5 Facts About National Artist For Painting: Carlos "Botong" Francisco

Tucked within the bustling streets of Manila are big pictures painted by two small yet gifted hands. In this article, Tatler looks into the decades-long impact of National Artist for Painting, Carlos "Botong" Francisco

The murals of National Artist for Painting Carlos "Botong" Francisco are for the Filipino working class; his enormous masterpieces have carefully mirrored and pictured the real-life struggles of the proletariats and veered away from the romanticised depictions of Fernando Amorsolo.

Francisco has single-handedly revived the dying art of mural painting and continues to be its most sought-after practitioner for more than 30 years. Today, his works continue to thrive in national banks and museums around Manila.

1. His works were inspired by Filipino folklore, history, and customs

Above First Mass at Limasawa 301 x 145 cm oil on canvas 1965 (Photo: National Museum of the Philippines Collection)

Francisco's works revolved around Filipino customs and traditions. The National Artist also painted many historical events that chronicled important events such as the First Mass at Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, The Invasion of Limahong, and the Blood Compact.

2. He discovered the Angono Petroglyphs

The Angono-Binangonan Petroglyphs is the oldest work of art in the Philippines, it is located half kilometres away from the southeast town of Angono, Rizal. The work was accidentally discovered by Francisco as he was lying down on a rock shelter during a 1965 Boy Scouts field trip.

Upon lying down, he noticed deeply etched primitive drawings on the rock wall and immediately notified the National Museum for careful evaluation. Archaeological excavations soon revealed that the drawings were etched during the neolithic period.

3. Served as the production designer for the 1961 film adaptation of Noli Me Tángere

Above National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco (Photo: NCCA Official)

In 1961, Francisco served as the production designer for National Artist Geraldo de Leon's film adaptation of Dr Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tángere.

De Leon is the only Filipino director in the Philippines to have won the Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Awards (FAMAS) for Best Director for three consecutive years: 1960, 1961 and 1962.

Tatler Trivia: In 2011, on Rizal's sesquicentennial birth anniversary, De Leon's masterpiece was restored and shown on big screens at the Mall of Asia (MOA).

4. Studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts

Above University of the Philippines-Diliman (Photo: Philtrophy/Flickr)

Francisco studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts under the care of portraitist and painter Fabian de la Rosa. Francisco soon worked as a layout artist and illustrator and even teamed up with modern painters Galo Ocampo and Victorio Edades.

In 1938, the National Artist pioneered as an instructor at the recently-established University of Santo Tomas School of Architecture and Fine Arts.

5. He is a member of the Thirteen Moderns

Harana, 1957 (Photo: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Collection)

Above Botong Francisco became a member of the Thirteen Moderns (Photo: Anna Monina Rafal/Unsplash)

Francisco was one of the Thirteen Moderns, a group of Filipino modernists formed in 1938. Also in the roster were renowned artists including Arsenio Capili, Bonifacio Cristobal, Demetrio Diego, Victorio Edades, Cesar Legaspi, Diosdado Lorenzo, Anita Magsaysay, Vicente Manansala, Galo Ocampo, Hernando Ocampo, Jose Pardo, and Ricarte Puruganan.

To honour these artists, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) with former Director Roberto Chabet began an exhibition series titled Thirteen Artists. The program seeks to recognise Filipino artists who showed "a recentness, a turning away from past, familiar models of art-making, a movement towards possibilities and discoveries."

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Mural Painter National Artist NCCA

Tatler Asia

National Artist Trivia: Who Was Carlos "Botong" Francisco?

1. His works were inspired by Filipino folklore, history, and customs

2. He discovered the Angono Petroglyphs

3. Served as the production designer for the 1961 film adaptation of Noli Me Tángere

4. Studied at the University of the Philippines (UP) School of Fine Arts

5. He is a member of the Thirteen Moderns