Masaganang Ani by Vicente Silva Manansala

Masaganang Ani (Bountiful Harvest), oil on canvas, 1962

The International Rice Institute of the Philippines (IRRI) was founded in the Philippines in 1960 by the Ford and Rockefeller foundations with the support of the Philippines government. The goal of IRRI is “to improve livelihoods, abolish poverty, hunger and malnutrition among those who depend on rice based agri-food systems”. Their headquarters is in Los Baños, Laguna.

These two Manansala large scale paintings were commissioned by IRRI in 1962 to depict Filipino life, labor and leisure activities. The paintings were hung on the walls of the dining room and cafeteria at its headquarters. These weren’t ideal places to hang the canvasses because the smoke from the kitchen and the cleaning solutions used by the staff threatened the paintings. They are now on loan to the National Museum of the Philippines which declared these two masterpieces as National Cultural Treasures.

In Masaganang Ani, Manansala chose themes celebrating the Philippine rural landscape. On the right are farmers harvesting rice, a way of paying tribute to the work of IRRI. There is also the head of a carabao occupying a prominent space above the farmers. The carabao is the workhorse of the rice fields. On the left side are fishermen hauling in their catch from Laguna de Bay (perhaps) and in the center is a mother bathing her child with the local church in the background. This painting is a poster child for Laguna where IRRI is located.

Study for Masaganang Ani, watercolor on paper, 1962

Harvesting palay, detail

Mother bathing child, detail

Fishermen hauling in catch, detail

This second painting is a joyous portrayal of a fiesta in the countryside. There is a cockfight in the center, a carabao race on the right and the game of sipa (kickball) on the left with local folk enjoying the festivities.

Study for second IRRI painting, watercolor on paper, 1962

Carabao race, detail

Cockfight, detail

Sipa, detail

Vicente Manansala was posthumously awarded National Artist of the Philippines for painting in 1981. If you would like to learn more about Manansala and his works, please check these links:

Philippine Village Life - https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2020/08/the-philippine-village-life-by-vicente.html

Vicente Manansala at the National Museum - https://www.travelswithcharie.com/2024/07/vicente-manansala-at-national-museum.html

Where to go to see the paintings:

National Museum of Fine Arts of the Philippines

Padre Burgos Avenue, Rizal Park, Manila

nationalmuseum.gov.ph

Entrance to the museum is free.

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