Boholano culture and landscapes in paintings
‘Bohol Ways of Life and Landscapes’ features 30 paintings by five Boholano artists, from the private collection of Janssen Bantugan
Czar Cempron, Glenn Lumantao, Norris Oculam, Rachelle Lacea of NMP-Bohol, Jamie Villamor, Michael K. Amores, Sigala Foundation chairperson Janssen Bantugan and Elvin Vitor.
In line with Bohol’s annual Sandugo Festival, Bohol Ways of Life and Landscapes is on view at the National Museum of the Philippines (NMP)-Bohol in Tagbilaran City. Mounted by NMP Bohol, together with the Sigala Arts and Cultural Heritage Research and Development Foundation Inc. and opened on 6 July, the exhibit celebrates the island province’s natural wonders, as well as its culture and traditions, an apt follow-up to its LGBTQ+ Pride Month event, “Weaving with Pride.”
Bohol Ways of Life and Landscapes features 30 paintings by five Boholano artists, from the private collection of Janssen Bantugan, chairperson of Sigala foundation.
Showcased are works by Florante “Ranths” Anunciado, who has participated in several art shows in Metor Manila and who has produced many paintings depicting the countryside.
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‘Asin Tibuok’ (24 x 32 inches, oil on canvas, 2022) by Florante Anunciado.
His Asin Tibuok (24 by 32 inches, oil on canvas, 2022) depicts the making of the artisanal sea salt, a pre-colonial tradition that is now only existing in Alburqueque. This is a heritage product of Bohol that needs to be put back on every table. Another work also depicts local food. Sikwate (32 by 24 inches, oil on canvas, 2022) shows the local version of the chocolate drink. It is prepared using the tableya de cacao, made from dried, roasted, and ground cacao beans formed into tablets. The wooden batirol is used to whisk the mixture of hot water and tableya. Depicted is Tiya Lalang, who loves to prepare sikwate for her nephews in their home in Camaya-an, Loboc, Bohol.
On the other hand, Emerald (24 by 36 inches, oil on canvas, 2017) shows Ingkumhan Falls in the barangay of Bauhagan in Dimiao.
The exhibition’s centerpiece and its largest painting is Datu Sigala (122 by 92 centimeters, oil on canvas, 2023), by Sherwin A. Tutor, an advocate of Bohol’s history and pre-Hispanic Visayan culture. Higher in rank than the more popular Sikatuna, Datu Sigala, who lived in Jimili-an, Loboc, performed a blood compact with Miguel Lopez de Legazpi on 28 March 1565, three days after Datu Sikatuna. This scene is also interpreted by Tutor in Boceto Para El Pacto de Sangre de Sigala-Legazpi (77 by 128 centimeters, oil on canvas, 2024).
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