Fernando Sena

Fernando B. Sena

Sena in 2014
Born Fernando Belen Sena
(1948-03-30) March 30, 1948
Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Nationality Filipino
Alma mater University of the East
Known for Painting

Fernando Belen Sena (born March 30, 1948) is considered the Father of Philippine Art Workshop for his tireless effort in sharing his knowledge and talent to those who wish to learn. An all-around painter, Sena was born in Tondo, Manila and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Painting degree from the University of the East in 1971.

Early life

Fernando "Nanding" Sena was born on March 30, 1948 in Tondo, Manila to Arturo Sena, a plantsador, whose livelihood is from ironing clothes, and Faustina Belen, a market vendor.[1]

Sena's family was poor thus they struggled to provide education to him. He worked part-time as a newspaper peddler from elementary until high school. This stint led him into honing his illustration skills as he copied illustrations from comics and movie ads from the unsold newspaper copies before returning them to the dealer.[2]

Education

For his elementary studies, he attended Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School, where his teachers recognized Sena's artistics skills who tasked him to draw historical figures and had his works posted at the school library. Sena later entered Arellano High School in Santa Cruz, Manila for a vocational course on Commercial Arts instead of a college preparatory course. This is a backup plan just in case he could not enter college, with him at least being employable in the print industry with the completion of the course. He graduated from Arellano in 1965.[1]

Sena continued working as a newspaper peddler to save money, he also entered Arellano again to take up a vocational certificate course in Painting and later graduated as class valedictorian in 1966. He was able to save up money for at least one semester of college. However his mother was swindled leaving his family in debt so he voluntarily gave the money he saved to his mother instead.[1]

He joined a free workshop of the Children's Museum and Library while he began saving money for college once again. At the end of the workshop, he was given a Painting scholarship to the School of Music and Fine Arts of the University of the East, following an interview with the museum's director. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Painting in 1971.[1]

The Teacher

After graduating, Sena volunteered to handle the CMLI art classes for almost a decade.[3] As the number of his workshoppers grew, the parents suggested to him that he conduct classes of his own. Being the dedicated teacher that he is, Sena conducts free workshops to under privileged areas such as Tondo, Sapang Palay, Carmona in Cavite, San Bartolome in Malabon, Antipolo, Taytay, and even as far as Tabaco, Albay. He also conducts free workshops to the sick such as cancer and leukemia patients, to prisoners in jail, and children in orphanages. To this day, invitations from organizations and such ask him to conduct art classes. Sena offers art workshops during the summer at the Philippine Heart Center, U.P. Vargas Museum, and at his residence to name some of his venues. Among his former workshoppers are Fidel Sarmiento, the incumbent president of the Art Association of the Philippines, whom he taught in 1975 in the CMLI art workshops and Ronald Ventura whom Sena taught in Malabon. He also taught in University of the East College of Fine Arts and the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

The Artist

Fernando Sena divides his time between his 2 passions, painting and teaching. In 1973, Sena held his first one-man show at the Little Gallery at the Tesoro Building in Makati. Other solo shows followed at the Sining Kamalig, Gallery One, the National Library, the City Gallery, the Manila Hotel, the SM Megamall, and the Shangri-La Galleria. He also participated in group shows at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Hotel Intercontinental Manila, and the SM Megamall. Sena also sent his paintings to exhibitions in Germany, Belgium, and China. As an artist, he is a painter of immense versatility. He is adept in using different mediums and is able to shift from one style to another, from being a cubist-pointillist to realist-impressionist. Sena is recognized for his exquisite still lifes such as his trademark pandesal [4] and toys but also tackles a whole range of subjects, such as landscapes, portraits, religious icons, and the everyday, commonplace states of people.

Social involvement

To Sena, a painter serves to functions:[3]

Personal, to showcase one’s masterpieces to the people and earn money. In realizing this function, Sena has his home surrounded with paintings of his own and of his children. Social, to share his knowledge in art and painting to others. To continue his vocation, Sena established the Kabataan Tondo (formerly Troso) Art Group (KATAG) in 1975 and Art Discovery and Learning Foundation Inc. (ADLFI) in December 2001 which aims to discover and support young emerging artists. He is currently the president of the ADLFI and a member of multiple art groups such as the Saturday Group,[5] the Wednesday Group, the Art Association of the Philippines, and the Iguhit Alaminos.[6]

Reception

Other than gaining the reputation of being the “Father of Philippine Art Workshops”, Sena was awarded as one of the “Ten Outstanding Manilans” in 1979[7] for helping the youth develop their talent in art. He also received the “Outstanding UE College of Fine Arts Alumni” award[7] and the “Most Distinguished UE Alumni”[7] in 1986 and 1989 respectively. He was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the “Bow Kami sa ‘Yo” segment of ABS-CBN’s “Hoy Gising!” in January 27, 1995 and “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan” in the field of painting by the City of Manila during the Araw ng Maynila on June 1995.

Personal life

Sena was married to Nancy Canauay with whom he had three childen. Sena first met Canauay, a UP College of Arts and Letters professor, at an all-women exhibit he organized at City Gallery in 1985. After two years he proposed to her and got married. Within the same year of their marriage, became pregnant with a daughter, whom they named Nadine. Nadine died five days after birth. In 1993, Nancy gave birth to Oddin and later to Roald a few years later. Sena's wife was later diagnosed with breast cancer and later confined at the Philippine General Hospital. She died in 1998.[8]

In 1999, he met Ester Tacayon, an elementary schoolteacher from Cotabato and a sister of his former maid. Tacayon served as tutor to Sena's son Roald. In 2001, Sena and Tacayon got married. A year later they had a daughter, whom they named Christine.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gamboa, Coylee (2015). "Meet the Artist - Fernando M. Sena : The Fingers of God". Easy Steps to Drawing with Fernando Sena. By Sena, Fernando. Gamboa, Coylee, ed. Quezon City: RedRain Publishing. ISBN 9786219538701.
  2. ↑ Mallari, Perry Gil (13 January 2009). "Fernando Sena: The father of Philippine art workshops". ammado. House of Hope. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 Resureksyon, Sinag (2009-12-04). "Sinag Resureksyon: Fernando Sena: the Father of Philippine Art Workshops". Sinagresureksyon.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  4. ↑ "Fernando Sena: The Father of Philippine Art Workshops | Speak. Write. Blog Thy Heart". Jordzlagare.wordpress.com. 1948-03-30. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  5. ↑ "artists - SATURDAY GROUP". Thesaturdaygroup.weebly.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  6. ↑ "News - Alaminos City, Philippines". Alaminoscity.gov.ph. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  7. 1 2 3 "Fernando Sena - Arellano High School Inspiring Lifestories". Arellanohighschoolalumni.weebly.com. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
  8. 1 2 Burgos, Rowena (19 June 2015). "Fatherhood as a widower's art". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
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