Aimed at generating greater awareness of the historical and cultural significance of Bohol’s church murals and ceiling paintings, Ayala Museum along with the Filipino Heritage Festival. Inc., National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Department of Tourism, and the Provincial Government of Bohol is pleased to announce the exhibition KISAME: Visions of Heaven on Earth, opening on May 27 to celebrate National Heritage Month. Curated by Fr. Milan Ted Torralba, this exhibition will provide Filipinos with a closer perspective of these antique masterpieces.

Living landmarks of Spanish influence in the Philippines, centuries-old churches were established in the province of Bohol by the first missionaries called doctrineros as early as 1595. Shortly after the arrival of the Jesuits in the country, a visita was erected on the spot in Baclayon. The church was constructed using square blocks of coral stones cemented together with millions of egg whites toiled upon by natives on polo – forced labor. The reposed massive structures and enormous solid buttresses have served parishioners through the centuries not only as places of worship but also as significant depositories of art, sculpture and music.

“It is high time for Filipinos to have a good look at these living museums, our mementos of the Catholic faith that blossomed through ages,” said FHF director Anna Maria Harper. “With the corrosion caused by bat droppings and rain water on roof ruts and the subsequent repair and repainting of corroded ceilings, without proper documentation, these treasures are in great danger.”

Of the lovely Spanish-era-built churches now under the care of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, twelve boast of magnificent, intricately painted ceilings in various stages of preservation including those in the parishes of Alburquerque, Baclayon, Cortes, Dauis, Dimiao, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Loon, Maribojoc, Panglao, and Tubigon.

Several young Cebuano painters who distinguished themselves as artists par excellance despite the lack of formal training were responsible for the religious art that adorn the churches’ upper interiors since the late 1920s. One of the renowned painters was the late Raymundo Francia, Cebu’s Michelangelo.

The Ayala Museum exhibition, with photographs taken by Jojo Ochoa, will display a detailed documentation of the most important ceiling paintings, and will try to recreate the obra maestras.

Fr. Torralba will be giving a lecture on June 21, 2008 covering the art’s historical and religious context. This lecture will start at 11:00AM in the main lobby and is open to the public.

This exhibition is supported in part by Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc.