AND ALL THE ANGELS AND SAINTS: July 2023

Sunday, July 2, 2023

357. THE SANTO COLLECTION OF THE MUSEUM OF PHILIPPINE ARTS AND CULTURE, San Fernando, Pampanga

Museum of Philippine Art and Culture, San Fernando

An invitation from Mrs. ANDREA DIZON DOMINGO to the launch of her foundation’s MUSEUM OF PHILIPINE ARTS AND CULTURE, was an event certainly not to be missed by the staff of the Center for Kapampangan Studies, and that included me. Though many remember her of late, as the Chairman and CEO of PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation), she was also at some point, a commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and a Pampanga congresswoman.

A cabinet-ful of antique santos

But I remember Mrs. Domingo as an owner of a well-know antique shop in Intramuros—GALERIA ANDREA—and who later put up a swanky branch at the LRI Plaza in Makati. I was a habitue of her antique shop that was always full to the rafters with antique santos, exquisite colonial jewelry, paintings, blue and white jars, and pottery diggings—all tastefully displayed under glass or organized on shelves and walls.

Ivory Sto. Nino flanked by San Jose and Sta. Maria

I only have one santo purchase to show after all my frequent visits to her shops— an armless Santo Niño with a bone face on a globe base. I was content with browsing at her shops as she had probably one of the most select antique pieces in Intramuros. So, when I learned that she was opening a museum, I had no doubt that it will be nothing less than the best—I had already in my mind the quality and diversity of pieces she will be showcasing.

An ivory Calvario scene.

I had expected a small museum in a San Fernando subdivision, but I was floored when I saw it was in a huge 2-story building with expansive spaces. She explained that the building was a re-purposed ballroom dance hall that she had built at a time when she took up the hobby, and wanted a venue for other dance enthusiasts.

A folk Virgen and Sto. Nino in a box urna

Entering the well-lit, cavernous hall were walls and walls of paintings from past and present masters, presidential merit winners, Mabini painters, and National Artists, a virtual who’s who in Philippine art history. Outside of Manila, this museum has perhaps the largest assemblage of paintings done by National Artists—works of Amorsolo, Ang Kiukok, Botong Francisco, hang side by side with the paintings of Magsaysay-Ho, Edades, Joya, and Legaspi.

A cabinetful of antique santos

In another wing, the rooms displayed pre-colonial artifacts like bul-ols, oriental trade jars, potteries from various diggings, tribal art and textiles.

More santos on display.

But of course, the one room that piqued my interest most was the santo collection in a wing of its own. The most precious ones—including the valuable ivories, were shown in well-lit floor to ceiling glass cabinets. The amazing exhibit featured mostly folk santos, many left overs from her antique shops, but still of impeccable quality no less. The antique santo collection is featured in these photos.

L-R: Ivory San Juan Bautista, and a pair of wooden San Roques

The MUSEUM OF PHILIPPINE ART AND CULTURE is set to open fully in July. It is located along the highway of San Fernando, brgy. San Agustin, next to Ramar Village, and across St. Scholastica Academy.