Malabon's Landmark

I never noticed it before.  Not until recently when I started becoming more mindful of the sights around me during my periodic descents into the heart of town.

A magnificant bronze sculpture standing proudly on a small area straddling Letre Road and C-4 Road, right before the SSS & BIR offices on C-4.  Behind it, a welcome sign to this city we lovingly call our hometown Malabon.

Up close is the only way to really appreciate this magnificent sculpture.  I just wish that Meralco post could be situated farther away. 

The sculpture is by MICHAEL CACNIO, based on a painting by his father ANGEL CACNIO.  According to the artist, he first submitted a study of the painting to then Mayor Amado "Boy" Vicencio which he finalized in 2001.  The painting appears on the cover of Nonoy Marcelo's book "...From Tambobong to City of Malabon."  His son Michael later made the sculpture.

Because Malabon is surrounded by rivers and is near Manila Bay, much of the livelihood in the city is related to fishing.  Thus the main character depicted in the sculpture is a fisherman with a fishing net slung over his shoulder and a metal basin ("banyera") full of fish at his feet.  Behind the fisherman is a man who appears to be in a "barong" (Filipino dress shirt) - and Mr. Cacnio says his concept was that this man represents a professional who studied and will help lead our city to progress.  This man also represents the father who, together with his wife and children, form a tightly bonded family.  The bamboo pieces surrounding the sculpture are 21 in all - representing the 21 barangays of Malabon.

One reason why we hardly notice this landmark - aside from the fact that we are usually cooped up in a car or jeepney and rushing to or from somewhere when we pass it - is that it is set against a cluttered background.  I understand that there are plans to transfer the sculpture in front of the Malabon City Hall.  I think this is an excellent idea. Malabon residents would then be able to better appreciate this art piece and all that it symbolizes.

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For more on ANGEL CACNIO please see:  Angel C. Cacnio, preeminent Malabon artist and Angel Cacnio: Strokes for the Folk.

For more on MICHAEL CACNIO please see:  Michael Cacnio: Sculptor par excellence.


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Angel C. Cacnio, preeminent Malabon artist

In a fitting conclusion to "art week" of my discovery tour of Malabon, I visited Mr. ANGEL CACNIO and his gracious wife Mrs. Mely Cacnio in their beautiful home in Barangay Hulong Duhat. 

Mr. CACNIO is known for his chronicles of Philippine heritage - historical events, heroic deeds, Filipino legends, traditions and values.  He also paints people and scenes from his hometown Malabon that immediately evoke feelings of nostalgia in townmates.  His deft strokes are brilliant and bold - leaving no doubt in the viewer's mind about the passion that the artist suffuses into his work.

This photo taken during Ma'Arteng Malabon exhibit.

ANGEL CACNIO was born in Malabon on June 6, 1931, the youngest of eight children of Flaviano Cacnio and Telespora Cruz.  Angel showed his creative inclination when he was still small, as he liked to play with mud by moulding the mud into artistic shapes.  Being the most sickly of the brood, he could not help much in his father's line of work - fishing - which may have led him even more to pursue his talent in art.

He graduated in 1954 with a Fine Arts degree at the University of the Philippines.

Photo from the artist's scrapbook - with his classmates at U.P.  From left:  Alcuaz, Abueva, Concepcion, Cacnio, Joya and Evangelista.

In 1953 his painting "Tatlong Sabungero" won first prize at the Third Shell National Student's Art Competition.  "The Capture of Mabini" won the Apolinario Mabini Centennial Art Competition in 1964.  He won prizes in the coin design contest of the Central Bank and his designs were used for the 25 and 50-centavo coins circulated in 1982-1983.  He also designed the 20-peso and 100-peso bills that are still in circulation.  He has garnered more recognition over the years here and abroad for his creative work.

 

 In the later years of Martial Law, he was commissioned to design the new 500-peso bill that would have had the image of then-President Ferdinand Marcos.  But when the EDSA Revolution took place and Cory Aquino became president, the image placed on the 500-peso bill became that of Ninoy Aquino.  CACNIO's design, which was not chosen, would have been more colorful.

CACNIO was a Gintong Parangal ng Malabon awardee for Art in 1981, and a Gintong Ama Awardee for Arts and Culture in 1996, among other awards and recognition.  His current involvements include the Sining Tambobong Foundation, Malabon Tourism, the Tuesday Group of artists which he co-founded, and the Iglesia ng Diyos (NPB) kay Cristo Jesus.

He has been married to Amelia Reyes Cacnio since 1959 and they have four children:  Ferdinand, Mabini, Michelle Pilar, and Michael Allen.  Ferdinand and Michael are both artists who specialize in brass sculpture.

The CACNIO residence is a gallery/museum not only for his work but also for those of his sons. Mrs. Cacnio also has her own collection of paintings by other Malabon artists.

An artist lives here.  This imposing bahay na bato-inspired house was constructed in 2004 and is both gallery and haven for Angel and Mely Cacnio.  The couple live in art's midst in a quiet garden retreat setting.

Brass sculpture  by sons Ferdinand and Michael

Work-in-progress still life

 

Brick and brass among the foliage.  

Read more about ANGEL CACNIO in the Manila Bulletin:  Angel Cacnio: Strokes for the Folk



Angel C. Cacnio
Artist/Painter
62 Don B. Bautista Blvd.
Barangay Hulong Duhat, Malabon City

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