The Paintings of Fernando Amorsolo

 

Photo Credit: Wikipedia: Detail from Fernando Amorsolo's 1945- Defence of a Filipina Woman's Honour, which is representative of Amorsolo's World War II-era paintings. Here, a Filipino man defends a woman, who is either his wife or daughter, from being raped by an unseen Japanese soldier. Note the Japanese military cap at the man's foot

Fernando Amorsolo y Cueto (May 30, 1892 – April 24, 1972) was one of the most important artists in the history of painting in the Philippines. Amorsolo was a portraitist and painter of rural Philippine landscapes. He is popularly known for his craftsmanship and mastery in the use of light.

 

Four days after his death, Amorsolo was honored as the first National Artist in Painting at the Cultural Center of the Philippines by then-President Ferdinand Marcos. The volume of paintings, sketches and studies of Amorsolo is believed to have reached more than 10,000 pieces. Amorsolo was an important influence on contemporary Filipino art and artists, even beyond the so-called "Amorsolo school." Amorsolo's influence can be seen in many landscape paintings by Filipino artists, including early landscape paintings by abstract painter Federico Aguilar Alcuaz.

In 2003, Amorsolo's children founded the Fernando C. Amorsolo Art Foundation, which is dedicated to preserving Fernando Amorsolo's legacy, promoting his style and vision, and preserving a national heritage through the conservation and promotion of his works.

During the post-war period, Insular Life commissioned Amorsolo to create a series of paintings of historical events for their offices (and which were subsequently used in Insular Life calendars from '50s to '80s). 

In Wellesley, Massachusetts, two original 1950s paintings by Amorsolo, The Cockfight and Resting Under the Trees, were bought by a New Jersey collector for $36,000 and $31,500, respectively. During a 2002 episode of Antiques Roadshow, a Sotheby's antiques appraiser estimated that an attendee's signed 1945 rural landscape painting by Amorsolo could fetch between $30,000 and $50,000 at auction. At a 1996 Christie's auction, Amorsolo's The Marketplace went for $174,000. In April 2002, Portrait of Fernanda De Jesus was bought for US$377,947.

On November 30, 2009, the Family Gathering Fruit sold for US$77,257 at Christie's. In December 2009, Fruit Gatherer was auctioned off in Maryland, in record-breaking manner, topping 19th- and 20th-century European and American paintings. In May 2010, the highest priced Amorsolo painting was auctioned off at Christie's for about US$440,000. 

Photo Credit: Geringer Art, LTD: Amorsolo's- Philippine Village Life-1954

I do not owned an Amorsolo painting but I have a Jesse Santos Painting

  The Nipa Hut by Jesse Santos-1974

Meanwhile: Here's an appraisal of one of his paintings

https://www.pbs.org/video/appraisal-1948-fernando-amorsolo-oil-painting-7agt7r/  

 

Have You Heard of the town Balleza in Chihuahua, Mexico?

Balleza is one of the 67 municipalities of Chihuahua, in northern Mexico. The municipal seat lies at Mariano Balleza. The municipality covers an area of 7,073.6 km². As of 2010, the municipality had a total population of 17,672, up from 16,325 as of 2005.

(San Pablo Balleza)
Town
Coordinates: 26°57′N 106°21′WCoordinates: 26°57′N 106°21′W
Country	Mexico
State	Chihuahua
Municipality	Balleza
Founded (mission)	1640
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,087

Mariano Balleza is a town in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, close to the border with Durango. It serves as the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of Balleza.

History

It was in this vicinity that Juan Fontes founded the first Jesuit mission to the Tarahumara in 1607, however that mission was abandoned during the Tepehuan war against the SPanish starting in 1616.

This specific settlement was founded as a Jesuit mission, with the name San Pablo Tepehuanes, in 1640, as part of the efforts to evangelise the local Tepehuan people; this was one of the earliest missions in that part of New Spain. In 1830 the State Congress renamed it in honour of Fr. Mariano Balleza, who fought alongside Miguel Hidalgo in the War of Independence. The town is still informally known as San Pablo Balleza.

 

Personal Note: My mother's maiden name was Paz Barrido Balleza. My own full name is David Balleza Katague, Jr.  For My Balleza and Tupas ancestry from the Philippines visit:

 https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=balleza+ancestry

Meanwhile enjoy these photos of the first blooms of my okra, ampalaya and tomato plants

  The yellow okra flower ( bottom left of the picture)

The small yellow flower in the center of the picture- Ampalaya 

Look closely at the small yellow flowers on top of picture

Question: Do you know why the flowers of these three plants are yellow?

