NEWS
Pancho Piano: Rising to the Apex of Dreams

Opening of Pancho Piano’s 3rd solo exhibit in New York last November. From left: Gavino Abaya of the Philippine Center Management Board, Reggie Belen of Belen Insurance, Consul Cecile Rebong, Pancho, Fr. Ervo Diaz and Cong. Rodolfo Valencia of Mindoro.

As art connoisseurs heaped plaudits on him during his 3rd solo exhibit in New York only last November 11 to 17, 2006, artist Pancho Piano knew that he was close to the apex of his dreams. He has ascended the pinnacle of fame as an artist, his talent has been recognized in many parts of the world and he has become the role model for the youths especially those with inherent but undeveloped artistic talents, hamstrung by poverty.

It has been a long way from an impoverished childhood in Mangogon, a north coastal barangay in the town of Lagonoy a part of the Caramoan Peninsula, where not only resources but talents unbelievably abound. Facing the Pacifi c Ocean, Mangogon is endowed with a serene, magical beauty that endlessly inspired the artist and he was later to translate the wondrous sights into canvas.

Pancho actually held already 15 one-man shows in Japan, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vienna, Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Amsterdam, Milan, Rome and Manila.

Pancho with his “Siriwagan”

He had also participated in 35 group exhibits in various parts of the globe. From June up to August this year, he is scheduled to hold exhibits once more in Amsterdam and in U.S.A. as well as in Brazil.

Known internationally as stained glass artist and a mural painter, Pancho has completed 150 mural paintings and stained glass designs mostly reflecting religious themes. Some of his works include stained glass windows for the Adoration Chapel of the Basilica Minore, the outdoor chapel of the Peñafrancia Shrine, stained glass installations at the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Archbishop’s Palace, all in Naga City. He has similar paintings in the St. Gregory Cathedral in Legazpi City, in the Virac Cathedral in Catanduanes and in the churches in the towns of Canaman, Bato, Nabua, Pili, Donsol, Magarao, and the Missionaries Center at Makati City as well as in residences in Naga City, Quezon City and Pasig City.

He also has mural paintings depicting the history, culture and mythology of Bicol which adorn the government buildings of Naga, Minalabac, Pasacao, Lagonoy as well as the Ago Medical Hospital the churches of San Jose and Nabua both in Camarines Sur.

The stained glass ceilings of Peñafrancia Basilica Jubilee Pavilion, the St. John Baptist Church in Tabaco City, the Masbate Cathedral, the Bishop’s Residence in Pasig City, the Shrine of our Lady of Annunciation in Quezon City and the Cottage Industry Training Center in Marikina City are also among his masterpieces.

His talent coupled with luck enabled Pancho to make the arduous climb to his present stature. He was just a struggling young artist who had fi nished his Economics degree at the University of Nueva Caceres and was doing commercial paintings and illustrations for local publications when he was spotted by the late Jose Joya, an abstractionist and art educator. Joya recommended him in 1984 as his scholar at the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts at Quezon City, an invaluable training that honed and refined his skills.

After the UP stint, he had earned his spurs. He topped the list of UP-based artists to train in German leather artmaking in 1985.

“Mangogon”, acrylic on canvas

This feat led to several internationally-oriented art programs such as mural painting at Tokamachi City in 1986 in Japan and stained glass designing in Palau in 1990.

But despite his continuing international exposure Pancho would never cut his deep roots in Bicol. In fact, at the coming Balik Caramoan Festival in Caramoan, Camarines Sur for returning Caramoan expatriates in America, Canada and other parts of the globe, he was among the first to offer to hold an art exhibit along with several other painters from Manila and Bicol.

In 1989 he was finalist at the Metro Bank Young Artist Awards and then in 1998 he had Best Entry at the prestigious 51st Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) Annual Art Competition Centennial National Painting Contest.

Honors that have been showered on him include the Bicol Artist Award of the Development Institute of Bikolano Artists (1995); Rokyaw Ibalong Bikol Achievement Award (1997); UNC Golden Jubilee Award (1998), Recognition Award from the Carlson City Government in Los Angeles (U.S.A.); Mayoralty Award from the Naga City government (2000); CSNHS Centennial Award (2003) and Camarines Sur Provincial Government Award (2005).