angono’s art museums: the blancos

13 Jun 10

Confession: I had no idea who Blanco was, nor was I familiar with his works, before I went to Angono last week. The little that I knew of him was that he had a lot of talented children, and they painted as a family.

But wow oh wow, I was really floored when I visited his home in Angono! Tucked away in the middle of the Rizal province are paintings of a genius family– think Von Trapps for painting! Such an amazing, amazing place, full of love that is still palpable, to this day, even to the most ignorant of visitors.

The Blanco Family Museum displays the family’s most treasured works, ranging from those done by each family member as far back as 4 years of age until about the mid-twenties. All seven children are gifted painters, and Loring Blanco, their mother, joined in the painting party at age 48. Dad Pitok Blanco set up the museum to prevent the usual occurrence of artists’ families not having their works as keepsakes. None of the paintings on display are for sale.

Painted by their youngest, Peter Paul, at age 4:

Age 6:

A portrait of Peter Paul done by his older sister, Gay Blanco, at age 8:

A beautiful capture of a scene she must’ve seen often, using oil pastel on wood, age 7:

Already playing with lights and shadows at age 14:

A Mangyan mother and child, one of my favorites in the whole collection, also by Gay at age 15:

Her mastery of oils shown here at age 22:

Jan Blanco’s “The Merchant”, age 6:

Another incredible oil pastel on wood, “The Dragon Slayer”, also at age 6:

A rendering of a recurrent motif in the family, the “Kanduli”, by Jan at age 8:

Another portrait of Peter Paul, this time by older brother Jan done at age 15:

Amazing detail in this chicken shop! Didn’t get to take note of the date, but am guessing this was done in his late teens or early twenties:

Joy Blanco, watercolor on board at age 10:

Age 11:

Joy’s “Old woman on the ricefield”, oil on canvas, age 15:

Look at the grass on this “Kanduli”, done at age 17–it’s alive!

Portrait of Jan by older brother Michael, Watercolor on board, age 12:

Portraits of his grandparents, age 18:

“Beginning of a New Day”, Oil on canvas, age 38:

Noel Blanco’s subtle watercolor on board, depicting life on the meadow, at age 14:

Portrait of his sister, Gay, at age 16:

At age 20:

Unlike his siblings, Glenn Blanco only started painting in fourth year high school.

His work at age 24:

I love Mommy Loring’s paintings, which have a distinct womanly, motherly feel to them:

Her works “tell us about human warmth, the odor of mother’s milk and sweat, and the tender skin of sleeping infants.”

Of course the museum builds up to the works of the Padre de familia, Jose “Pitok” Blanco, which are massive murals jostling with Filipino life:

I went home that day with such a big smile in my heart.

We have such a treasure in the Blanco Family Museum, and it’s here in the immediate environs of Metro Manila! This should be a weekend destination for all Pinoy and Pinoy-at-heart families Thank you, Pitok Blanco, for preserving your family’s beautiful works, and for sharing it with all of us.