{"id":2069,"date":"2025-06-13T13:21:49","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T13:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=2069"},"modified":"2025-08-20T01:22:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T01:22:58","slug":"paintings-hocus-i-page-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=2069","title":{"rendered":"Paintings &#8211; Hocus I &#8211; Page 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2069\" class=\"elementor elementor-2069\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1c98c2e elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"1c98c2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c1e4e50\" data-id=\"c1e4e50\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c365e94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c365e94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Paintings<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6322ea8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"6322ea8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a901c4\" data-id=\"2a901c4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7106187 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"7106187\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=1726\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">HOCUS I<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-61c8a27\" data-id=\"61c8a27\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a829f97 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"a829f97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=2098\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">HOCUS II<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e7bc1e2\" data-id=\"e7bc1e2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73bd46b elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"73bd46b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=2322\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">HOCUS III<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ef3b47b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"ef3b47b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;,&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-702695d\" data-id=\"702695d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-639fc02 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"639fc02\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-450bf9f\" data-id=\"450bf9f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-561b38e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"561b38e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HOCUS I<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6682c4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6682c4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Hofile\u00f1a-Custodio paintings exhibited at the National Art Gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines on April 18, 2017 to October 29, 2017.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-dcfbba3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no wpr-equal-height-no\" data-id=\"dcfbba3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-960e46b\" data-id=\"960e46b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c52bfb premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"0c52bfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-0c52bfb\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_13.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-0c52bfb\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPuente de capricho (The Bridge of Caprice)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2002 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_13.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"752\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_13.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_13-223x300.jpg 223w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_13-300x403.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>In the remote but enchanting town of Majayjay, Laguna, there is an unfinished 19th century stone bridge called Tulay na Pigi so called because the Franciscan friar who ordered its construction would cane the indios on their pigi (buttocks) for not working fast enough. The bridge was never finished for either lack of funds or maybe because of the turf war it provoked between the Dominican and Franciscan Orders. The former may have resented the presence of the latter in the province of La Laguna. The bridge, called Puente de Capricho (the Bridge of Caprice) was mentioned in Rizal&#8217;s El Filibusterismo.<\/p><p>This HOCUS painting dramatizes that internecine conflict: on the left, the Dominicans feverishly clamber up the bridge to engage the Franciscans head on. Both orders are seen brandishing their religious symbols and images of their Orders, as if these were weapons of war. Meanwhile, on the river below, Jose Rizal, riddled with bullets, his novels tucked under his arm, escapes with a boatman on a bangka decorated with the frieze that he had sketched on the Noli&#8217;s cover. The scene is replete with details associated with Laguna&#8217;s heroic son: a draco rizali, the winged lizard of Dapitan, creeps up the bridge; a disheveled Sybilla Cumana frantically waves a warning at the two fugitives;<\/p><p>a deceitful monkey argues with a guileful turtle. At bottom right, a dog desperately attacks a crocodile to avenge the death of her pup, Rizal&#8217;s Ang Paghihiganti ng Isang Ina (Revenge of a Mother). An india water carrier is seen at far left; she is torn between following the Dominicans up the bridge, or Rizal in his fight for freedom.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2f8a088 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2f8a088\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fg-item-title\"><strong>Puente de capricho (The Bridge of Caprice)<br \/><\/strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66cb846 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"66cb846\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-66cb846\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_16.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-66cb846\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLa Virgen en un rinc\u00f3n de Cavite (The Virgin in a Corner of Cavite)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2005 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_16.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"749\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_16.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_16-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_16-300x401.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f1f6c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f1f6c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fg-item-title\"><strong>La Virgen en un rinc\u00f3n de Cavite <\/strong><br \/><strong>(The Virgin in a Corner of Cavite)<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd952aa premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"cd952aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-cd952aa\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_19.