WE have been residing in Barcelona for more than half a decade already and in the course of time, the feeling of homesickness pinches my heart as I look through social media on the activities of friends and organizations that I am associated with in Baguio and Manila.
Although we developed friendships and social groups in Barcelona and in Geneva, as well as, live in the comforts of a more progressive environment, somehow there is still that feeling of emptiness in my heart that longs to fill up the loneliness of home, nostalgic about my youthful awakening, rebellious adolescence, and adulthood – when dreams of tomorrows were conceived, molded and remolded, planted and transplanted, and what made me who I am in the course of time.
The visits of bosom friends serve as a balm to my longingness for the home that I grew up in. We would share our recollections as if we were opening an old book and turning on the to be, one of which is to be the centre of arts and culture. One such friend is EFFREN CHAVEZ who came to Barcelona just recently and stayed with us. He talked about the art scene in Baguio in the 70s, which I also witnessed.
Effren is a visual artist, a painter frequently using watercolours as his medium. He and his family lived at the Stewart Building situated on Harrison Road corner Mabini Street, the back of the building of which is Carantes Street. After graduating from high school at the Baguio City High School, he took up architecture at the Saint Louis University, but after three years, he decided to change course and took up instead Fine Arts at the University of the East in Manila where he graduated.
In 1974, Effren came back to Baguio City and set up an arts shop which he called “THE LITTLE GALLERY” at the Stewart Building located at the corner of Mabini and Carantes Streets. Effren recalled that his arts shop slowly became the hangout of various artists among whom was Santiago “Santi” Bose, with whom he organized the first artists group in the city – The Baguio Group of Artists. Its purpose was to promote the talents of the local artists, develop the potentials of aspiring new artists, highlight the natural beauty of the city and make it the centre of arts outside of Metro-Manila. Effren was elected president.
Effren and the artists conducted outdoor painting and photography activities in various scenic places in Baguio like in Mount Sto. Tomas, Mirador Hill, Burnham Park, also at Dr. Dimayuga’s residence, then farther off to Mankayan, Benguet and Mt. Province. Soon, the group held art exhibits and shows. The first exhibit was held on October 28, 1977 at the Pines Hotel, entitled “Works On Paper,” which exhibited the art works of the original members of the Baguio Group of Artists (BGA) namely: Dolly Aquino, Bayard Aquitania, Ver Ayson, Santiago Bose, Effren Chavez, Brando Cumpio, Rolly Caluza, Darnay Demetillo, Roy Ebba, Jun Gamueda, Mon Habito, Steve Hamada, Jun Limpin, Athena Magkase, Gloria Orden, Dado Pascua, Pyx Picart, Tenny Patacsil, Tony Romawac, Wig Tysmans and Ding Torio.
Effren stated that art lessons were conducted by the members and it was during the BGA years that the art scene was alive and well, and thrived in Baguio. The group’s photography exhibit followed and was held at the Pines Hotel. The artists soon became so productive that some artists held their one-man shows or two-men shows, one of which was the very successful exhibit of Effren and Mon Habito who were classmates at the UE School of Fine Arts. The BGA also held art bazaars at the Malcolm Square; collaborated with Ofelia Cunanan, a fashion designer in a show entitled “Models and Artists” held at the Hyatt Terraces.
When Effren left for abroad in 1980, the Baguio Group of Artists disbanded. However, Santi Bose, who was then based in Manila, organized another arts association, the Baguio Artists Guild (BAG), where many of the members of the BGA joined, together with other Manila based artists who decided to migrate to Baguio, including Ben Cabrera, now a national artist, and Pandy Aviado, other painters, performance artists, and printmakers.