A shot at Martino

Both the University of the Philippines Cebu and the Cebu Institute of Technology University are trying their luck in pushing for Cebuano painter Martino Abellana to be recognized as a national artist. Abellana, whose teaching career began at CIT-U, played a pivotal role in the formation of the Fine Arts program of UP Cebu.

His name once echoed through the halls of both universities, yet many Cebuanos may have forgotten who he was and the significant contributions he made to the country's art scene.

It is timely to advance this initiative now, as February is a month dedicated to celebrating the world of art. Various activities are being held left and right for different artistic disciplines, extending beyond just the visual arts, where Abellana made his mark. Thousands of pesos are spent to revive artistic movements, hoping to foster appreciation, replication, and production of art. These efforts also serve as a means of remembrance. In today’s time, recalling Abellana's legacy feels more fitting than ever.

Young students do not even know who he is. Those who visited two exhibits devoted to him found themselves in limbo, struggling to piece together his identity. There is a missing link between the past and present --a scarcity of writings about him as an artist. There seems to be a disconnect between how prominent he was then and how little documentation remains for scholars to study today. Filling this gap would be a most welcome endeavor, providing a crucial boost to the cause.

Despite this, his students still fondly remember him. I found myself in an hour-long conversation with his early students, who were setting up a Valentine's Day exhibit as a group. His teachings remain vivid in their minds, even the tough lessons they had to endure.

Adeste Deguilmo recounted how Abellana was brutally honest about his work as a young artist, which gave him the strength to find his footing in the industry. Another student, Sonia Yrastorza, recalled how a six-hour lecture would often stretch to eight, with Abellana unbothered by the unpaid hours. The most common description of him was his generosity --of time, talent, and mentorship for the next generation.

Today, he continues to live on in many of his students, who are now paying it forward as educators themselves. Many of them are my colleagues --generous in their careers, just as their mentor was. They carry the teachings of a great man whose life was dedicated to art. I was told Abellana loved the outdoors, as nature often sparked his imagination, inspiring him to transport viewers into the scenes he meticulously captured in his many trips.

I wish he was still alive to witness the dedication of those working tirelessly to bring his name to the national stage. He would have been both thrilled and humbled by the appreciation for his life's work.

Beyond the dozens of paintings he left behind --some now in the hands of collectors-- his most enduring legacy lies in the lessons he imparted, etched in the hearts and minds of his students who continue to uphold his name.