Purita Kalaw-Ledesma, the founder of the Art Association of the Philippines (AAP), is a beacon of inspiration. Her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to the arts propelled Philippine Modern art to new heights. Through AAP's initiatives, she empowered artists, championed art education, and shaped the country's art trajectory. Her legacy lives on in the AAP's annual art competition, scholarships abroad, and the professionalization of art as a legitimate career. She also fostered local art criticism and improved art education in schools, leaving an indelible mark on the art community.
It is in her footsteps that the current AAP officers continue to lead and innovate as they celebrate the completion of the AAP Tahanan project.
Despite challenges, the current AAP officers stand as a beacon of success, having accomplished a project of monumental significance. This achievement will endure and benefit artists of this generation and those to come. At long last, the 12,000-member AAP has found a stable and permanent home.
The AAP Tahanan is a dream project that became a reality through the collective efforts of the current officers, under the exceptional leadership of the AAP president Fidel Sarmiento. It is a great honor to also acknowledge the present officers whose immeasurable dedication and efforts facilitated the construction of the AAP Tahanan Office and Gallery in Silang, Cavite.
The officers, united in their commitment to the AAP, are as follows: president Fidel Sarmiento, vice president Roger Santos, secretary Margarita Lim, treasurer Monnette Alvarez, and auditor Angelito Florendo.
The Board of Directors are Danilo Santiago, Ral Arrogante, Veronica Olan, John Magne Lisondra, and, lately, Rica Rosario Ong.
The early days of AAP Tahanan is a story of dedication.
The AAP, led by master visual artist Fidel Sarmiento, sought a permanent home to elevate its status. The National Park Development Committee (NPDC) offered AAP a space at Rizal Park from 2002 to 2014, with rent paid in paintings. Unfortunately priceless artworks were lost due to termites and theft. In 2010, Sarmiento, re-elected as president, restored the neglected space but was forced to leave when another group took over, only for a typhoon to destroy the building.
Despite setbacks, AAP persisted. They occupied a rent-free house in San Juan and were hosted by artist Sam Penaso in Quezon City. Fundraising through events like Artabang 3 in Cebu City, which raised P4.5 million, led to the establishment of AAP Tahanan in Metro Tagaytay, Silang, Cavite. Built with support from Michael Dino and other sponsors, the project raised P4.5 million from donations.
To maintain transparency, the funds used for the construction of the Tahanan ng Sining Project came in 2023 from artists, donors, collectors, friends, and mainly from Sarmiento's art students, who also encouraged their personal friends to donate cash and materials. The earnings from the Tahanan ng Sining Project have no connection with the P4.8m earned from the AAP ART Center project of 1998, an art auction held in the Manila Peninsula.
The present core of officers headed by Sarmiento will leave a home for the artists nationwide, a home that nobody expected to come to fruition, a home that will be forever remembered as built by thousands of artists' brushes.
Indeed, Sarmiento and the committed AAP officers are to leave a legacy.
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