Sponsorship Speech: Proposed Senate Resolution No. 999 Honoring the Late Edsel Moscoso

February 4, 2019

Sponsorship Speech of Senator Loren Legarda
Proposed Senate Resolution No. 999
Honoring the Late Edsel Moscoso
4 February 2019 | Senate Session Hall

Mr. President, on the occasion of National Arts Month, I wish to honor a fellow Antiqueño whose lifelong love for the arts has produced a legacy of masterpieces, which masterfully depicted the rural life of simple Filipinos, most of whom were sakadas.

Edsel Moscoso was born on January 30, 1952 in Bugasong, Antique to Dr. Julito Moscoso and Remedios Atillo Hermoso. He had a degree in Fine Arts from the University of the Philippines, went for further studies at the Center for the Study of Medieval Art and Culture through a scholarship of the Italian government, and graduated summa cum laude at the Pontifico Instituto di Archeologia Christiana in Rome.

As a prominent painter, Moscoso’s works are uniquely characterized for their washed sepia images of Filipino rural life, placed against a contrasting colorful background. His paintings were observations of daily rural life of fisherfolk, farmers and women.

National Artist for Literature, Nick Joaquin, described Mosoco’s works as “manscapes.”

Among the recognitions he received include: one of the 13 Outstanding Young Artists of the Art Association of the Philippines in 1975; Bugal kang Antique (Pride of Antique) by his home province in 1993; and the University of the Philippines Awardee for Visual Arts in 2008.

Moscoso made a name for himself and had solo exhibits, local and abroad. However, he had always been grounded and proud of his Antique roots. On his 42nd exhibit entitled Antiqueños: Homage to my Kasimanwas, Moscoso proudly announced his roots and that the images in his paintings were Antiqueños.

All throughout his life, he remained a steadfast champion of the cultural identity of Filipinos through art.

Mr. President, it is for these reasons that I seek the Senate’s approval of this proposed Senate resolution honoring the late Edsel Moscoso for his lifelong love for the arts and his masterful depiction of rural life of the Filipino people.

Thank you.