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-cd952aa\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLibro de almas (Book of Souls)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2008 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_19.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"750\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_19.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_19-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_19-300x402.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>The historic church of San Jeronimo in Morong built by the Franciscans in the 17th century represents the gateway to Heaven in this HOCUS painting. Filipino natives are seen milling around the esplanade of this imposing Church; the ecclesiastical symbols of the major religious orders are emblazoned on its portal, each represented by a friar, seated in front, preoccupied with a census dramatically called the Libro de Almas (Book of Souls), containing the names of&#8221;enrolled souls&#8217;:<\/p><p>Attached to the church is the convent where souls await Final Judgment; there are patron saints standing by its arches, ready to intercede for the faithful indios. There are only four possible destinations- Limbo, Purgatory, the fires of Hell and paradise in Heaven. Angels direct the souls to their final destination; only those who are led to the belfry are flown directly to the Almighty.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06edadb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06edadb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Libro de almas <br \/>(Book of Souls)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63d79ba premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"63d79ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-63d79ba\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_22.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-63d79ba\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDios esta esperando (God is Waiting)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2011 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_22.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_22.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_22-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_22-300x402.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>The indio&#8217;s sufferings on earth are rewarded by eternal life. Eternal life doing what the doctrine adequately fails to explain. Perhaps he will be rewarded the right to play music for the heavenly Father, as the angels above seem to suggest. The right to pass the gates to Heaven are controlled by the Holy Orders. Although the fences seem inutile and the locked gates useless since the indio could easily surmount the brick fences and cross the checkered board of night and days towards the stairs leading to heaven. But who is the indio to question established dogma?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1009785 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1009785\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Dios esta esperando <\/strong><br \/><strong>(God is Waiting)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-fd9c7fe\" data-id=\"fd9c7fe\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d67b380 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"d67b380\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-d67b380\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_14.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-d67b380\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSantiago Matamalayu (St. James, killer of Malays)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2003 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"698\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_14.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_14-241x300.jpg 241w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_14-300x374.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>Santiago de Matamoros is supposed to be St. James the Elder, an apostle of Jesus Christ. According to legend, he fought against the Moors in the Battle of Clavijo which historians said never took place. Because of the &#8220;Reconquista&#8217;: St. James, or Santiago, was venerated as patron saint of Spain until 1760, when the Pope declared the Immaculate Conception the patroness of the Kingdom. Throughout the Spanish Empire, there were forts, towns, government buildings and churches dedicated to Santiago Matamoros. You can imagine how shocked the Spaniards must have felt when they encountered Moros in the far-flung Islas Filipinas after having circumnavigated the world.<\/p><p>The central figure in this HOCUS painting is Santiago Matamoros as he is portrayed in many colonial paintings and moro-moro dramas in the Philippines. He is surrounded with vignettes depicting Christianization-a priest burning a native god and a friar holding up a manuscript written in baybayin script. Indigenous communities in Palawan, Mindoro and Bohol still use a native syllabary up to this day.<\/p><p>Inadvertently perhaps, Santiago was eventually indigenized. In religious colonial paintings, Spain&#8217;s former patron is seen killing infidels that look more like indios of this archipelago as illustrated in the Boxer Codex than the Moors of southern Spain. In the Luis Araneta collection, there is a rare ivory piece which shows Santiago slaying a native lady moro. Patron of Spain&#8217;s anti-Muslim wars, the warrior-saint could very well be called Santiago Matamalayu, or St. James, killer of Malays, for they are exactly the people he is seen killing, the indigenous denizens of this archipelago.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e87cee7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e87cee7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fg-item-title\"><strong>Santiago Matamalayu <\/strong><br \/><strong>(St. James, killer of Malays)<br \/><\/strong>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e3f5937 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"e3f5937\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-e3f5937\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_17.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-e3f5937\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Cartas Philippinensis Panel\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2006 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_17.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"182\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_17.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_17-300x98.