So ci et y o f Phil ip pin e Am er ican Art ists, I n c .

newsletter
2009 Spring/Summer 1 Fifth Avenue Apt.#2B, New York, NY 10003

Let’s make the 16th ANNUAL ART EXHIBITION a success

The Society of Philippine-American Artists opens its 16th annual exhibition

featuring the works of Francis Allan Bordeos, Cheryle Cranbourne,
Mars Custodio MD, Angelito L. David, Oscar R Dizon, Joe Dureza,
Imelda Cajipe Endaya, Carlos L. Esguerra, Christine SC Jeanjaquet,
Lewanda, Lenore RS Lim, Athena Santos Magcase Lopez, Cynthia
Marfori, Emilina M. Mercado. Emilia A. Monroy, Chato Morando,
Rene Ner, Julian Oteyza, Godfrey Pinder, Nelfa Querubin-
Tompkins, Reynaldo Reyes MD, Manuel ‘Boy’ Rodriquez, Manuel A.
Rodriquez, Sr., Teodoro Dela Santa, and Art Zamora. The exhibit is
open Monday to Friday , 9-5 pm from June
22 to July 3rd, 2009 at the Philippine Cen-
ter, 556 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10036.
Reception is Tuesday June 23, 6:30 –8:30
PM. SPAA thanks Cheryle Cranbourne
for the invitation design.
The event also launches Manuel Rodri-
guez, Sr. Into the Threshold, a book
on the life and work of SPAA’s founder and
President Emeritus. A tribute by art collec-
tors to the “Father of Modern Philippine
Printmaking, ” the book is published by the
Lenore RS Lim Foundation for Arts, ed-
ited by Imelda Cajipe Endaya, with es-
says by Eva Florentino, Virgilio Aviado,
and Clint White. 120 pp. hard & soft
cover. Preview the book at http://www.blurb.com/books/689436

Left: Francis
Allan Bordeos,
Untitled, 2009,
pen and
ink ,18"x 24"

Right:

Top to bottom: 1) Lewanda, “Makopa at Iba Christine SC

Pa”, 2007, acrylic, 16"x 20" ; 2) Cynthia Jeanjaquet,
Marfori, “Easter Parade NYC”, 1989, giclee “Spring Bun-
printed from negative, 16" x 20"; 3) Teodoro tings”, 2009,
Dela Santa, Page # 168, undated, mixed silver gelatin
media on wood panel, 48" x 48"; and 4) photogram
Emi Mercado, “Look at the Tweety Bird”,
2009, oil on canvas, 32" x 40”
print, 20” x 30”
PAGE 2 SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009 SPRING/ SUMMER

Getting to know: The Order of National Artists, Republic of the Philippines (part 4, # 6 & 7 )

CESAR LEGASPI b.1917- d. 1994

Cesar Legaspi
was one of the
Thirteen Moderns
who advocated
freedom from the
dominance of
academic conser-
vatism in Philip-
pine art. He
painted disturbing
pictures of anguish such as Man and Woman (also known as Beggars)
and the grim dehumanization of laborers in the city such as in Gadgets.
His canvases progressed into emancipating his dreary, miserable figures
into characters who empowered themselves. This he did by reconstituting
cubism’s unfeeling, geometric order of figures into a social expressionism
rendered with rhythmic movement. He portrayed man’s inner pathos and
struggle against oppressive forces. He used clearly delineated individual
figures that multiply and metamorphose into collective symbols of
strength. In Legaspi’s work, human suffering transforms into valor.

NAPOLEON VELOSO ABUEVA b.1930 Above left: Cesar Legaspi, “Gadgets” 1949, oil on
canvas, 101 cm. x 70 cm. , Source: Department of
Education, Portfolio of Sixty Philippine Arts Masterpieces

Above right: Cesar Legaspi, “Procession,” 1974, oil on

canvas, 20” x 41,” Collection of the Philippine Center in
New York

Left:
Napoleon V. Abueva, “Planting Rice,” 1952, wood,
Kalaw-Ledema Collection. Dimensions unavailable.
Source: Gatbonton , Art Philippines

Below left: Napoleon V. Abueva, “Allegorical Harpoon,”

wood, undated, 4’ x 8’ x 8’ , Cultural Center of the
Philippines Collection

Text was taken from Imelda Cajipe Endaya’s curatorial

notes for the Luwas/Louas Exhibition on the Awardees
of the Order of National Artists, National Commission
for Culture and the Arts, Philippines, 2003

