Malagos Throwback Thursday: The Abueva Sculptures

The month of August is when we celebrate one of the most prestigious events in Davao City: the Kadayawan sa Dabaw. This is a celebration of thanksgiving of the rich culture, bounty in harvest, and the many blessings the City has been receiving for the year. It can be traced back to our roots: the eleven indigenous groups in the City. It was said that a long time ago, they would all gather once a year to perform thanksgiving rituals for the year. On this time, they will lay out fruits, flowers, and vegetables on a mat outside their houses as offering to the God of bounty. For this year, the onset of the pandemic led the celebration of Kadayawan sa Davao 2020 online. With a long weekend ahead of us, let us also not forget the local talents and arts that made our culture and arts even more colorful today.

The Malagos Garden Resort is a Davao highland resort that is home to natural landscapes, beautiful floras, faunas, and wildlife. Apart from this, it is also where different forms of art are found. It is also home to artworks that are dear to Filipinos. Situated in different spots around the resort are sculptures and metal installations made by the Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture and National Artist, Napoleon Abueva. Some of his sculptures are displayed in the lobby of the resort where guests are greeted with the wonderful display of rich culture, art, and nature combined. Bigger sculptures and metal installations from the esteemed artist are found in the Malagos Contemporary Art Gallery.

Napoleón Isabelo Veloso Abueva (born January 26, 1930), more popularly known as Napoleón Abueva, is a Filipino artist. He is a sculptor given the distinction as the Philippines' National Artist for Sculpture. He is also entitled as the "Father of Modern Philippine Sculpture". He is the only Boholano given the distinction as National Artist of the Philippines in the field of Visual Arts.

Abueva in the gardens is a rare sculptural exhibit of National Artist Napoleon Abueva’s finest work at the Malagos Garden Resort, Calinan, Davao City which started on August 8, 1997. It is a joint project of the Puentespina family and the Abueva family. For the first time, Abueva’s pieces are exhibited outside Metro Manila and placed in a garden setting amidst the landscape of the resort. The resort is currently the temporary owner of over 60 sculptures of the National Artist.  Some of his beautiful works in the resort include the Lambingan Bridge of the Bridge of Love (1972), Kaganapan (1953), Ring of Gods (1980), Minamahal Kita (1990) and the infamous Family of Carabaos. 

The Malagos Garden Resort always takes pride in supporting national and local artists in the country by providing a venue where they can showcase their works. While we are celebrating Kadayawan in the comfort of our homes, may we also remember why we are celebrating this event in the first place. For the past years you have always spent Kadayawan with us. For now, while we are yet to open our doors to you again, may you let us spend this time with you through our fresh, homegrown produce and earthy, gourmet meals you can easily make at home. Visit us at the Malagos Homegrown Produce and celebrate Kadayawan with local flavors fresh from the gardens of our local farmers. Happy Kadayawan!