Man on the Verge

Get up close and personal with Filipino art patron Virgilio Cuizon as he proves how steely discipline, single – minded focus, a deep passion for Filipino art, and a signature fashion sense that makes you go “Wow! That’s hot!” is a sure key to success.

I’ve heard so much of him and read enough about him to know that he is this larger – than – life visual storyteller and art patron who has mentored so many young Filipino artists who have gone from up-andcoming to well-established names in the Philippine art scene.

But coming face-to-face with the Virgilio Cuizon, I was not prepared and was quite surprised that he is as down – to – earth and fatherly solicitous as your favorite uncle who serves up a delicious spread of local culinary delights in a house filled to the brim with a lot of art. Every inch of the walls is chockful with a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and forms that they almost seem to come alive next to the endless parade of creative souls that come in and out of the house’s main entrance.

The whole space breathes with so much talent and creativity you get the feeling of being inside a living gallery or museum, with the people themselves as images in the much – larger artwork that is life. It was the middle of the week one March evening, and Mang Ver is serving chicken adobo, ginisang monggo, and a choice of fresh pineapple slices or ice cream for dessert. The night is still young and the endless chatter is what else, art!

I tried to recall the questions I wanted to ask in my head, but Mang Ver would have nothing of it. He gently suggest ”Let’s eat first, and then we can get down to business a little later.” Now that was my kind of thing. A strong believer in nothing gets done well on an empty stomach, I stood up, took a plate and joined the throng of art people making a beeline for the dining table.

It was almost midnight, the lively chatter has gone down to whispers, and we are gathering up the clothes, shoes and accessories in preparation for a major photo shoot in the next few days. As we bid good-bye and with a promise to keep in touch, walking along the moonlit alley towards the highway, I imagined Virgilio Cuizon as this orchestra maestro, and the hundreds, maybe even a thousands of his proteges and mentees, adroitly synchronizing their arty flair and signature styles in a resounding symphony of creative mastery and excellence

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It all began during his elementary school days in Bolbok, Batangas when the young Ver began painting passenger jeepneys with religious images in what became the iconic look of this legendary mode of transportation. While in high school at the Western

Philippine Colleges, now the University of Batangas, he trained his talents to silk screen, turning the lowly shirts of numerous school organizations in his hometown of Batangas into veritable works of art. He also made personalized cards which became popular for its unique Ver Cuizon artistic flair. Sought – after for his brand of artistry, his passion quickly turned into a lucrative business that earned his keep.

College saw Mang Ver tiptoeing his way through the august halls of Western Philippine Colleges graduating with a Commerce degree, the Mindanao State University, and Siliman University, the last two schools on a National Science Development Board (NSDB) scholarship grant under the Bachelor in Arts program. He also enrolled for a BS Nursing program at the Golden Gate College in Batangas City at the encouragement of a friend who urged him to enroll at the school because the nursing program was teeming with beautiful young girls.

His very first job was as a Youth Worker at the Department of Social Welfare in Batangas City. For a young idealist fresh out of school, this was the perfect opportunity to be up close and personal with the real world and see how he could help alleviate the plight of promising artist became a street parliamentarian who was eventually forced to leave his beloved motherland and seek refuge in Europe. Working as a nurse in Germany, Ver never lost his patriotic fervor and continued his unrelenting protests against the excesses of the Marcos dictatorship and its growing human rights violations. Always in the hunt for the next adventure, the young Virgilio found his niche among the many bright – eyed and intensely patriotic street parliamentarians who wore their hearts on their sleeves and braved heat, exhaustion and truncheons in the unrelenting fight for democracy.

the ordinary Filipinos.

