The Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), after 75 years, is finally crafting and building its forever home in Silang, Cavite, Metro Tagaytay.
AAP was founded as a social group in 1948 by Purita Kalaw Ledesma, and is now the biggest and oldest umbrella national artists organization with 12,000 members. However, for 75 years, the organization had no permanent home.
Master visual artist Fidel Sarmiento and the current set of AAP officers he is leading, wants to take a step further and find a place where the organization can plant its roots and cultivate more aspiring artists. Together with the AAP officers – Roger Santos (Vice President), Margaret Lim (Secretary), Monette Alvarez (Treasurer), and Lulu Olan (Board Director), and their network of friends, the artists are finally able to paint colors and bring life to their biggest collaborative masterpiece that is AAP’s first ever home.
According to AAP, the Tahanan aims to be a central office for different groups of artists from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It will also serve as a gallery for out-of-town artists who need to exhibit their works but cannot afford accommodations. The Tahanan will also become an educational center for visual arts, for high school students by conducting regular workshops. Most importantly, AAP Tahanan aims to be the face of Filipino Artists to the world.
In a press conference held last July 10, Sarmiento said “Sabi namin siguro panahon na para isipin na natin yung ating sarili naman. Pangarapin na natin ang magkaroon ng sariling tahanan.” Also present at the conference was the self-taught metal art sculptor Ral Arrogante, who is also an AAP officer. I was one of the attendees who won and received a masterpiece from Mr. Arrogante. I feel lucky and honored to take home one of his handmade sculptures. The AAP officers expressed their heartfelt gratitude to those who extended their help to them.
Sarmiento was inspired by Artabang 1 and Artabang 2, which was two successful artists co-sponsored auctions/fundraisers for Ondoy and Ormoc victims. Because of this, Artabang 3 was pushed through by Sarmiento where the earnings would be used to fund the AAP Tahanan.
“We asked 80 plus artists to donate their paintings for a one night auction on December 19, 2019, where we raised P4.5 million”, said AAP Secretary and watercolor Hall of Famer Margaret Lim.
AAP found the perfect place for their dream home in Barangay Ulat, Silang, Metro Tagaytay, where they bought a 200sqm lot worth P1.8 million.
However, the building process was slowed down due to the COVID pandemic. Expenses piled after the March 2022 groundbreaking, but donations in kind came after. The contractor/engineer, John Morales, is pro bono. Architectural design by Sarmiento, pro bono. The sculptural facade will be pro bono by famed artist Sam Penaso. An artist donated 30 cement bags. In the third quarter of 2022, SM offered the Podium and Aura for artists to put up fundraising exhibits where they generated less than a million pesos. A few students of Sunshine Place in Jupiter, Makati, where Sarmiento teaches painting thrice weekly, donated a couple of millions in cash and kind. Donated materials through Wilcon Home Depot and other generous art patrons also helped with the construction of the AAP Tahanan.
For those willing to help AAP and artists in building their forever home, donations can be forwarded to ART ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (Bank Account#122-124181-2 / CHINABANK).
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