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"OF MUSES AND MUSIC" TO COMMEMORATE GERMAN CLUB CENTENNIAL
Leading Filipino Artists Featured
The first Germans to ever set foot on Philippine soil were three members of Magellan’s 235 man expedition.
The three were chief gunners headed by Hans Varguer on board the ship Concepcion, George Deutsch, on board the ship Victoria and a certain Hans also aboard the Victoria. Only Hans Vargue survived the two year journey around the world and made it back to Spain.
Even as early as the initial part of the Spanish colonial rule, Manila soon became the center of commerce in the Orient with vessels from China, India, Japan, Java and the Moluccas coming to trade with the merchants in Manila. The Jesuit historian Fr. Francisco Colin wrote about it in his book Labor Evangelica saying: "Manila was not equaled by any other emporium in our empire, for she was the center to which flowed the riches of the Orient and the Occident, the silver of Peru and Mexico, the pearls and the precious stones of India, the diamonds of Marsinga and Goa, the cinnamon of Ceylon, the pepper of Sumatra and Java, the cloves and nutmegs and other spices of the Moluccas and Banda, the nice wool and carpets from Ormuz and Malabar, the valuable camphor of Borneo, the balsam and Ivory of Abada and Cambodia, the civet of the Lequios, and silks and other cloths of every texture, embroideries and porcelains of Great China, and fine silverware, amber, colored silks, writing cases, decorated furniture of fine woods and curious bric-a-brac."
Although only Spanish nationals were permitted to settle in the Philippines, the next batch of Germans that arrived were actually Jesuit priests who came to evangelize the locals. Germans were made exceptions to the rule that only Spaniards were allowed into the newly acquired territory called Filipinas because the Germans were highly skilled in the various fields of pharmacy, medicine and the sciences.
Many early Germans became involved in the pharmaceutical business. In 1834, the Philippines opened up to world trade after the abolition of the Galleon Trade Monopoly. In 1835, German trading companies started operating in Manila and the influx of Germans in the Philippines started.
It was in the year 1880, when a community of Germans founded the "Deutscher Leseklub" (German Reading Club) which later on transformed into the "Casino Union" located by the Pasig River. In the year 1903, the population of Germans in the Philippines grew, with 368 Germans staying in some parts of Manila, Cebu and Zamboanga. It was at a general membership meeting in January 16, 1906 that they officially decided to change the name "Casino Union" into "Deutscher Klub" or "The German Club" the name by which it is known today.
Nine artists presenting 25 artworks will hold a special exhibition at the German Club starting tomorrow until, November 28, 2006. Titled "Of Muses and Music". This exhibit is in the German Club in the Philippines.
The artists are leading members of the Guevarra Group of Artists namely, Vincent de Pio, Bayani Ray Acala, Carlos Filart, Dominic Rubio, Tupac Rasco, Aileen Lanuza, Edwin Tres Reyes, Eileen Escueta and Nomer Martinez. Guests of Honor in the exhibit are: former First Lady Mrs. Amelita Ramos and Mr. Markus Tschan, Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. The exhibit on opening day is open to both members and non-members of the Club.
Known as the center point of the European community in the Philippines, the German Club currently has over 400 members. Of these, 50% of the population are associate members from the Philippines and 15 from other nations. Aside from serving exquisite German cuisine, the club also serves Filipino and other International dishes as well as offers a laid back ambience which makes the place ideal for social gatherings and business functions.
Artist Nomer Martinez, a resident of Paete Laguna presents paintings of romanticized rural beauties interpreted in a highly contemporary style. Vincent de Pio, inspired by leading German expressionists presents highly textured paintings of women classical musicians. De Pio’s works are mostly done in black and white or with minimal color accents. Carlos Filart’s works are inspired by an ancient Japanese textiles as well as richly colorful Moroccan weaves. Aileen Lanuza’s works capture the expressed manifestations of movement by classical musicians, particularly women cellists and violinists while Bayani Ray Acala’s powerful albeit whimsical expressionist works create a different but highly creative interpretation of the classical musician. Eileen Escueta presents two works in acrylic on canvas in predominantly Prussian blue colors. These include a painting of a harlequin with flute as well as a solitary woman also with a flute.
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