KASINING ESSAYS by Arnaldo de Tondo

  AN ERSTWHILE RECLUSIVE ARTIST By Arnaldo Bernabe Mirasol  BODETTE MARASIGAN had joined only one  art exhibit since he left college in 1984. That was early this year, when he and some members of the UE Artists Guild held a group show at the Hounds and Grounds Cafe. Reason for that is Bodette wasn't really keen on exhibiting his works in a gallery setting. He confided that he's not really the sociable type who relish mingling with people, artists or not, during art exhibit cocktail receptions. But that was then. Now, since associating with fellow artists who see art exhibitions not as mere social events but as one sure way of getting exposure in the art scene, Bodette has no choice. He has to chuck off his reclusive persona and introverted ways and mingle with fellow art enthusiasts in an event where canapés and cocktails are ingested in between conversions. Bodette was born in Manila to Miguel Marasigan and Militina delos Reyes. He enrolled in Fine Arts major in Advertising at

  A MAN ADEPT WITH CHISEL AND BRUSH by Arnaldo Bernabe Mirasol  MOYO MONTES is a native of Paete, Laguna. He grew up there in the midst of craftsmen who earn their living by producing and selling woodcarved images of farmers, fishermen, vendors, and saints. Paeteños, like the Igorots of the Cordilleras, and the Kapampangans of Betis, Pampanga are renowned for their woodcarving skills. Paeteños though stand out distinct and original  because of the "taka", a handicraft item also being produced and sold in their town. Takas are those red-colored papier-mache figures of horses which I saw being sold years ago at the Tondo town plaza during fiestas. Moyo's parents, Benjamin and Belen,  operate a woodcraft shop and store, where he learned the rudiments of woodcarving. But Moyo went beyond that, being innately artistic. He taught himself drawing and maybe even painting. Inspired perhaps by those illustrious artist sons of Paete, Manny Baldemor and his cousin Fred (Moyo's br