The late National Artist for Sculpture Napoleon V. Abueva was honored with a special tribute by Directories Philippines Corporation (DPC) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) during the awarding ceremony of the DPC-PLDT Visual Arts Competition 32 (VAC 32). The event was recently held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.
Abueva helped establish the foundation for the VAC along with deans of other Fine Arts schools in the Philippines. DPC and PLDT presented a special plaque of appreciation for the late national artist to his widow Dr. Sergia Abueva and his daughter Amihan Abueva.
Sergia and Amihan received the award from DPC chief operating officer Arturo Diago, founding VAC project director Fred Amat and Robert Sarte, a long-time VAC coordinator of PLDT. As part of the tribute, replicas of the original trophy designed by Napoleon in 1990 were given to the schools of the top three winners of VAC 32.
Fittingly, too, the unique ceramic trophies for each of the VAC 32 major prize winners had been designed by Napoleon’s niece Lanelle Abueva-Fernando. She is a potter who specializes in handmade stoneware ceramics.
Born in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines, Napoleon was known as the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture. In 1976, he was proclaimed National Artist for Sculpture.
On February 16, 2018, Napoleon died in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. He was 88.
CONAN Daily 