THE X - SPOT: Pinto Art Museum

Showing posts with label Pinto Art Museum. Show all posts

Saturday, March 9, 2019

Pinto Art Museum and Silangan Gardens in Antipolo City (2016)

This was an old video (which is almost 3 years ago) taken at 'Pinto Art Museum and Silangan Gardens' in Antipolo City during my vacation in May 2016. I was with my youngest daughter and with my niece.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

My Vacation 2014: A Mission

On a bed at the artsy Silangan Gardens of the Pinto Art Museum.

This vacation was like no other -- it's because I had to settle a lot of issues, try to seek out solutions to a lot of problems, familial that is, and find answers to so many questions. This was a 'mission', in a way. Needless to say, I won't go into specifics, but, what I'm saying is that, the LORD answered all my prayers and He made all things possible for His glory . Yahweh is so good!

Thankfully, the time spent with my family was an enormous blessing filled with so much fun. Brushing aside issues that need some strong gut to confront, I wasted no time feasting on some of my favorite foods like balut, taho, chicharones, my favorite summer dessert Halo-halo, fresh coconut juice, isaw and inihaw na liempo (me, taunting a swordsman whose job is to catch pork devourers in Saudi Arabia). Hmm, yummy!

Of course, visiting some of the places in Manila that interest me should figure in my itinerary. So, first stop was the Philippine National Museum which is adjacent to the Luneta Park where my fascination for Juan Luna's Spoliarium and other great Filipino masterpieces like Amorsolo's, and Hidalgo's never ceases. I could have strutted further to some other significant and historical places but I thought I have overstayed quite a bit in the museum that I lost track of the sun fading.

Although I've been to SM Mall of Asia (or popularly known as MOA), its sheer size and its imposing structure and beauty still continue to amaze me. It so happened that I was to meet up with a person for a purpose and so the ambience at the mall was extremely vibrant that it helped me while my time hours before he finally showed up. Another mall that I frequently visit is the SM Mega Mall along EDSA -- another humongous mall that seemingly never stops to expand (evidenced by an annex built where the once huge parking area was). Of course, it's no brainer that these changes never escape me --it is where I get off a bus, taxi or whatever and head to a terminal beside it when going to my home in Antipolo. Since one high-end mall is just situated nearby, I saw to it that I join the frenzy of window shoppers and legits alike to cool down in the famous and luxurious Shangri-la Mall.

Frequenting these places in Manila is like meeting an old friend -- the thrill of its experience is one thing, but getting there is another. I took the MRT and the LRT to get to those places. I have never been a fan of David Blaine but I sure was like levitating while entering and exiting the coach because of the enormous current of crowd that spontaneously carried me like my feet never hit the pavement. Another peculiar experience that vouches you are indeed in Manila is the heat and humidity that still gets under my skin -- my pet peeves that I still can't figure how to tame, the same that I usually hear from most people while I was there.

If one thinks Manila has everything under its wings, make no mistake, in suburban Antipolo City where I am currently settled, there is also a place that competes with the more famous ones in Manila but replete with amazing works of art, the Pinto Art Museum. Every time I visit this place, there are always new masterpieces that mesmerize its visitors. I particularly love the bronze Calesa at their garden and the bed which I had a photo with while I was on it. I also love that new installation called 'Forest' by Antonio Catral Leaño.

Not to be missed in my itinerary was a further trip down south in Cavite where i basically grew up. I went there to visit my father, some family friends and personal friends as well. It was not all fun just like any other as we were met with a news of the death of my former high school classmate who died of brain aneurysm. It was a surreal feeling seeing him in a casket while reminiscing the days when we were full of youth and seemingly invincible. The vivid pictures kept on flashing as I forayed once more down memory lane and how I realized how blessed I am to have unlocked the secret to confronting fear of death, and that is through my Savior Jesus Christ. His demise all the more gave face to the reality that death beckons every human being, young and old, rich or poor -- and it is only a matter of time, "for it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27)

That was deep. Anyway that concludes the story of my happy, crazy and sometimes sad Philippine vacation of 2014. I'm hoping that my next vacation, (God willing) will be a more spiritual one. What I mean is that, that I could do some witnessing to other people or do more bible studies to my close friends and relatives, and be the light to people who are in this dark world. By the way, the bible studies we had at home every night was wonderful. Teaching my children and my wife about the gospel was really great and I know that the Lord will do more great things in their lives. Thank You Lord Jesus for everything. Hallelujah!