It was the height of the Marcos dictatorship, and Mang Ver put his love for the arts to pasture and started joining the rallies and protest movement calling for the ouster of the Marcoses from their almost three decades of authoritarian kleptocracy. The bright – eyed

Fearful for his safety and that of his family, Mang Ver was forced to seek refuge elsewhere and found himself in Germany. Alone in the vast unfamiliar landscape of the European nation, he settled as a Nursing Auxiliary at the Alfred Krupp Hospital in Essen, Germany, a job he held for 15 years. Those 15 years saw Virgilio Cuizon moving heaven and earth to make a difference in the lives of his fellow Filipinos, both living overseas and those in his home country. Still very much a warrior and one with a heart for the less fortunate, he sought to unite the many Filipinos in Europe and founded the Barangay Sa Europa e.V. (The Confederation of Filipino Associations in Europe) made up of Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France, and Barangay sa Holland, among others. At the helm of these organizations, he spearheaded numerous cultural and humanitarian activities, rallying his fellow

Filipino “kababayans” to help not just those in need back home in the Philippines but also finding a way to promote and educate the Europeans, particularly the German people, to the unique and colorful ways of the Filipinos. Through his untiring hard work, Mang Ver endeavored to showcase and shine the spotlight on the Filipino people’s distinct talents in the fields of music, dance, arts and fashion. In 1984 he initiated the very first “Pistang Pilipino” in Germany and with the 3-day festivities featuring the first ever “bahay kubo” made from the native bamboo and nipa ever seen on German soil. He organized concerts and exhibitions of the best Filipino performing groups and visual artists, travelling all over Europe, to the delight of the local people. He initiated “Help Build Philipines” and its many projects between 1993 – 1995 such as the construction of classrooms, health centers, sanitary toilets, multi-purpose classrooms and deep wells; and when tragedy struck back home like Typhoon “Ruping,” and the catastrophic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991, he hit the ground running and raised money for the many displaced and affected Filipinos in his native Philippines.

Among his pioneering initiatives while living in Germany were the 1992 Philippine Week Fair in the city of Langerfeld with the biggest bamboo pavilion ever built in Europe as its centerpiece; acclaimed exhibitions by leading Filipino visual artists like Aner Sebastian, Aris Bagtas, Wilfredo Offemaria, Norman Dreo, Rafael Cusi, Edwin Wiwayco, Rene Robles, Fidel Sarmiento, Noel Catacutan, Giovanni Dela Rosa, Jorge Banawa and Konn Salao, Max Balatbat, Erick Dator, Ronna Manansala, Vincent Gonzales and Rigor Esguerra in places like Berlin, London, Rome and Paris; concerts by top-notch Filipino performers like the College of Immaculate Conception Chorale of Cabanatuan City in 2005, and pioneering contemporary dance ensemble Douglas Nierras’ Powerdance in 2012. While busy with his million and one to-do’s, Virgilio Cuizon also found time to write and direct several stage plays, among them “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the city of Duisburg in 2002, raising DM 20,000.00 to build the operation room of the Mati Hospital in Davao; “Grease” and “Ito ang Pilipino” in 2003, the proceeds of which went to projects of ALAEH e.V., and the sarswela “Bahay sa Baryo” at the Rhein Terrasse Hall in Dusseldorf in 2006.

Driven and doggedly tireless, Mang Ver was also the founding chair of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Europe, the Vice Chairman and Head of the Arts Sector of the

Batangas Provincial Culture and Arts Council (BCAC), the Germany News Correspondent of ABS-CBN News, Balitang Global, ANC and TV Patrol; special curator and designer of the Gallery of the Development Academy of the Philippines in Tagaytay City; guest curator of the Ricardo Medici Museum in Florence, Italy; the Museum of Young Art (MOYA) in Vienna, Austria; the Chelsea Gallery in London, UK; the Stilwerk Gallery in Berlin, Germany; and the Art Asia Gallery in SM Megamall.

As if his plate isn’t already overflowing, Virgilio Cuizon found precious time to squeeze in being guest curator of the Saint Jose Brussels Belgium Festival and was lead organizer of 13 national and 1 international painting competitions. To say that Mang Ver lived and breathed art is indeed an understatement. A natural leader and a charismatic mentor, Ver makes his dreams come true by making sure that his plans are backed by hard work and purposeful action. An optimist who does not take “No” for an answer, he juggles his time between being a doting father, dedicated journalist, an influential Filcom leader and an indefatigable art patron.

