BUKLOD SINING: a group of artists promoting social consciousness formation through the creative arts and aiming to raise the bar of excellence in the field of arts with the support of the Buklod Alumni Society and the University of the East.

The biggest and oldest art group of University of the East lists among its alumni internationally acclaimed painter and performance artists like Ronaldo Ruiz, Rolando Ventura, and Jonet Carpio, award-winning filmmaker Richard Legaspi, PLDT Directory Painting Competition grand champions Ronnie Tres Reyes and Armando Flaviano, International CG Society gold medalist Reynan Sanchez as well as 2010 Shell National Art Competition awardees Ace Aquino and Rossini Grace Reyes, to name a few.  Furthermore, it is the only organization which gave UE the back-to-back grand prize at the Department of Tourism Lantern Competition and the first UE Caloocan student organization which co-organized an International Performance Art Exposition last 2006 with more than 10 performance artists around the world who participated in the project entitled UGNAYAN.

After creating and co-sponsoring outstanding local and international projects for the UEnian Fine Arts students for more than two decades, once again Buklod Sining Organization: The Emblem of UEnian Artistry is organizing its 21st anniversary art show in conjunction with the alumni society this coming February 1-18, 2011, 6:00 PM at Philam Life Center for the Arts, United Nations Avenue, Ermita Manila with the theme PeliKULAY: Buklod Sining Tribute to Philippine Cinema.

The Art Show will give homage to the immense contributions of different Filipino actors from different generations.  The art exhibit will showcase the students, alumni and guest artists’ opus in painting, sculpture, digital arts and photography. The tribute to local cinema was spearheaded by Buklod Alumni Society Chairman Ronwell Jason Legaspi Bacani as a number one fan of Philippine Cinema from the golden age to the modern times, from silent movies to talkies, from black and white to color, from mainstream to indie, from Paraluman to Angel Locsin and from silver screen to canvas.

Through this, young Buklod Sining artists will be au fait with the contributions of talented Filipino actors and the value of cinema as art. It is also an avenue in connecting with our parents’ experiences in watching films of Fernando Poe Jr., the comedy King Dolphy, Tito, Vic and Joey, Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos in major cinema houses in Metro Manila like Clover Theatre, Luneta Cinema and Odeon. Some of the student exhibitors were guided by their parents in choosing their subject matter.  Meanwhile, Buklod Sining advisers headed by Prof. Edgardo Garcia and Prof. Ellen Villanueva led them in choosing the applicable style, composition and medium according to their talents and abilities.

On the opening day, there will also be an open screening of award-winning experimental and narrative short films of Richard Soriano Legaspi. Moreover, Buklod Sining will introduce the first-ever recipients of the BUKLOD Sininglangan Awards and Buklod Sining Lifetime Achievement Awards, respectively. The said recognition will be given to members for the pride and accolade they contribute to the organization both locally and internationally in the field of arts.  This would not be an easy task for the alumni committee to choose who will be the 2011 awardees.

Participating artists in the big event are Leonardo Uy, Romano Macaisa, Edgardo Garcia, Ronwell Bacani, Richard Legaspi, Benay Reyes, Max Balatbat and student members of BUKLOD SINING UE.

PeliKULAY would not be possible without the help of major sponsors Philam Life Center for the Arts, University of the East, Buklod Alumni Society, Anino Design, Artrix Design and Prints, Agimat: Sining at Kulturang Pinoy, Red Room Productions, and HYDROconceptualus Design Solution.

Check out the web blog of Buklod Sining Organization is www.buklodsining.wordpress.com for more information and the profile of the participating artists.