I bring news of good tidings in the aftermath of the wrath of Typhoon Gaemi (known as Typhoon Carina in the Philippines).
After visiting the National Museum of Fine Arts in Manila last year, and after such a devastating natural disaster in Manila, I was elated to hear that a good friend of ours (and our balae), Rosalie Montenegro-Roth, had made a generous donation to the National Museum, mainly in behalf of her late, beloved daughter Bianca Montenegro-Roth. I think that this was a wonderful way to both honor her daughter, who was married to Jean Paul Garcia-Moran, the great grandson of one of the 2 subjects of the original Fernando Amorsolo double portrait, and to share with the Filipino people this treasured legacy.
This is one of the best-preserved original Fernando Amorsolo paintings, according the museum curator.
(Photo of NATIONAL MUSUEM OF FINE ARTS invitation for the unveiling on Aug 5 with double portrait of 2 Moran ladies by F. Amorsolo)”
The lovely double portrait had been hanging in their home in Madrid for many years now. Jeremy Barns, the director-general of the The National Museum of Fine Arts and the illustrious members of the board of trustees — Chairperson Andoni Aboitiz, Sen. Loren Legarda, Senator Nancy Binay, Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Secretary Maria Anonia Loyzaga of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Secretary Christina Frasco of the Department of Tourism, among some of them – must be grinning from ear to ear. From what I saw of the museum last year, it could use more significant works like this gorgeous portrait done by F. Amorsolo. This momentous occasion merits a definite plus for the museum.