Among the many hats that he wears, Ver finds the deepest connection and fulfillment with his involvement in the arts. His determined efforts to promote Filipino art, culture, tradition and heritage was first and foremost a way to unite his fellow “kababayans” and inculcate in them a love for his country and a profound sense of nationalism and patriotism. The end of the dreaded dictatorship and shameful fall of the Marcoses from the seat of power did nothing to dampen Virgilio Cuizon’s unrelenting quest to shine the spotlight of the unmatched creativity of the Filipino artists. Back on his motherland, he founded KUNST, the Kapatiran at Ugnayan ng Natatanging Sining at Talento together with popular visual artist Aris Bagtas from Obando, Bulacan; and fellow Batangueno and art connoisseur Abelardo “Bill” Perez. The formidable triumvirate of Ver, Aris and Bill mentored young, up-and-coming visual storytellers, taking them on exhibitions across the country and overseas, and turned them into veritable who’s who in the local contemporary art scene. Ver, the former street parliamentarian and democracy freedom fighter has found a new cause to champion and a calling to work hard for. It was protest without the bloodshed and in its place was a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes and forms that mesmerize and captivate the imagination.

His pioneering efforts didn’t go unnoticed. Virgilio Cuizon was conferred the 2004 Presidential Award (Banaag Category) by no less than then President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo at the Malacanan Palace for “his contributions in promoting Filipino talent and culture in Europe and for his leadership in organizing events that provide assistance for the benefits of various communities in the Philippines.” In 2006, his founded organization, ALAEH e,V. became the recipient of the Presidential Award (Linkapil Catetory) in ceremonies held once again at the Malacanan Palace. In 2019 he received the Eminent Person Award, Dangal ng Batangan for dignifying a Batangueno cultural identity and for bringing honor to the province through his invaluable contribution in the field of culture and arts promotion and conservation from Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas.

KUNST Filipino received the Gawad Pangulo 2021 (Banaag Category), the third Presidential Award in his already well decorated hat, and a much-deserved addition to his burgeoning collection of awards, merits and citations through the years.

The art world has different creative beliefs: never the same vision, style and message. And when it comes to championing Philippine art, Virgilio Cuizon is all gung – ho to celebrate local art in all its forms, shapes and sizes. From the established artistic giants to the up-and-coming new breed of creatives, and everyone and everything else in between, he lovingly takes each one, shining the spotlight on the unique artistry and unfathomable creativity of the Filipino talent, making sure that the world takes notice, reveling in its one-of-a-kind creative flair and giving it a nod of approval from a global audience that expects nothing but the best for the Filipino artist.

“I love everything Filipino --- from the traditional crafts, to modern interpretations --- it’s such a rich, colorful and vibrant treasure trove of unparalleled creations by the oh-so-talented Filipino craftsmen and artists,” Ver says with a proud glint in his eyes. Devoted father, seasoned artist, gifted writer, visionary director, veteran journalist, art patron par excellence, loving mentor and multi-awarded civic leader, Virgilio Cuizon is the living and breathing epitome of the modern – day multihyphenate.

From the early days of painting religious images on jeepneys to the dawn of student activism and street protests; from the bygone days of his native Batangas to the concrete jungles of Europe; from the television screens to the august halls of some of the world’s greatest galleries and museums, Virgilio Cuizon has left an enduring mark in the Philippine art scene like no other. He has remained humble and grounded, steadfast in his commitment, dedicated to his advocacy, true to his roots, and continues to conquer uncharted territories dressed in his distinct, inimitable and signature fashion style that is part Mindanao royalty cum rock star.

Looking back at his storied past, it is safe to say that art was at the cornerstone of each fork, bend and every significant moment.

At an age when most people are taking it slow and enjoying the fruits of their labor, Mang Ver is yet at the verge of another milestone. The art world waits with bated breath what he has in store for the next great adventure.

—Emmanuel Rigoberto