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 12 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>Shows the Tarot Cards with Philippine themes. These cards speak to us of our past, when the church, in conjunction with the Spanish civil authorities, ruled the lives of the indios.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f15fca2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f15fca2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Cartas Philippinensis Panel<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 12 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33ab03b premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"33ab03b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-33ab03b\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_20.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-33ab03b\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEl hombre olvidado (The Forgotten Man)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2009 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_20.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_20.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_20-300x228.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 3 feet x 4 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>Extensive land donations were obtained by crafty friars with deathbed manners in exchange for Holy Masses celebrated in perpetuity that would guarantee a higher place in Heaven for the generous donor. The dying man in this HOCUS painting, obviously a former conquistador, as shown by a morion helmet under his bed, was the owner of the Hacienda de Orion in Bataan. In 1678, on his deathbed, he bequeathed all of 2000 hectares of his royal land grant to the Dominican Order in exchange for a safe and speedy passage to Heaven.<\/p><p>With his last breath, the moribund former conquistador implores the Dominican friars: &#8220;Todo en el nombre de Dios, les regalo dos mil hectareas en cambio de oraciones perpetuas para mi pobre alma&#8221; (All in the name of God, I give you 2,000 hectares in exchange for perpetual prayers for my poor soul.) As a friar administers the sacrament of Extreme Unction, a scribe dutifully records the man&#8217;s last will and testament.<\/p><p>Another friar consoles him: &#8220;Que Dios te salve de los tormentos del Infierno!&#8221; (May God save you from the torments of hell!) Keeping watch is a mysterious figure wearing a capirote, the conical hat worn by penitents of Sevilla, Spain during Holy Week.<\/p><p>Evil permeates this death scene; a seven-headed devil appears, representing the Seven Deadly Sins.<\/p><p>In a dark corner of the room, the india servant of the conquistador curses the master who may have wronged her: &#8220;Sumama ka na sa kanila&#8221; (go with them), her words say, written in ancient tagalog script, obviously alluding to the 7 headed demon.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db86db8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db86db8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>El hombre olvidado <\/strong><br \/><strong>(The Forgotten Man)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 3 feet x 4 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-973163b premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"973163b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-973163b\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_23.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-973163b\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRetablo del rey Felipe el Segundo (Altarpiece of King Philip the Second)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2012 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_23.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"756\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_23.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_23-222x300.jpg 222w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_23-300x405.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>In this HOCUS painting, Felipe Segundo, after whom the Philippines was named, is enshrined at the pinnacle of the ornate retablo. It may look blasphemous, but it attests to the true role of the Spanish Crown in the Christianization of the natives of these islands.<\/p><p>Beneath Don Felipe, every single niche of the retablo is dedicated to a saint, mindfully selected to touch the heart of the natives. San Isidro Labrador, the patron of agriculture, was introduced by the friars to make the new Faith more attractive to the tillers of the soil. The Franciscans presented San Antonio de Padua as the saint who finds lost things for you; St. Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Order; San Vicente de Ferrer of the Dominican Order, who had the gift of tongues and he is also the patron of builders; and there is San Roque, the patron of the sick.<\/p><p>To foster feminine virtues, Santa Magdalena and Santa Monica, mother of Saint Agustin, were introduced by the friars upon this shores.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a4cfc78 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a4cfc78\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Retablo del rey Felipe el Segundo <\/strong><br \/><strong>(Altarpiece of King Philip the Second)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1de8ae premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"f1de8ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-f1de8ae\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_25.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-f1de8ae\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLos Filipinos (The Filipinos)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2014 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_25.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_25.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_25-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_25-300x402.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>This is a tableau of Filipinos from the separated islands of Las Islas Filipinas, the islands that Rizal referred to as the Empire of the Friars. These are the people that Rizal loved and the friars subjugated in God&#8217;s name. On the center of the painting is an indio doing guard duty for the Spanish Crown-or is he thinking of how to overthrow his Iberian masters?<\/p><p>The noted historian, Milagros Guerrero, said that if you will read the first chapter of Rizal&#8217;s El Filibusterismo, you would realize the reason why the friars willed Rizal&#8217;s death. It is because Rizal&#8217;s genius could awaken his people from centuries of slumber caused by religion.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da507c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"da507c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Los Filipinos (The Filipinos)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-7057124\" data-id=\"7057124\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae1fb97 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"ae1fb97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-ae1fb97\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_15.