Description: Right across Tam-Awan Village (see related review) is Arko ni Apo Gallery (God’s Ark Gallery) owned by world-renowned artist BenHur Villanueva. He happened to be the elementary teacher of our male companions.
After Tam-Awan village, we proceeded to the Arko ni Apo Gallery. The moment we entered the compound, we were greeted by lush plants with beautiful bronze sculptures hanging all around the garden. The signs indicated they were the works of BenHur and his family. The gallery was full of his bronze sculptures, several paintings in various media and forms of installation art. There was even this wooden wall clock that I fell in-love with!
At another corner in the house was a mother feeding two children their lunch. My girlfriend and I proceeded to the stuff for sale, including native coffee, pure sunflower honey, sugar sticks and lumps and muscovado sugar. We both ended up buying the strawberry honey for P180.
We then talked to the lady of the house. The boys explained that her husband was their teacher in elementary. She pointed to the studio where BenHur and one of his sons were blowtorching bits of metal into various shapes for another sculpture.
We were met by a grandfatherly man, happy to see old students again. Though he doesn’t remember the boys (as he taught for thirty years and probably had thousands of students!), he fondly recalled the days during the time our friends were his students.
BenHur showed us around his gallery and explained the sculptures and who commissioned them. He also introduced us to his son Jikko, who took our photo with BenHur. And to his granchildren 7-year-old Nico and 4-year-old Laika who were both budding artists, having already sold some of their sculptures for $20. Talk about genius!
He led us to his coffee shop and served us some soya coffee. There he told us about his brother Roberto Villanueva who was a performing artist in Baguio. He died several years ago of cancer. Baguio artists converged and celebrated Roberto as they gave him a funeral pyre. That was the first and last in the city as the local government banned it afterwards.
Some new guests arrived, so he asked his son Bumbo to continue entertaining us. Bumbo was also very friendly. We asked him why is it that Baguio seems to be teeming artist, and he proved our theory correct. It could be the weather, he said. Especially for them who work with fire, the cool weather helps them stay calm and focused. Interesting, huh?
I could say that this was one of the highlights of this Baguio trip. The creative energy of the Villanueva family seem to come from positive things which through their art they spread around. So when in Baguio do try dropping by Arko ni Apo. You may just be rewarded with great conversation too!
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