Napoleon Abueva first excelled in academic sculpture as a student of the clas-

sicist Guillermo Tolentino at the University of the Philippines (UP). He later es-
tablished himself as a pioneering modernist when he created neo-realist pieces
such as the Rice Planters, Kaganapan (Fulfillment) and Allegorical Har-
poon. With his rich imagination and versatility, he carves, models, casts, sol-
ders, and combines different methods to construct architectural sculpture,
monuments, bas-relief, furniture, and functional pieces. He has used a wide vari-
ety of materials such as iron, brass, bronze, steel, adobe, alabaster, and coral,
although his favorite is hard wood. Abueva’s creativity is that of a restless spirit
that traverses rustic contentment and complex technological achievement.
 PAGE 3 SPAA NEWSLETTER
Awards & Honors
Donna Eleinne Basa "Country Road Holtz Lake" re-
cently won the Blue Watermedia award at the 2009 Paint
North Carolina competition. She was also one of the art-
ists selected for the 2009 Richard Schmid Art Auction.
Carlos Esguerra received a 2009 "Individual Artist
Support" grant from the Queens Council on the Arts.
This partly supports “Salamisim,” his fine arts photography
Carlos Esguerra, Balinsasayao-3447, 2009
solo exhibit of Philip-
pine scenes to be
held at the Bayanihan
Center in Woodside,
Queens. Meanwhile
his piece "Olmstead
Point" won First Prize
at the South Shore
Art Center Annual
National Juried Exhi-
bition entitled
"White, Black & Shades of Gray," held in Cohasset, Massa-
chusetts last April. The exhibition included sixty-two pieces
selected from over a thousand entries.
Imelda Cajipe Endaya was awarded First Prize at the
juried exhibition “Beautiful Aging,” sponsored by the Ro-
tary Club of New Rochelle and United Hebrew Geriatric
Center, ongoing at the UH-Lazarus Gallery in New Ro-
chelle, NY. Jurors were Tracey Fitzpatrick from the
Neuburger Museum, Lisa Robb from the Pelham Art Cen-
ter and Jean-Paul Maitinsky from the Hudson River Mu-
seum. The exhibit included thirty pieces chosen from over
two hundred entries. Meanwhile in Manila, she was given
the “Ani ng Dangal” Award by the National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) last February.
Antonio Valdez who now focuses on being an artist,
after retiring from a career at Newsweek, graduated Cum
Laude, Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of the Philippines
(UP) in 2008. He was also awarded Best Portfolio at the
UP Amorsolo Hall.
Tessie Dichupa, ZNY Laygo,
Athena Santos Magcase-
Tessie Dichupa, “Rare Beauty,” 2001
Lopez, Lenore RS Lim, and
Imelda Cajipe Endaya, were
among the eight Filipina artists
honored with an invitational exhibit
and reception “From the Eyes of
Women” at the Philippine Center
last March 9-20. 2009, by the Phil-
ippine Consulate General in new
York in celebration of March as In-
ternational Women’s Month. Also
honored were Norma Belleza,
Lolita Valderrama Savage, and the late Pacita Abad.
2009 SPRING/SUMMER
Exhibits & Projects
Tessie Dichupa was featured artist at the 'Creative
Endeavors' exhibition program of the False Creek Com-
munity Center at Granville Is, Vancouver for the month of
May. She also participated at the Finn Slough Art Show
at the Richmond Art Center last March. Finn Slough is a
quaint artistic village near the Vancouver air port, where
the Finns first settled as fishermen.
Angelito David, bet-
ter known as a master
watercolorist, is busy
restoring four murals
that illustrate the town
history of Cranford,
New Jersey. Painted by
local artist Everett S.
Ward in 1942 . The
restoration work was
opened to the public during the Cranford Artists’ Open
Studio Tour last May. Note that David was part of the
team who restored the masterpieces and books of Flor-
ence, Italy, after the great floods of the 1960s. He was
once chief restorer of Corcoran Studio in Manhattan.
(from Leslie Murray, The Chronicle, Cranford NJ April
27, 2009)
Lenore RS Lim participated in the exhibitions: Philip-
pine Association of Printmakers group show held at the
Yuchengco Museum Makati, Philippines last March, the
“Festival Exhibit of University of the Philippines (UP) Cen-
tennial Artists, held at the Gateway Mall in Quezon City,
and the Fine Prints: Multiple Originals, held at the Alab
Art Space, in Makati last May. She has also become a
publisher through the foundation that bears her name,
having published Glad Tidings by Fr. Daniel Fitzpatrick
and Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. Into the Threshold.
Emilia Monroy,
Lenore RS Lim,
Athena Santos Mag-
case-Lopez, and
Julian Oteyza were
among the participating
artists in this year’s ‘Brown
Strokes on a White Can-
Emilia Monroy “Highest Praise,” 2009 vas,’ on view from June 3
thru June 12, 2009, at the
Philippine Embassy in Washington DC. This annual show
which started in 2002 at the World Bank, was conceived
by Julian Oteyza as a traveling art exhibit for the
Philippine-American Foundation for Charities, Inc.,
(PAFC), a nonprofit, organization which focuses on com-
munity-based educational and cultural projects.
 PAGE 4 PAGE 5 SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009

