GSIS Museo Ng Sining in Manila - Philippines

Location

The Museo ng Sining is one of the most important divisions of the government, the GSIS or Government Service Insurance System can be found at the GSIS main office, CCP Complex, Financial Center, Pasay City. It continues to attract a lot of visitors since its opening because of its immense collection of important artworks. Most of GSISs Museo ng Sinings visitors are young students who are eager to learn about the work of top Filipino artists. Visitors can bring their own car or ride the GSIS bus in Pasay to the GSIS complex.

History

The GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) Museo was established in April 1996. Its foundation is a tribute to the artistic endeavors of the art community. Its main goal is to encourage the growth of Philippine visual arts.

Aside from that, hundreds of GSIS members also dropped by the Museo ng Sining after they have finished their transaction with the state manage pension fund. GSISs Eric Zerrudo said that the month of August is typically the month where they have the most visitors and it will continue up to February of the following year.

Since the 1970s, GSIS has acquired a substantial numbers art works and art pieces made by Filipino contemporary artists. With its transfer to its new residence along Roxas Boulevard, the group receives the opportunity to showcase its art collection to the public.

What to See

The Museo ng Sining of the GSIS houses around 162 artworks, most made by respected and revered Filipino national artists. The Museo ng Sinings collection includes different kinds of paintings like the eleven Fernando Amorsolo paintings.

Fernando Amorsolo was considered as a portraitist and nature painter. Amorsolo is the first artist to perfectly capture interesting colors in nature and the Philippines striking sunrise and sunset.

There are also 14 paintings made by Hernando Ocampo in abstract format, Federico Alcuazs tapestries and the paintings of famed Filipino artists Vicente Manansala and Carlos Francisco. One of the most famous works in the Museo ng Sining of GSIS is the Parisian Life painting made by Juan Luna.

Juan Novicio Luna was born on October 23rd, 1857 in Ilocos Norte, specifically the town of Badoc. He is the first Filipino painter to be recognized internationally for his talent by winning the gold medal for his painting Spoliarium in the 1884 Exposicion Internacional de Bellas Artes in Madrid, Spain. This proves Filipinos have the talent and drive to compete with the best all over the world.

The Parisian Life painting, which is also named Interior dun Café, was made by Juan Luna in Paris, France on 1892. He won a silver medal for the oil painting at the St. Louis Exposition on 1904.

Christies catalogue describes the painting as the best depiction of the life during that period in Paris, showing Lunas sensitivity and outstanding skill in capturing the essence of an otherwise ordinary life.

Cost and Other Information

Visits to the GSIS museum are free of charge. It is open from Tuesdays through Saturdays. Arrangements for field trips may be made by calling 5511301. Once visitors experienced the joy of visiting the GSIS museum, they will have a greater appreciation of the countrys arts and culture. The Museo is also a good place for young kids to learn the history of the country through its art works.