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-ae1fb97\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLa pesadilla (The Nightmare)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-2004 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"204\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_15.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_15-300x109.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 11 feet, Triptych<\/strong><\/p><p>This HOCUS triptych depicts Good and Evil locked in a fierce and perpetual battle for hegemonyover the Earth and its creatures. Take your time to unravel each image, nightmares in my mind, which I have explained to Guy Custodio with a proliferation of details. I see death in various forms: &#8220;mga araw na walang Diyos&#8221; (days with no God), post-Golgotha and pre-Resurrection. There were demonic times in the country&#8217;s history during which Filipinos feared that there was no God.<\/p><p>There is a man, wearing a dunce cap seated by a whirlpool beside a clock whose numbers are reversed, trivializing the letters &#8220;historia&#8221; (history), mindlessly obscuring the past, a hindrance to preparing for the future. An old woman hurls a crucifix as if it were a grenade at the direction of death marching in a phalanx.<\/p><p>Beside a meandering river, an ancient symbol of life, a monstrous &#8220;kapre&#8221; plays mournful dirges on a bamboo organ, a fitting background to the thunderous clash between the Forces of Evil and the Army of Good. Shrieking wildly, a demented friar commits sacrilege by riding a dragonfly, which is, to my mind, is the symbol of the crucified Christ. He rides in the popularity of the crucified Son of Man. Another man, wearing the clothes of a member of the principalia, rides a creature that looks like a queen termite with wings. A little<\/p><p>girl crouches in fear in the middle of the painting. The living is seen carrying death standing on top of an open palanquin; a skeleton beating a drum with the symbol of the Christian inquisition, rat-like lemmings are seen running towards the river in an act of collective self-destruction.<\/p><p>Ah, there is a glimmer of hope as an innocent child holding a candle walks towards the Christless cross.<\/p><p>A friar gloats as he indifferently beats a drum. In the background, a church burns symbolizing the destruction of the Faith. Instead of brilliant stars, the three islands-Luzon Visayas and Mindanao-are shown as three skulls at the foot of the empty cross. Has the Savior abandoned us?<\/p><p>Crabs are ubiquitous in the painting reminding us of an evil habit that corrodes everything good in our national character-crab mentality.<\/p><p>On the left panel of the triptych, cimmerian clouds of gigantic bats, which at closer look are tenebrous manananggals, represents the Forces of Evil. To the right, a lady sits before a mirror grooming herself, oblivious to everything.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9875e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9875e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>La pesadilla <br \/>(The Nightmare)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 11 feet, Triptych<br \/>Permanent Exhibit, National Museum of Fine Arts, Republic of the Philippines<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcf235e premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"dcf235e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-dcf235e\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_18.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-dcf235e\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Treaty of Tordesillas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2007 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_18.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"770\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_18.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_18-218x300.jpg 218w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_18-300x413.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>The Treaty that divided the world like an orange is the subject of this painting.<\/p><p>The 15th century treaty was brokered by the Borgia Pope, Alexander the VI. The Treaty established a line of demarcation that neatly divided ownership of the world and its inhabitants between Portugal and Spain.<\/p><p>To the right of Alexander are the Catholic monarchs of Spain, Don Fernando of Aragon and Reyna Isabella of Castile and to his left is the Portuguese king, John.<\/p><p>The divided world is shown in the painting with Spanish and Portuguese angels and indigeneous angels of the conquered territories armed with their native weapons, fighting over the territory divided by the Catholic Pope.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9b138f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d9b138f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"fg-item-title\"><strong>The Treaty of Tordesillas<br \/><\/strong>Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-259aca3 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"259aca3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-259aca3\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_21.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-259aca3\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Celestial Chess Players\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2010 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_21.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"751\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_21.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_21-224x300.jpg 224w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_21-300x402.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>Two celestial chess players are deeply engaged in their game while angels bearing a mirror reflect the crucial position of the pieces on the chessboard.<\/p><p>The angel on the left wears a sash that says &#8220;Capitania-General de las Yslas Philipinas&#8221; which was how this colony was called. The sash of the other angel reads&#8221; Espejod e los angeles&#8221;&#8211; which means &#8221; mirror of the angels&#8221; implying that it reflects only what is true.<\/p><p>Notice the position of the pieces: The black ones represent the indio. The black King&#8217;s position is severely restricted by the two Bishops occupying their posts. The Bishops represent ecclesiastical authority. The Rooks are threatening the two helpless black center Pawns. The rooks symbolizes State power.