jesse Lucas, Sept. 26, 2018, FEU Auditorium. Photo by Jude Bautista
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Text and Photos by Jude Bautista