Minutes of the Board Meeting held April 25, 2009

The meeting took place at 2 to 5 pm. at the residence of July 3, 2009. Reception on Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM will be
trustee Aida Bartolome in Woodside, Queens, New York. by invitation only.
Attendance: Present were : Lenore RS Lim, Imelda Cajipe 2.2 Invitation will indicate: “Suggested $5 donation.” Exhibit
Endaya, Chato Morando, Christine Jeanjaquet, Athena San- area will be cordoned off.
tos Magcase- Lopez. Also present were: Aida Bartolome,
trustee; Zeny Avila, supporting member, and Melvyn Lopez, 2.3 If members want their art to be printed in the invitation,
the president’s spouse. they have to submit images earlier than the May 22 deadline. It is
most advantageous for members to join the 16th Annual Exhibit
Matters Discussed/ Action Taken: since all one has to pay, once 2009 membership due is settled, is
Call to Order a $10 participation fee.
With a quorum of 5/8, the president called the board meeting 2.4 Committees: Over-all coordinator- Tenni SM Lopez;
to order at 2:30 pm. Curator- Angelito ‘Lito’ David; Invitation & poster design- Cheryle
Cranbourne; Press release materials- Christine Jeanjaquet; Press
1. Book 2 release dissemination- Zeny Avila; Receiving- Oscar Dizon,
1.1 Chato summarized that the book committee had Tenni, and Lito ; Set-up- Chato Morando, Nelfa Querubin, Francis
earlier agreed to Lenore and Mars’ counter proposal to solicit Bordeos; Door- Cheryle, Joanna Martinez (Lenore’s contact);
sponsorship instead of Imelda’s proposal to solicit art collec- Photography- Lenore RS Lim; Reception, food & wine-Christine,
tors’ advertisements. Names of the sponsors and donors will Emi Mercado, Emilia Monroy, Cynthia Marfori/Thea, Teya David,
be listed in one page of the book. Levels of dona- Raquel Dizon, Museum Shop- Chato, Cheryle;
tion are: patron $50, sponsor $100, and benefac-
tor $500. This fundraising opportunity is one of the
16th Annual Take-down- Dr. Mars Custodio, Francis Bordeos;
Pick-up– Tenni.
smaller alternatives to the annual Christmas Din-
ner Benefit which will not be held this year. Exhibit 2.5 We may use a catering service for recep-
tion night. Lenore and Christine will contact caterers
1.2 Personalized solicitation letters for spon- Reception is on and pick lowest bidder.
sorship have been prepared for distribution to
2.6 New York Cultural Commissioner, Kate
members. Deadline to submit responses is July
31, 2009. Members will be asked to email in ad-
Tuesday Levin, Philippine Consul General Cecilia Rebong,
and Ambassador to the UN Hilarion Davide will be
vance to <tenni1952@yahoo.com> the names of
their sponsors.
6: 30 –8:30 pm invited as special guests at the reception.
3. Spring/Summer Newsletter
1.3 Imelda who is editing and designing June 23, 2009. Distribution will be prior to the 16th Annual reception
Book 2 reported that she is 80 % finished with the night. The president will make a call for art related
artists’ pages, arranged in alphabetical order. She By Invitation. news, and a call for anyone interested in the prepar-
worked on them as submissions came. The book ing the newsletter.
has currently 138 pages. The cost-efficient num-
ber of pages is 160 pages. Thus a section on SPAA art activi- 4. “Displacement & Homing” Traveling Exhibit
ties and events, and members’ art awards will be added at 4.1 First leg of the exhibit will be at the Les Malamut Gallery
the back pages. Members with high resolution/print–quality in Union, NJ, October 1-31, 2009, inclusive of installation and take
photos of these are requested to send them ASAP to down. Contract forms have been signed by the president on be-
spaabook@gmail.com. half of the participating artists and mailed to Les Malamut’s Bar-
bara Wirkus. Very limited works can be exhibited because the
1.4 The book will be launched Fall 2009 at the Philip- gallery is small and has a low ceiling. The thirteen participating
pine Center. artists are allocated an average space of 5 linear feet each.

