Rizal Series: Angono is the Art Capital of the Philippines

A street mural showing the notes of Lucio San Pedro's famous composition Sa Ugoy ng Duyan 

February 19, 2012

Angono, Rizal

Being that February is the National Arts Month, I thought of visiting a place that embraces everything artsy. And where else to go than to the "Art Capital of the Philippines" -- Angono, Rizal!

This first class municipality, located 30 kilometers east of Manila, is the hometown of two national artists, Luis San Pedro for music and Carlos Botong Francisco for arts. It is also home to other artists like Nemirenda, Perdigon, the Blanco family and others.*

One of the major festivities held in this town is the Higantes Festival. This colorful festival features effigies made of bamboo, colorful cloth and faces of paper mache. It is said that the origin of this event dated as far back as the Spanish era wherein these higantes or effigies were used by the land tillers of Angono to air their grievances against the Spanish hacienderos. Today, it is one of the most famous events in the country.

One interesting find in Angono are the street murals found along Dona Aurora Street. These murals were based on the actual paintings of Botong Francisco. 


What's even more fascinating about Angono for me is to see how art breathes with the people there. Some may find it offensive but for me, seeing clothesline and parked bicycles along the murals just assert that art lives with the daily grind of the people there. 

We visited one of the well-known museums there, the Blanco Family Museum. It houses a collection of paintings of the Blanco Family. Led by Jose "Pitok" Blanco and wife Loreto "Loring" along with seven children Glenn, Noel, Michael, Joy, Jan, Gay and Peter Paul, this artistic family traveled around the Philippines to showcase Filipino culture and traditions through their canvasses. They used Realism in most of their works. The museum is a must-see for those planning to go to Angono!

Cha, Janet, Kidd and me with Micheal of the Blanco Family

Entrance Fee:

Adult 70

Student 50 

Address: 312 Ibanez St. Brgy Sa Vicente, Angono Rizal

Other Galleries in Angono:

Carlos "Botong" Francisco Studio

Hernandez Studio

Nemiranda Art Gallery

Tiamson Art Gallery

Saint Clements Parish Church

How to get to Angono, Rizal:

From EDSA take Ortigas Ave, then turn left to Ortigas Extesion passing Rosario and Junction- Cainta, at Kaytikling area turn right to Manila East Road, passing SM Taytay and Pure Gold and the next town is Angono.

From C-5, turn right to Ortigas Extension follow the route Rosarion-Cainta-Taytay-Angono.

From Marikina, take Imelda Avenue straight to Junction, turn left at junction Cainta taking the Ortigas Extension route, turn right and Mainila East Road passing SM Taytay and Pure Gold, next town is Angono. 


*Wikipedia