Press Release  

MananQuil Scores Two International Wins

Rose Tijam
Ontario-Canada
Mon 22nd November 2010



                        Artist Romi MananQuil, renowned Filipino Canadian visual artist based in Mississauga, Ontario, scores successful international recognition again. One of his memorable paintings, entitled “ Innocence “ was chosen for inclusion in an internationally distributed 2011 calendar by CFM International, the world’s largest producer of jet engines, a joint company between Snecma of France, and General Electric Company, USA.

                         Every year, CFM produces a fine art calendar of outstanding quality that includes painting by artists who were born in its customer countries. CFM produces a large wall calendar and small desk calendars, each numbering 11,000 copies that are distributed free of charge to customers around the world. Several paintings from each of eighteen countries that participated were considered for calendar year 2011; 12 countries were selected and the corresponding numbers of paintings were included under a stringent process of selection for the 12-month calendar. The subject of the paintings should be representative of their country of origin, and cannot contain nudity or have religious or political connotations. Romi MananQuil represented his homeland the Philippines, and his painting “ Innocence” was subsequently chosen.
 
                            Out of 18 countries and their respective artist-representatives that placed their entries, the 12 following countries chosen were: Brazil, China, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Kazakhstan, Oman, Panama, Philippines, South Africa, and the USA.  Since France and the USA are partners in the joint company CFM International, they appear every year.  The 2011 Calendars are currently in the process of distribution   worldwide, including the VIPs of airlines in the Philippines where General Electric operates.
 
                           In the same vein, Romi MananQuil was commissioned to provide some   illustrations for a short story set in the Philippines written by respected writer and Philippine National Artist for Literature F. Sionil Jose. The illustrations are aimed to provide cultural integrity to the story.  The story appears in a book called “Playing with Fire  Stories from the Pacific Rim” being published by the Oxford University Press (United Kingdom) in their well-known Oxford Bookworms World Stories series. The series include classic and contemporary stories published for an English Language Teaching market worldwide. 

 
                          Romi MananQuil is the first Filipino to illustrate in this book series, and F. Sionil Jose’s story entitled “ Progress” is the first Filipino entry as well, that are published in the Oxford Bookworm series.
 
                          In a letter sent to MananQuil, senior art editor at the Oxford University Press, Jill Jones wrote: “ I’d just like to say how very pleased we were to hear that an artist of your caliber was interested in working with us on the World Stories project. We try very hard to have the highest production values for this series, and of course the artwork for the books plays an important part in this…”
 
                        Romi MananQuil’s biography is included in the acknowledgements in the calendar and in the book series, and it is likely to lead to further international solicitation of his art works for future calendars, book projects or other venues. 
                              
                         Romi MananQuil graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Philippines. After graduation he distinguished himself as an award-winning illustrator for books, comics and magazines. He joined the faculty of UP College of Fine Arts, and rose to Assistant Professor and Department Chairman; he was named Artist-in-Residence in 1984. In the early 80’s, Mananquil was hired with 2 other artists by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to design the new series of bank notes and coins. He was notably credited for designing the 1^st 2-peso decagonal coin, the now discontinued Aguinaldo/Independence declaration 5-peso bill and the first tri-hero P1000 still in circulation.
 
                          MananQuil and his family moved to Canada in 1985, and in 1988, he founded the Philippine Artists Group of Canada. He was its president for 14 years. In 2008, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association –Toronto, presented Romi MananQuil the UP Centennial Distinguished Graduate Award for Exemplary Achievements in the field of Visual Arts. MananQuil is recognized as a leading Filipino artist in Canada and in North America today.
 
 
Please. see: www.mananquil.com / www.philippineartists.com.