 

My Friendly Neighbor and the Latest News in the Neighborhood

Yesterday, my friendly neighbor, DR gave me some summer squash/zuchini( photo above) from his garden. I was surprise because I did not expect it. He suggested I just steamed it and seasoned it with butter and parsley/onion salt and it should taste good. Do you have any recipe you can share?

I was eager to talk to him because I wanted to know why our other neighbor are selling their house. DR informed me they are down sizing since both of them are now fully retired. They have purchased another house (smaller) in Wilton, a more rural community and where homes are still cheaper and affordable. The house they are selling was sold in 7 days for $10,000 more of the asking price. It is a 4BR 2bathroom house with around 2000 sq foot and a beautifully landscape yard. It has a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub and an RV parking space in the backyard.  When I searched the house in Zillow.com, it was listed for $579K. I heard from DR it sold yesterday for 589K.  This is the photo of the backyard from the Internet.

 

DR also informed me that all our neighbors are fully vaccinated. However, he said our mailman is not. I asked him if he knows the reason. DR said he is not sure, he thinks the guy is just lazy and think he does not need the vaccine because he is healthy. DR also joked that the mail man is a Trump cult follower.   DR statement reminded me of how I sad and shocked I was when I learned last month that a closed relative who is highly educated does not want to be vaccinated because the vaccines are experimental innoculants.   

Meanwhile enjoy these photos I took from my yard just recently

My side yard- a View of my Neighbor Flowering Pink Crape Myrtle Tree, my storage house and Lombardy poplar pine trees as screened trees. 

 My mini-succulent Garden and last but not least my potted pineapple plant 

   

 

It Feels Good to Know You are Loved

To All my Relatives and Friends: Thank You for your Love and Support during the last stages of my life-my aging years.  Special mention to those who have visited me, send me messages and cards( my birthday and on Father's Day), bringing me food or just calling me to just say Hello. I will not mention names, but you know who you are. This posting is dedicated to all of you.

It feels good when you know a family member loves you. I am talking about love from nephews and nieces and from grand children as well as from my children.

Last week Macrine's(RIP) niece and her family visited me and brought with them a delicious Pinoy lunch.  I felt good and to me their visit meant I am loved and not forgotten.

The following day, my nephew from Australia sent me a FB message(conversation) as follows:

Hellooo Tito

Hope you’re doing well. Was just thinking of you and wanted to say hello.

Maybe we can do a chat again soon on computer. I’m about to go to a meeting with a client, but just wanted to reach out!

 

My Response: How thoughtful of you. You realized that a short chat, email or FB messages from relatives is very much welcome in my late stages of life. How's your work, It must be picking up? How's the family especially your Dad and Mom?

Nephew Response: Things are become great again. Let’s organize a call and I’d love to chat and get to spend some time with you. Love you Tito

My Response: Love you, too! Take Care!

 

Last but not least here's some FaceBook messages( conversation) from my grand daughter studying abroad.  

Grand Daughter: Hi Lolo I miss you!! Having a very difficult time getting through this week

 

My Response: Remember, if you feel like talking, just message me, Take Care! Love, Lolo. 

 

I heard you will be home in July. That is great, just hang in there for 6 more weeks and see you soon, I love you, Hugs and kisess. Lolo

Her Response: I love you too Lolo

 

Saying the three words "I Love You" is not the only way to show love. Actions like calling or sending messages just to say Hello is as powerful and effective as the three words, I love you.

 

This recent visit from a relative reminded me of one event during my childhood years in the Philippines.  I remember that day when my mother and I visited an aging relative living alone in her house. We visited her and brought some food and fruits. After our visit, she cried and told us her tears are of joys and not of sorrows.    

Finally to my younger relatives, I hope that when you grow old,  your children and younger relatives as well as your future grand children will also visit you during your aging years.

 

Meanwhile enjoy this video by Hauser- one of my favorite cellist 

This song (Song from the Secret Garden) and the Tiki torches in the beach reminds me of our Chateau Du Mer Beach house in the Philippines. Have a Great week and enjoy this Perfect weather here in Northern California.

 

My Visitors This Weekend- A Most Welcome and Treasured Event

 

Yuka Maeda and Alex Chellan with Alex, Jr visiting me and bringing Pinoy lunch from the Oriental Market in Roseville.

 Yuka is my wife's niece, oldest daughter of Jean- Macrine's(RIP) younger sister. The Chellans are residents of Roseville, CA.    Thanks Yuka and Alex for your visit and the delicious Pinoy dishes.

 

This week I had two set of visitors that I treasured and had touched my heart. One is from a closed relative and the other is from the avian animal species.

In my aging years, a short visit or a phone call from relatives or friends are always welcome and I will always remember in my late stages of life here in Planet Earth. 

