Romeo Castillo MananQuil was a consistent scholar before he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, cum laude, from the University of the Philippines. While still a student, he started illustrating for Liwayway, the country’s top vernacular magazine. Upon graduation, he went into advertising but distinguished himself as an illustrator, winning a 2nd prize in comics illustration. Notably, he did artworks used as magazine covers, for a book on Carlos P. Romulo by National artist Nick Joaquin, and the 10-volume “Filipino Heritage” by Alfredo Roces. A portrait sketch lead to his being commissioned by the Bangko Sentral to design, with 2 others, the 1983 series of Philippine bank notes & coins, particularly, the 1st decagonal 2 peso coin, the 5 and 1000 pesos still in circulation. His “Declaration of Philippine Independence” 5-peso vignette was again used for the 100,000 peso centennial note, a Guinness Book of Record holder.
In 1967, MananQuil joined the arts faculty of the University of the East and later moved back to advertising. This signaled his entry into serious painting with a couple of 2-man shows, a solo exhibition and about a hundred group shows. The U.P. College of Fine Arts took him to its faculty in 1977 and rose from Instructor to Assistant Professor to Department Chair to Artist-in-Residence. In 1978, MananQuil did his first mural at the SEARCA Bldg in U.P. Los Banos. As another founding grUPo member, he suggested its name to the group.
Romi’s flourishing career took a halt when he moved to Canada with his family in 1985. In 1988, he co-founded the Philippine Artists Group of Canada, became its first president and headed it for 14 years. MananQuil is now a member of the prestigious Portrait Society of America. “Convergence Internationale” marks his return to the country and art scene he terribly missed for so long.
Personal website:
www.mananquil.com