2. 16th Annual Exhibit 4.2 Proposal was sent to Queens Museum. A day will be
scheduled to visit the Queens Museum and meet with its director
2.1 Exhibit will be at the Philippine Center on June 22 -
 PAGE 5 SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009 SPRING/ SUMMER

Minutes of the Board Meeting (Cont’d.)
Tom Finkelpearl. Chato is coordinator.
4.3 A proposal kit was mailed to Metropolitan Museum
Manila for another leg of the exhibit. Lenore is coordinator.
7. A Tribute to Filipino Composers at the Lincoln Center
7.1 SPAA has been invited to hold a 1-night exhibit at
Amor Ilaw -McGuinness’ concert on October 17, 2009, 7 PM at
the Alice Tully Hall. The idea is to exhibit about 20 portable
artworks during the concert. Possibly, SPAA museum shop
items can be included.

5. Lady Bug Market 7.2 In our efforts to maintain high standards in our exhibi-
This is a summer activity by the youth group, tions, SPAA will require the following:
headed by Christine Jeanjaquet. The idea is for the group to !" Include the SPAA Exhibit in the invitation text as part of
join a New York flea market and sell artists’ stuff, from old the program
artist’s furniture to arts and crafts. SPAA gets a small per- !" Have the Exhibit and Museum Shop mentioned on stage.
centage from the sales. Have terms of agreement in the insurance and sale of
artworks.
6. Art Workshop !" Clarify set up. If easels are needed, who will provide this?
6.1 A summer teaching opportunity for SPAA member
artists residing in Queens is open in partnership with Aida The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Bartolome’s Foundation for Filipino Artists, Inc. Aida speci-
fied the dates July 6 to August 4 as available for workshops 2 Prepared by: Approved by:
x a week; with 2 hours per session. Students are in the 6 Chato Morando Athena Santos Magcase-Lopez
years to 21 years age group. FFAI can provide honorarium Acting Secretary President
for teachers, as well as transportation, supplies, and lunch.

Preview the book at

BOOKS http://www.blurb.com/books/
113848
A Visual Feast !
Features 20 artists , 87 pages
TEODORO DE LA
SANTA 2001 - 2008 SPAA Book 1:
Butterfly Rows
Abstract Art SELECTED WORKS

By Teodoro De La Santa Edited and designed by

" Inner Eye " 126 pages Christine SC Jeanjaquet
Preview the book at:
http://www.blurb.com/books/351336

Soon off the press:

