In line with the 100 years of Carlos V. Francisco or popularly known as Botong a famous muralist of Angono, Rizal on November 4, the National Artist of the Philippines for Visual Arts (1973) will be given a tribute by Freeway in their National Artist Collectors’ Series Holiday 2012 Collection. The said Botong Francisco collection will be available in all Freeway stores nationwide beginning October 18.
Botong is one of the Filipino modernists in terms of visual arts that broke away from the Fernando Amorsolo’s romanticism scene in the Philippines. During those days he was with Galo Ocampo and Victorio C. Edades who were both painters. His works include Blood Compact, First Mass at Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan sa Bukid, Sandugo, Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade, and Muslim Betrothal.
Aside from Botong, Freeway already featured national artists namely Vicente Manansal (Visual Arts), Levi Celerio (Music), Nick Joaquin (Literature), Ang Kiukok (Visual Arts), Jose Garcia Villa (Literature), Ramon Valera (Fashion Design) and F. Sionil Jose (Literature).
