This bank has got art

UCPB marks 48th anniversary with an exhibit of priceless art treasures

By PAM BROOKE A. CASIN

May 30, 2011, 10:19am

United Coconut Planters Bank, Makati (Photo by PINGGOT ZULUETA)

MANILA, Philippines -- Solid grey walls, huge glass panels, the insipid smell of freshly waxed floors, and men and women in their power suits aren’t necessarily that welcoming to guests, to say the least. Add to that standoffish scheme, however, some classic, colorful, quirky, and thought-provoking art pieces and you’d get a perfectly balanced setting to tickle anyone’s aesthetic fancy.

One such institution that has included art in its day-to-day operations is the United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB). Over the years, it has acquired many a visual piece from different Filipino artists as a sign of support and great interest towards Filipino art and culture. Recently, the bank put up an exhibit showing off its priceless art collection at its Makati corporate headquarters to mark its 48th year in the business.

Titled ‘48 Treasures,’ the exhibit is a coming-together of 48 paintings and sculptures from various styles and periods—from classical realism of the 19th century to impressionism, from abstract expressionism to contemporary art, from modern to avant-garde opuses. Curated by Ross Capili, the exhibit portrayed “a sense of development of Philippine visual art and the evolving sentiment of Filipino artists through the years.”

Founded in 1963, the bank, as it was gradually becoming a recognized institution in its field, felt the need to acknowledge its corporate responsibility of preserving national heritage, and it did so by amassing paintings and sculptures in earnest in the late ‘70s. Since then, many of the artworks in the bank’s private collection have become cultural treasures, seeing as their creators either have been conferred National Artists or have made great strides and contributions in the local art scene.

Important pieces in the bank’s private collection and that have been made public in the exhibit were Felix Resurrección Hidalgo’s ‘La Gitana’ (a 124-year-old oil painting of a barefooted gypsy draped in red and sheer clothing seemingly waiting for someone’s return); Fernando Amorsolo’s ‘Elias Picnic’ (the artist’s quintessential impression of rural Philippines); Vicente Manansala’s vibrant wall mural commissioned by the bank called ‘The Coconut Industry.’

Pieces that have made it to the exhibition are works of Napoleon Abueva, Federico Aguilar Alcuaz, Angelito Antonio, Antonio Austria, Manny Baldemor, Jose Blanco, Eduardo Castrillo, Roberto Chabet, Danny Dalena, Antipas Delotavo, Victorio Edades, Ramon Estella, Romulo Galicano, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Venancio Igarta, Raul Isidro, Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, Raul Lebajo, Cesar Legaspi, Diosdado Lorenzo, Arturo Luz, Edsel Moscoso, Jerry Elizalde Navarro, Justin Nuyda, Romulo Olazo, Onib Olmedo, Galo Ocampo, HR Ocampo, Victor Oteyza, Leon Pacunayen, Jorge Pineda, Ricarte Puruganan, Cenon Rivera, Rodolfo Ragodon, Manuel Rodriguez Sr., Nena Saguil, Rodolfo Samonte, Juvenal Sansó, Mauro Malang Santos, Solomon Saprid, Romeo Tabuena, Hugo Yonzon, and Fernando Zobel.

While the bank has already showcased notable works from its repertoire, guests, clients, and art enthusiasts alike can still expect more this year, as the bank will continue to put up monthly exhibits of its collection (which, according to UCPB executives, is now numbering at over 500 pieces).

UCPB’s corporate offices is located at 7907 Makati Avenue, Makati City.

When in Cebu City, please visit gregmelep.com for your retirement and real estate needs.