IMELDA CAJIPE ENDAYA
A STAR STORY
stitching paint into collage
By Melvyn Lopez
Foreword by Harriet FeBland.
An anthology of critical essays by Illustration by
Patrick Flores, Flaudette May Datuin,
Scott Koterbay, Ruben Defeo and Tenni Magcase
Elizabeth Lolarga. Features a folio of mixed media works About sharing, friendship
1998- 2008. Preview the book at: and companionship, told
http://www.blurb.com/books/705750 through the eyes of two
“star children”.
Revised. Soft and hard bound , 8” x 10”, 80 pages
PAGE 6
Featured Artist: Chato Morando
Morando‘s introduction to art
started in 1986 when she took art
courses at the St. Francis of Assisi
Church in Manhattan. She studied
pencil drawing with Ernesto Rodri-
guez and oil painting with his corpo-
rate colleague Nick Mescia. She
credits the SPAA for inspiring and
motivating her to paint; and to
SPAA, she is a precious and highly
reliable asset. (from SPAA files)
Featured Artist: Art Zamora
Photo of the artist in his studio by Rene Ner
“Colorformism or forms
through color is my art philoso-
phy. I work on color and forms
instinctively and rapidly . I spon-
taneously apply touches of color
to create different forms and
images. ON MY CANVASS, these
become subjects that my mind
can freely and passionately visu-
alize and transform into original
compositions that depict order
and harmony.”
-Art Zamora
SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009 SPRING/ SUMMER
Left: Imperial Crown, 2009, oil on Right: Trailing Abutilon – Brazil, 2007, oil on canvas, 16” x 20”
canvas, 10” x 8”
“It’s a nice thought that I made that step of appreciating and
learning art... art being defined as a human ability to create things
distinguished from the world of nature.” - Chato Morando
Left: Prosperity, 2006, acrylic on arches, paper, 30” x 22”
Right: Energy Flow, 2008, mixed media, 32” x 32”
Zamora studied fine arts at the PWU College of Music and Fine Arts. His
cousin Ibarra dela Rosa influenced him to become an artist. From 1986 to
1996, he traveled extensively as an artist and jewelry designer in Europe
and the Middle East. Highly skilled in a wide range of techniques in oil,
acrylic, watercolor, pastel, and mixed media, he is as comfortable painting
realism as well as abstraction. Keen at contemplating ancient eastern and
western philosophies, he balances traditional and contemporary ideas in his
art. Among his solo exhibitions were “Colorformism” at the Philippine Cen-
ter, New York in 2000, and “Contrast” at the Lopez Memorial Museum in
1995. He won Grand Prize and First Place at the Philadelphia International
Shell Association Exhibition. In 2006, he was Paccar Artist-in residence, with
citation from the State of New Jersey Senate and General Assembly. (from
SPAA files)
PAGE 7
Meet Your SPAA Board of Trustees
The SPAA Board of Trustees is composed of highly achieved person-
alities, and is practically an honorary ways and means committee.
This issue’s featured trustee is Dr. Benny Jongco, a successful
pediatric surgeon based in Northern
New Jersey. He has been practic-
ing in the USA since 1980. An
artist at heart, and a collector of art,
he readily accepted the invitation to
join the first SPAA Board of Trus-
tees in 2006. Since then, Benny
has been a dependable supporter
of SPAA’s activities, from its annual
fundraising dinners, art exhibitions
and book publications.
For his professional accomplish-
ments, Benny was recognized in
2003 by his alma mater as an Out-
standing Medical Alumnus. He has ably served as National President
of University of the Philippines Medical Association in America
(UPMASA).
Benny is married to Nanette, also a doctor. Both are active in their
parish church and the San Lorenzo Ruiz Christian Life Community
(CLC), which they helped found in 1988. They have three children:
Melissa, a pediatrician, Kristen, a civil rights lawyer and Robert, a
medical student. On his free time, Benny gardens, whips up gourmet
dishes, and looks after his pet birds and fishes. Best of all, he enjoys
caring for his three adorable grandchildren. - Lenore Lim
SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009 SPRING/ SUMMER
HONORARY MEMBERS
Early photo at left is Taal
Mayon with his sculpture
Horse # 5 (courtesy of his
son Guy Gonzales); Below
is ZNY Laygo in the 80s
(courtesy of Rene Ner and
The Filipino Reporter)
The Board of Directors recently bestowed honorary membership
to two pioneering artists. Master Ben ‘Taal Mayon’ Gonzales is
best known for his Horses of Mayon series of sculpture in metal,
wood, and stone, and his Gupit-gupit one- piece paper sculp-
tures. He was a regular member since SPAA’s early years.
ZNY Laygo was cited by critic Leonidas V. Benesa as one of the
important artists who asserted their modern aesthetics in the
50s-60s. As art director of the Manila Times’ Weekly Women's
Magazine in the 60s, her art became a prominent influence at a
time when art by women was little appreciated.
ZNY Laygo, “Dollar and the Immigrants ”, 2008, oil & collage, 24” x 36”
The SPAA dinner benefit last December 5, 2008 at Jing Fong Restaurant,
New York City successfully raised funds for SPAA projects. Upper left photo
shows first row: Noni from the Met Museum in Manila, members Cynthia
Marfori, Cheryle Cranbourne, Lenore RS Lim, Athena SM Lopez, Imelda
Cajipe Endaya, Manuel ‘Boy’ Rodriguez, and Chato Morando. At the back are
Angelito David, Mars Custodio MD, Ted De la Santa, Art Zamora, and Anto-
nio Valdez. Left photo shows Jose and Lenore Lim acknowledging SPAA
friends John and Deirdre Dunn who gave a prize donation won by Noni.
New member: Rene Ner, a leading name in photogra-
phy and a long-time supporter of SPAA, is now a member. Welcome, Rene!
!"#$%%&%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%SPAA NEWSLETTER 2009 SPRING/SUMMER

