1.

A. Benedicto Cabrera
Benedicto Reyes Cabrera (born April 10, 1942), better known as “BenCab”, is a Filipino
painter and was awarded National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts (Painting) in 2006. He
has been noted as “arguably the best-selling painter of his generation of Filipino artists.”
BenCab was born to Democrito Cabrera and Isabel Reyes in Malabon, Philippines on April
10, 1942. He was the youngest of nine children. BenCab's first exposure and discovery of the arts
happened through his elder Brother Salvador, who was already an established artist during
Bencab's childhood.
He went on to study at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he explored
different art visual forms - photography, draftsmanship, printmaking - while honing his chosen
craft as a painter. He received his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts in 1963.
BenCab met British journalist Caroline Kennedy (author of An Affair of State, 1987, and
How the English Establishment Framed Stephen Ward, 2013) in Manila in 1968, and married her
in London in 1969. The couple decided to stay in London. They have three children. The eldest,
Elisar, was born in 1971 and is now a film and web series producer, married to award-winning
playwright and web series writer, Lisa Gifford, based in London; Their middle child, Mayumi,
was born in Manila in 1973 and became a successful model both in London and Los Angeles. She
currently lives in Los Angeles with her partner, John A. Fries and their two children, Ronan (2011)
and Ione (2013). Their youngest, Jasmine was born in 1977, mother of Sienna Daphne (2016) and
lives in Quezon City.
Bencab's first years as a painter in London "were not particularly easy", but his talents were
immediately recognized. Over the next four decades, he established for himself a name of
international importance, holding exhibitions from London to New York to Macau, and winning
several major art awards in a career spanning four decades.
When BenCab returned to the Philippines in 1972, he was hailed as a Filipino pioneer of
the arts and a significant influence among his peers. However, he returned to London once more
in 1974, partly to get away from the tightening grip of Martial Law, which Ferdinand Marcos had
declared in 1972. That event is said to have "marked the beginning of [BenCab]'s passionate
involvement with social commentary and the topics of repression and freedom," turning him into
a key figure in the development of protest art against the Marcos dictatorship.
His Larawan series was developed out of his nostalgia for the Philippines. He and Caroline
used to scour local flea markets all over Europe looking for early maps and prints of the
Philippines. This collection became the basis for his Larawan series.
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Benedicto Cabrera. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedicto_Cabrera
[Accessed 11 Dec. 2019].
B. Joey Velasco
Born in March 18, 1967 to Ciriaco and Adelita Velasco, Joey showed early signs of his
passion for entrepreneurship. He took up law at the Ateneo de Manila but had to leave to be in
fellowship with his working class parents and decided to set up businesses instead.
Joey Velasco, who, a few years before turning 40, was diagnosed with kidney cancer. A
successful entrepreneur, Joey took up painting as a means to cope with his illness. Little did he
know that this would lead to greater things.
After a devastating diagnosis and undergoing major surgery, Joey lost his left kidney. This
brought about a depression that made him feel dark and very lonely. He withdrew contact from
the world, He avoided his friends and even his family. Locking himself up in one room, Joey
became a total recluse. Praying for God to get him out of his misery, God sent him a miracle in the
form of a paintbrush.
A few months after learning how to paint with just the help of books, Joey’s “Hapag ng
Pag-asa” started to form on his canvass. Posing for him were street-children that he personally
hand-picked. In his painting, he depicted Jesus Christ in a Last Supper-setting sharing a meal with
the street-children. It will take him a month and a half to finish his masterpiece.
Since taking up painting, he has done 31 one-man exhibits and have made the rounds of
not only galleries but of universities, museums, churches, and various groups here and abroad.
Combining local color and religious themes, his paintings are always a hit with the crowds.
Joey has also written a book, “They Have Jesus” and has also delved his hand into
independent filmmaking. Three indie films, “Sa Kambas ng Lipunan (2006),” “Ang Lumang
Paintbrush (2007),” and “Kakaibang Kulay (2008)” conclude his filmography.
Despite all his artistic success, Joey has denied being called as an artist. He prefers the term
“heartist” instead, and also calls himself a “socio-spiritual realist.” He is quoted to once have said,
“I view my obras as “real”, not because of the technique but because of the reality happening in
our society.” Even while struggling with a painful illness, his idealism has allowed him to go on,
and help others, painting with heart, talent, and spirit.
His death at the young age of 43 in July 2010 due to kidney cancer complications has
brought sadness to many. His 5-year struggle with his illness has shown us that even at our darkest
hours, many positive things can also come to light. On the first night of his wake, the 12 children
who were once his models prayed for him and thanked him for saving them from the streets.
Pusongpamilya.com. (2019). Inspiring Pinoy: Joey Velasco: art enriching life | Puso ng Pamilyang Pilipino. [online]
Available at: http://pusongpamilya.com/inspiring-pinoy-joey-velasco-art-enriching-life/ [Accessed 11 Dec. 2019].
2.
A. Benedicto Cabrera
Benedicto Cabrera is considered the preeminent Filipino painter of his generation.
Primarily figurative, Cabrera’s work often depicts woman and occasionally men wrapped in
swirling, bundled fabrics and capes.
Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork (particularly
paintings and sculptures) that is clearly derived from real object sources and so is, by definition,
representational. The term is often in contrast to abstract art:
Since the arrival of abstract art the term figurative has been used to refer to any form of
modern art that retains strong references to the real world.
Painting and sculpture can therefore be divided into the categories of figurative,
representational and abstract, although, strictly speaking, abstract art is derived (or abstracted)
from a figurative or other natural source. However, "abstract" is sometimes used as a synonym for
non-representational art and non-objective art, i.e. art which has no derivation from figures or
objects.
Figurative art is not synonymous with figure painting (art that represents the human figure),
although human and animal figures are frequent subjects.