Angono is known as the “art capital of the Philippines.” The town is home to several museums and art galleries, and is known for being the birthplace of several nationally known artists. Its most celebrated son is Carlos “Botong” Francisco. Botong’s obra maestro is the mural History of Manila, popularly known as the “The Filipino Struggles through History.” It measures nearly nine feet tall and 260 feet long and is displayed at the National Museum of the Philippines.
In honor of Botong and the notoriety he brought to the town, his artwork has been cast in cement and adorns nearly a block of Dona Aurora Street, where he used to live. Sections of his obra maestro coat the walls, as well as some of his other paintings, including Pilgrimage to Antipolo and Kaingin. The works mostly depict rural life, local folklore, and festivals. At the main gateway to the street, the lyrics of “Sa Ugoy ng Buhay,” by another well-known artist, Maestro Lucio San Pedro, is engraved on the walls.
The Barangay Hall of Poblacion Itaas also has murals on both sides of the fence and is open for closer inspection. The project was initiated by the local government and finished in 2010.
In a letter to his daughter, Botong wrote: “And to live we must go back to a bigger audience. For this it must have the power to communicate and not repel. That is why I love to paint big murals for like a composer, I can create a symphony from a history of our country or our own way of life.” The town of Angono made Botong’s wishes a reality. Now, his works are not only confined to the closed spaces of museums and private homes, but are easily accessible to the public.