SOCIETY OF PHILIPPINE
Also part of the 16th Annual
AMERICAN ARTISTS, INC . SPAA Exhibition are:
Manuel Rodriguez, Sr. Left: Julian Oteyza, “Expansion
Founder and President Emeritus 2 - Eternal Love”, undated,
Board of Directors: Athena Santos Magcase Lopez, President; Imelda Cajipe
acrylic on canvas, 16"x 20"
Endaya, Vice-President; Chato Morando, Acting Secretary; Mars Custodio MD,
Treasurer; Christine Jeanjaquet, PRO ; Angelito David, Oscar Dizon and Lenore Below: Oscar Dizon, “ Late
RS Lim Summer at Zhouzhuang”, 2006
Board of Trustees watercolor, 21” x 29”, an award
Aida Bartolome, Ricky Enriquez, Benny Jongco, winning piece.
Angie Ricafrente, Dean Suba, Bella Velo

website: http://www.spaa.netfirms.com
http://spaanyc.multiply.com/

Imelda Cajipe Endaya

SPAA Newsletter Editor & Designer

We may not know your art news until you tell us!
So send your information, images and updates
any time to:
Email: spaausa@gmail.com

SPAA sadly announces that our dear member

LITO BALLESTEROS
peacefully passed away on June 7, 2009. We will miss him but his
colorful and vibrant canvases are around to keep on brightening
our lives. We pray for him and extend our sympathy to his family.

Message from the President

Athena “Tenni” Santos Magcase Lopez

As spring rejuvenates life, summer looms in the horizon. Warm
greetings to all!
I am happy to recount SPAA’s accomplishments through the years,
and thank everyone for their concerted efforts: past presidents Jose
Dureza and Lenore RS Lim, our hard-working Board Members, ac-
tive pioneers, Angelito David and Oscar Dizon, and all members, old
and new.
While adhering to the vision and goals of SPAA’s founding, we ad-
dress the needs and sentiments of our current members. Majority
have expressed that we focus on professional growth in the visual
arts, and all our programs manifest this. To symbolize this new
thrust, SPAA sports an updated logo that reflects a more energized,
vibrant and spirited group. Thanks to Cheryle Cranbourne who de-
signed it.
Our newsletter comes out twice a year, each time better than the
previous. Thanks to Christine Jeanjaquet and Imelda Cajipe Endaya,
who designed and edited past and present issues.
In August 2007, New York-Manila-New York, a juried exhibition of
SPAA artists, as well as curator’s choice of Philippine-based artists,
was held at the Ayala Museum. In June 2008, to commemorate the
110th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence,
“A Celebration in Art,” was presented at the Philippine Embassy in
Washington DC.
“Displacement and Homing,” a thematic traveling exhibit, is our
latest effort in the pursuit of excellence in the visual arts. It at-
tempts to expose our artists and their best art into mainstream and
multi-cultural communities in America and the Philippines. Imelda
will curate the works of thirteen members represented in this exhibi-
tion.
The publication of our book series is another important accomplish-
ment because a book is still the best way to promote our art. Book
1: Selected Works, digitally designed and edited by Christine, had a
successful launching at the 15th Annual Exhibit in September 2008.
It is still available on line. Book 2, which will be launched in the fall
of this year, is designed and edited by Imelda.
Our 16th Annual Exhibit runs from June 22 to July 3 at the Philip-
pine Center in New York. It also launches a book on our founder
and President Emeritus, Mang Maning.
It is my hope that during my term as president, I will be able to con-
tinue SPAA’s commitment to the artists, and to our dedication to
excellence, professionalism and ethics. This will only be possible
with your support. Thank you and Mabuhay!