Master painter visits home province this July

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Maestro Rafael "Paeng" Maniago is set to visit his home province this July in a bid to bring his talent to Kapampangans who would like to learn of painting through seminars and workshops.

After coming home from the US, Maniago will be spending a two-week vacation in Barangay Sindalan in the City of San Fernando.

Maniago is a 65-year-old painter who became a teacher to Victor Ramos -- the painter of the Betis Ceiling during the 1970s. This same ceiling painting is one of the many art attractions inside the Betis Church in Guagua.

Victor Ramos was 20 years older than him at that time. According to award-winning photographer Ruston Banal, Maniago was also the painter of the 15 portrait paintings of the past governors of Pampanga, which can be seen at the Provincial Capitol.

Maniago has been drawing since childhood. He attended the University of the East in Manila where he studied Fine Arts and Commercial Advertisement.

For 20 years, he operated his own gallery in the Philippines and in 1989 he decided to come to the United States. His passion for learning continued as he studied at the Pasadena Art Center.

He has painted over 1,000 portraits, many of which were of the Philippine leaders of Commerce, Industry and Politics.

For years, he has been conducting workshops throughout Southern California. He is a member of Portrait Society of America, American Society of Portrait Artists, California Art Club, and Laguna Plain Air Painter Association.