First, I had a short but pleasant visit from the Chellan family, Yuka and husband Alex with their 19 months old son, Alex Jr. ( see photo above).  They also brought  with them delicious Pinoy dishes ( lechon kawali, pancit, Kare-kare and pinacbet) from my favorite Pinoy store-The Oriental Market on Harding Rd in Roseville. We had a nice visit that I will always treasure in my aging years.  

Second, I had also a surprise visit from a pair of Mallard ducks today. I am not sure if they are domesticated or wild, but I was able to take their photo below.

Animal visitors, reminded me of the bluebirds that is claiming my backyard as their summer residence. They have been cavorting and chirping in my back yard for the last three weeks. Here's a reprint of my posting about bluebirds in my backyard for your reading pleasure.

 https://livinginmarinduquephilippines.blogspot.com/search?q=bluebirds

Meanwhile enjoy these photos from my garden this year

My Potted pineapple starting to Fruit

 

My potted tomatoes starting to flower 

My Ampalaya( bitter melon) growing well in a pot and hopefully will yield fruits in the next few weeks.

 

The Mole Agent-One of the Best Documentary Film This Year

I finished watching this film on Netflix a few months ago. It made me cry and I can fully identify with the story and sentiment in this film being an octogenarian myself. I highly recommend this 2021 Oscar nominated documentary to all and specially to Senior Citizens and their relatives. 

Here's a short write-up from Wikipedia.

The Mole Agent (Spanish: El agente topo is a 2020 internationally co-produced documentary film directed by Maite Alberdi. It was screened at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition. At the 93rd Academy Awards, It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature  and was selected as the Chilean entry for Best International Feature Film, making the shortlist of fifteen films.

Synopsis

A private investigator (Rómulo) hires an elderly man (Sergio) to go undercover in a nursing home in Chile. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on 25 January 2020. In August 2020, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a 1 September 2020, release. The film will be broadcast on PBS on 25 January 2021, as part of their POV program. It was released in the Netherlands on 10 December 2020, by Cinema Delicatessen.

Critical response

On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 51 reviews, with an average rating of 7.50/10. The critical consensus reads "Warm and funny, The Mole Agent offers audiences a poignant reminder that it's never too late to forge new connections and embark on new adventures." On Metacritic the film has a weighted average score of 69 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Glenn Kenny of The New York Times gave the film a positive review commenting: "The film’s people are moving, and the payoff is compassionate, humane and worth heeding.". Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com rated the movie three stars out of four writing: "The documentary succeeds with its tenderness, while vividly reminding us how easily society can forget its elders.".

Awards and nominations

The Mole Agent has received several awards and nominations, the documentary was the Chilean entry for the Goya Award for Best Iberoamerican Film, achieving the nomination being the eighteenth Chilean nomination in that category since its creation and the second for Alberdi after La once was nominated in 2015. At the 93rd Academy Awards, the film made the shortlist for two categories, for Best International Feature Film becoming the third Chilean entry to make the shortlist after No and A Fantastic Woman made the shortlist and received a nomination with the latter winning, though The Mole Agent did not received a nomination for this category, it achieved one for Best Documentary Feature, the other category where it was shortlisted.

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient(s)	Result	Ref.
Academy Awards	25 April 2021	Best Documentary Feature	The Mole Agent	Pending
Goya Awards	6 March 2021	Best Iberoamerican Film		Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards	22 April 2021	Best Documentary Feature		Pending
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards	February 8, 2021	Best International/Foreign Language Film		Nominated
National Board of Review	January 26, 2021	Top 5 Foreign Language Films		Won
Cinema Eye Honors	9 March 2021	Audience Choice Prize	Maite Alberdi	Nominated
		Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Score	Vincent van Warmerdam	Nominated
		the Unforgettables	Sergio Chamy	Won

Meanwhile: I just finished watching another movie, Philomena. I enjoyed this movie very much and I also recommend it. Here's the trailer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHjt8DWo9F8

Philomena is a 2013 drama film directed by Stephen Frears, based on the 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by journalist Martin Sixsmith. Starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan, it tells the true story of Philomena Lee's 50-year search for her adopted son and Sixsmith's efforts to help her find him.

The film gained critical praise and received several international film awards. Coogan and Jeff Pope won Best Screenplay at the 70th Venice International Film Festival while the film was also awarded the People's Choice Award Runner-Up prize at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.

The film was nominated for four Oscars at the 86th Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actress (for Dench), and Best Original Score. It was also nominated for four BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globe Awards.

Fact: My Teacher-the Octopus won the Oscar for best documentary this year. I have also seen this documentary and I really enjoyed it very much.