Angono's Art Gallery

Overview

Angono is a first class urban municipality in the province of Rizal. It is known as the "Arts Capital of the Philippines". This town is perfect for everyone, especially for people who have deep passion for the arts. Tourists will surely enjoy the artistic side of the province. The exquisite artistry of Angono attracts artists and alike, thus, contributes to the tourism in Rizal and the tourism in the Philippines.

The people of Angono trace their origin to a myth in which the first man and woman are said to come forth inside a reed or bamboo. On more solid grounds, however, there seems to be only general inference as to where the earliest inhabitants of Angono came from. The whole territory around Laguna de Bay was simply known as peopled by the Tagalogs. At the same time, when the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the area of Angono was not as much mentioned compared to other lakeshore settlements, giving the conclusion that it was populated less than those figured in historical documents.

Culture

Angono's Art Gallery

Angono is the hometown of two national artists, Lucio San Pedro for music and Carlos "Botong" Francisco for the arts. One of the public schools in Brgy. Mahabang Parang is named Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco National High School in honor of the said artist. The town also boasts of other artists like Nemiranda and Perdigon, to name a few. Around the town are artworks like various sculptures. Angono also boasts of several actors/actresses: Joey Hipolito, Freddie Reynoso, and Zoraida, among others.

The artistic town of Angono celebrates the feast of Pope St. Clement I every November 22 to 23 of each year. There are times that this coincides with the feast of Christ the King. The celebration starts with the novena mass on the 14th up to the 22nd day of November. The devotees, in prayer and thanksgiving, dance in the church patio after the novena mass. The dancing is accompanied by the Angono band with the church bell ringing after playing the music.

Tourism

• Petroglyphs

Discovered by the National Artist and acclaimed muralist from Angono, Carlos "Botong" Francisco in 1965, this cultural heritage site date back to circa 3000 B.C. and is the most ancient, or more aptly, the prehistoric Filipino work of art.

The site is famous for its rock engravings (127 drawings of human and animal figures). Previous archaeological finds yielded fragments of earthenware, obsidian flakes, and shells. The Angono Petroglyphs site has been included in the World Inventory of Rock Art under the auspices of UNESCO, ICCROM and ICOMOS. It has been declared as a National Cultural Treasure by virtue of Presidential Decree 260. In 1996, it received its greatest recognition when it was nominated as one of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the World under the World Monument Watch List. The preservation and development of the Petroglyphs is a joint effort of the National Museum of the Philippines, World Monument Watch Fund, American Express International, Department of Tourism, and Antipolo Properties.

• Angono Forest Park

A 1.5-hectare of land nestled near the foot of Nieves Hills Lakeview Subdivision, just a few blocks away from Loyola Retreat House, is the Angono Forest Park. Produced with high rising trees and shrubs, the place is a perfect setting for camping and outdoor environmental recreational activities.

• Murals / Sculptured Walls at Brgy. Poblacion Itaas

Seen along Doña Aurora St. of Brgy. Poblacion Itaas is an array of mural/sculpture walls depicting the famous paintings of National Artist Carlos "Botong" V. Francisco, with its bust, together with that of Prof. Lucio D. San Pedro, another National Artist, built at the entrance of the street. Most of the murals are pictures of rural life. The walls show the creativity and love for the arts of the townspeople.

• Bonsai and Suiseki Garden

A vast collection of suiseki (stone view) carefully sculpted through rubbing of bare hands, and different kinds of bonsai plants can be viewed on this one-of-a-kind garden owned by Mr. Rodolfo Reyes. Lectures on bonsai making is also available.

• Loyola Retreat House

Situated on top of the hill overlooking the scenic Laguna de Bay is the Loyola Retreat House, where the adjacent metropolis is viewed. The place serves as a good venue for spiritual upliftment activities such as retreats and recollections. It is also conducive to prayers and reflections because of its peaceful and quiet environment.

• Vicentian Hills Seminary

Established on February 24, 1963, Vincentian Hills Seminary is the Formation House of the Internal Seminarists and the Orientation year 1 Students. It has been a home and mother to many who, with their dedication and sacrifice, came to answer the call of the Lord. It is also a good venue for retreats, reflections, and recollections. The trek going to the place requires brisk walking or jogging while enjoying the gentle swaying of trees and the cool breeze. The place fits the taste of nature lovers.