My first memorable encounter with the subject of this feature was not in person.
In 2017, when our beloved Ricardo Cardinal Vidal passed away, his wake at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral became some sort of pilgrimage site for Cebuanos and out of town visitors. The Knights of Columbus would be guarding the area surrounding his coffin in shifts and beside it, a portrait of the Cardinal in his red robe held its own in its place of honor. It was so realistically captured that it seemed that he was seated comfortably, welcoming us to his wake, ever so composed, with the slight hint of a smile and that stare I know so well.
What an amazing piece of work it was from the one and only Jun Impas.
Six years later, and now with the privilege of calling this talented man a friend, we were invited to the launching of his book aptly titled “Pangandoy: The Art of Jun Impas.”
Published by Bamboo Village Publishing in consultation with Ambassador Jose Maria Cariño and co-authored by Jay Nathan Jore, Alyssa Selanova and Sayoka Takemura, this 234-page coffee table book is a feast for the eyes and a joyful peek into how this little boy who grew up by the sea in Dinagat Island became such a celebrated artist.
Background
Florentino Impas Jr. was born in Danao City as the sixth of 10 children in a fisherman’s household. His childhood days were spent in Surigao del Norte where the family had relocated and his experience with hardship at an early age instilled values of industry, diligence and perseverance in him. He would be burning firewood for blocks of charcoal, help his grandparents make and sell local delicacies, while studying at night to complete elementary school.
The young Jun Impas realized early on that he had a penchant for drawing, copying photos from whatever sources that captured his interest. His classmates soon noticed that his work was a notch above the rest and started to pay him for help in their projects. An early pencil drawing of Fernando Poe Jr. copied from a movie was a turning point for him because it made him realize just how much potential he had for this art form.
His older brother, Dodong Impas, was already a noted sign maker in Surigao City at this time and from him, Jun learned the basics of sign art and lettering and the business side of this craft. In time, The Impas Brothers Sign Art became famous all throughout Surigao, especially when it came to making realistic billboards for moviehouses.
Passion
After seven years and many life-changing events, Jun decided it was time to return to his birthplace, Cebu. It was 1992 when he found work as an in-house artist in the Cebu Art Shop and started to meet other artists like Pepe Villadolid and Celso Pepito. Realizing what great potential this young lad had, Celso introduced him to a wider circle of Cebuano artists, enthusiasts, patrons and passionate collectors and it was through these connections that he was finally able to join his first exhibition in Cebu.
His first sale was a still life of flowers with a price of P5,000. In 1993, Jun opened his own studio named Prints and Brushes which would feature him painting live, thereby catching the attention of the public. After befriending renowned sculptor Ed Castrillo and taking his advice to heart, it took Jun five years to finally mount his first one-man show also titled “Pangandoy” in Montebello Villa Hotel which ended with a high note as he sold almost all of 20 of his exhibited works.
The great admiration for Fernando Amorsolo’s talent in portraiture led him to make his wife the subject of his very first piece, as a tribute to her patience and support over the years. When it was put on exhibit, renowned businessman Luis King, fell in love with his work and commissioned him to make almost 30 portraits of the first to third generation of his family.
It was during one of the King family gatherings that Cardinal Vidal became so impressed with his work, that as a result, the family gifted him with a Jun Impas portrait on the occasion of the Cardinal’s 75th birthday.
This painting is the one I am describing at the beginning of this article.
Mission
And the rest, as they say, is history. Today, portraits by Jun Impas encompass a diverse mix of personalities from high society, businessmen, politicians, religious leaders, art lovers from all over the country, not just Cebu. He has painted presidents, cardinals and even Pope Francis himself as photographed by Msgr. Jan Limchua. His recent 10 piece series, called Panagtagbo, chronicles the arrival of Christianity to our shores and was made for the 500 Years of Christianity Celebration. It starts with the depiction of a meeting aboard Magellan’s ship, then to the meeting of Magellan and Rajah Humabon, Magellan meeting Humabon’s chiefs, the baptism of Humabon, the gifting of the Sto. Niño to Queen Juana, the First Miracle, a Babaylon Ritual, the victory at Mactan and finally, the poisoning of the Spaniards. It was sold as a set, because the artist would not have it any other way as he wanted the “whole story” to be in just one place.
Jun Impas is a man on a mission. Still in his prime, his best work is yet to come, such exciting times ahead for this humble man with an immense God-given talent.