I had so much fun with our dog Chloe.

With my daughter Celine.

With my childhood friend at Malen's Restaurant in Noveleta, Cavite.

The National Museum of The Philippines in Manila.

At the rear side of the SM Mall of Asia with the view of MOA Eye & Manila Bay.

My eldest daughter showing her newly acquired ATM from the company she works for.

The entrance of Pinto Art Museum.

My favorite Halo-halo at Max's Restaurant in Antipolo City.

The video I made at the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo City.

Delight yourself also in the LORD,
and He shall give the desires of your heart.
~ Psalms 37:4

Friday, July 1, 2011

My Vacation 2011: #3 Pinto Art Museum & The Silangan Gardens

Entrance to Silangan Gardens/ Pinto Art Museum.

A few days before my flight back to Jeddah, on Fathers Day, me and my daughter Maria went to the Pinto Art Museum in Antipolo City, which is basically a stone throw away from where we live. We didn't even know that the place even existed until that day. I only heard about this place when I was watching a travel program on TFC when I was here in Saudi Arabia before I went on my vacation. We searched the internet about this place and how to get there. It turned out that getting there is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

The entrance fee is 100 Pesos per person, but students get discount. From the entrance they will give you a pamphlet which tells about the place, its history and that it officially opened on December 5, 2010, just late last year. So it's fairly new. The place is owned by Dr.Joven Cuanang and the arts displayed in the museum are all part of his collections.

I've noticed that most of the buildings inside were Mexican-inspired and go so well with their surroundings and while walking down the main concrete stair to the main art gallery, I've also noticed how beautiful their well maintained garden was. It just rained that morning so everything around was wet and the air smelled so fresh with all those plants, grass and trees (sigh.). We were also hearing a lot of low pitch sounds, more like the moo of a cow, and we later learned that they were frogs having "you know what" with their partners. And we thought it's part of the exhibit.LOL!

"Karnabal" by Salingpusa (click picture to enlarge).

Anyway, upon entering the art gallery, a very huge painting sort of welcomed us. It was called "Karnabal", it was painted by several artists collectively called "Salingpusa", a group of successful newbie artists in the world of art. Some of them are Emmanuel Garibay, Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani, Ronald Ventura, Karen Flores, Winner Jumalon and more. It's a mind-boggling depiction of a carnival in your dream (or nightmare). At the center, you'll see a carousel, although you're not gonna notice it at first. You really have to sit down and contemplate on the bench in front of it to see it. Believe me you'll see more than just a carousel.

There were also paintings by those individual painters, but I really love Emmanuel Garibay's paintings the most. His paintings usually depict everyday scenes from a poor man's point of view. A sort of dark satire of typical Filipino life. Maria and I really enjoyed the gallery. I even told her to write the names of the artists so that when get back home, we could look them up on the internet.

After walking around and seeing the paintings that led us to the museum shop, we proceeded to the restaurant which was located at yet another gallery. I must say, the food and the service there was amazing, even the chef came to us and asked us if we loved the food. The ambiance was perfect, my eyes cannot stop wandering around while having lunch because of the wonderful and amazing paintings that were displayed there. The name of the restaurant is (Laya) Earth Cafe.

After wolfing down our lunch, Maria and I went to roam around the garden. It was as amazing as the gallery. There's a lot of trails that lead to a place that really surprised us, almost like a secret garden. It was so peaceful and beautiful. I told Maria to refrain from talking loud because others might hear us and ruin our peaceful moments there. There were a lot of ponds (with quite a lot of frogs I must say!) The place was incredible.

Then we went to the house where the owner lives. It's like an open house, everybody can take a peek into it. But we hesitated to really venture inside because we could sense people are abuzz that time, there was the owner Dr. Cuanang with his foreign guests, so we decided not to get in.

Maria and I just can't stop taking pictures where ever we go. It's a shame we didn't have a picture of the two of us. It was a great and amazing experience to be there especially with my daughter. I will always cherish that special day with my daughter. Too bad my other daughter Celina can't go with us that day.

I really recommend this place to all art lovers, but please do not bring small, noisy and unruly children that don't know anything about art, unless you can control them from doing something stupid like touching the exhibits. The place is not a playground.