'Made of Gold': Lavish book celebrates nearly 30 years of Metrobank art contest

'Made of Gold': Lavish book celebrates nearly 30 years of Metrobank art contest
By Walter Ang
April 8, 2013
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Metrobank Foundation president Aniceto Sobrepena,
former Philippine President Fidel Ramos,
former Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban,
Federal Land president Alfred Ty, and
'Made of Gold' author Cid Reyes.
Made of Gold, a coffee table book featuring winners of past Metrobank Art and Design Excellence (Made) competitions, was launched as part of the bank's 50th anniversary.

The Made competitions, organized by the Metrobank Foundation, started in 1984 solely as a painting competition and eventually included sculpture, interior design and architecture categories.

Written by artist and critic Cid Reyes, the book documents "the significance of the Made competitions in the Philippine art scene and its involvement in uplifting culture and art as catalysts of nation-building."

Metrobank founder and group chair George Ty created the foundation in 1979 to "share the fruits of [the bank's] success with society." He serves as the foundation's chair.

Exhibit
The 252-page book is hardbound with gilted edging and features in full color winning artworks and designs from the competition: 140 paintings and 12 sculptures. It has profiles of seven sculptors, 13 interior designers and six architects.

Featured artists include former Made winners Elmer Borlongan, Mark Justiniani and Rolando Ventura, among others.

Selected artworks featured in "Made of Gold" are on exhibit at the Vicente Manansala Hallway and at the lobby of Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino, Cultural Center of the Philippines until April 14.

Other books
Two other coffee table books were also launched: The Metrobank Foundation Exemplars and Ten Outstanding Filipino Teachers (Volume 2).

"What you shall read in these pages chronicles the creme de la creme of sustained excellence, faithful service, and unyielding commitment to Filipinos," said foundation president Aniceto SobrepeƱa. "We hope readers will be inspired by the amazing stories of our Outstanding Filipinos."

The Metrobank Foundation Exemplars features 15 of the foundation's awardees of its competitions for Outstanding Teachers, Country's Outstanding Police Officers in Service, Outstanding Philippine Soldiers, and Outstanding Journalists?individuals "whose shining examples, inspiring dedication and excellent performance in their respective fields have helped shaped their communities and the nation."

It's written by Ateneo De Manila University math professor and INQUIRER columnist Queena Lee-Chua, a 2003 Outstanding Teacher awardee.

Ten Outstanding Filipino Teachers (Volume 2) features ten awardees of the foundation's Search for Outstanding Teachers. It's written by 2003 Outstanding Teacher awardee Jaime An Lim, retired Dean of Far Eastern University's College of Arts and Sciences.

It includes a profile of Ateneo De Manila University history professor and INQUIRER columnist Ambeth Ocampo, a 2006 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher awardee.

Contact 857-5918, 898-8855 or foundation@metrobank.com.ph

Also published online:
http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/97825/made-of-gold-lavish-book-celebrates-nearly-30-years-of-metrobank-art-contest