Daughters' tribute to dad

CEBU, Philippines - What’s the best gift a pair of sisters can give their father on his 78th birthday?

For Ruby Dakay-Palugod and Delilah Dakay, it is a three-man art show that opens this September 16 at the City Sports Club Cebu, featuring their works and that of their beloved Papa, Archt. Manuel Dakay.

“MDD An Art Exhibit” will feature the sketches of Archt. Dakay, photography of Ruby and paintings of Delilah. All three of them are also incidentally students of the late Prof. Martino Abellana, who they will also honor in the exhibit.

The art exhibit was conceptualized by the sisters as their tribute to their father, who along with their mother, Violeta, inspired them to love art and music. The family’s passion for music will also be highlighted during the opening of the exhibit at 5:30 p.m. with piano music that they have specially recorded for the affair will be played.

Msgr. Achilles Dakay, brother of Manuel, will bless the exhibit that will run until the 20th.

This tribute to their father, whose work as an architect they will be displaying, has long been a dream of the sisters, who may seem to have pursued various fields but never lost touch of their love for art.

Ruby, who is a licensed architect, did not practice her profession and instead went into the banking and finance industry. She now manages a family-owned company.

Delilah, who finished a degree in fine arts at UP Cebu, had spent three years in Dubai before coming back to the country. During the 1987 Joya Awards, her piece, “My Favorite Things” won third place in the annual art contest.

Manuel was born in Balamban, Cebu to Ramon and Gaudiosa Dakay. He earned his bachelor’s degree in architecture at the Cebu Institute of Technology and placed 8th in the licensure examination in 1963.

Family and friends have been invited to the affair, but the public can view the exhibits for the next five days after the opening.