<\/p><p>There are more black pieces, but the fearsome white pieces are threatening mate at every turn. The fact is, the black pieces are powerless, like the indios during the<\/p><p>Spanish colonial period who could never have won this HOCUS chess match simply because the white King, which should be on the chessboard, is absent. How then could black win a game whose object is to capture the King of the opposite color?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a0370b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a0370b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The Celestial Chess Players<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-35d1177 premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"35d1177\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-35d1177\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_24.jpg\" alt=\"Screenshot\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-35d1177\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEl camino de la cruz en Manila (The Way of the Cross in Manila)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2013 size-full\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_24.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"746\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_24.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_24-225x300.jpg 225w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_24-300x400.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>Inspired by historian Rey Ileto&#8217;s monumental Pasyon and Revolution, this HOCUS painting attempts to show how the Filipino masses translated the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ into their own existence, struggle and redemption during Spanish colonial times. Jesus Christ suffered at the hands of his fellow Jews who scourged Him mercilessly, dragged Him to Calvary where He was crucified on the cross, between two thieves. In the Philippine colonial scene, according to Dr. Ileto, &#8220;the pasyon made available a language for venting ill-feelings against oppressive friars, principalia and agents of the State&#8217;<\/p><p>To the Christianized masses during the colonial times, the scenes of oppression shown in this HOCUS painting were quite familiar. They identified life in this &#8220;valley of tears&#8221; with the passion of Christ, His death and glorious resurrection. That is why the Filipino masses seem to be long-suffering, docile and submissive in the face of injustice and oppression, the Savior will come someday and take them with Him to Paradise.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3de644d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3de644d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>El camino de la cruz en Manila <\/strong><br \/><strong>(The Way of the Cross in Manila)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f49a4a premium-modal-dismissible-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-premium-addon-modal-box\" data-id=\"6f49a4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;premium_modal_box_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"premium-addon-modal-box.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;trigger&quot;:&quot;image&quot;,&quot;show_on_exit&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-trigger-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" data-toggle=\"premium-modal\" data-target=\"#premium-modal-6f49a4a\" class=\"premium-modal-trigger-img\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_26.jpg\" alt=\"Print\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"premium-modal-6f49a4a\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal\"\n\t\t\trole=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tstyle=\"display: none\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-dialog\" data-delay-animation=\"\" data-modal-animation=\"fadeInDown animated-fast\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSimbolos del poder (Symbols of Power)\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-close-button-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">&times;<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-body\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2015 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_26.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"560\" height=\"884\" srcset=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_26.jpg 560w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_26-190x300.jpg 190w, http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/h1_26-300x474.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/p><p><strong>Oil on wood, 5 feet x 4 feet<\/strong><\/p><p>The painting speaks of the symbols of Spanish power.<\/p><p>The quarters of the Spanish escudo shows the more important churches in the Philippines as well as a floor plan of a Spanish church. The Spanish shield superimposes Intramuros-the Walled City which was used by the Spaniards as their bailiwick during the colonial period.<\/p><p>The churches of Panay, Zambales, Nueva Vizcaya, Cuyo, Misamis Occidental, Tuguegarao, Isabela, Cagayan, Paoay and Romblon also emblazon the schematics of Intramuros, emphasizing the control of the State in the propagation of the Faith. Words from the law reserving a portion of the income of the State towards the building of churches are quoted on the left corner of the painting.<\/p><p>The indio, who was caught between the powers of Church and State, the twin powers that exercised control over his soul and daily existence, did not have a Chinaman&#8217;s chance against the joint enterprise.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"premium-modal-box-modal-lower-close\" data-dismiss=\"premium-modal\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tClose\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-466c6c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"466c6c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Simbolos del poder <br \/>(Symbols of Power)<\/strong><br \/>Oil on wood, 5 feet x 4 feet<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c003bc7 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"c003bc7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/?page_id=1726\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">PAGE 1<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paintings HOCUS I HOCUS II HOCUS III HOCUS I The Hofile\u00f1a-Custodio paintings exhibited at the National Art Gallery of the National Museum of the Philippines on April 18, 2017 to October 29, 2017. Puente de capricho (The Bridge of Caprice) &times; Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet In the remote but enchanting town of Majayjay, Laguna, there is an unfinished 19th century stone bridge called Tulay na Pigi so called because the Franciscan friar who ordered its construction would cane the indios on their pigi (buttocks) for not working fast enough. The bridge was never finished for either lack of funds or maybe because of the turf war it provoked between the Dominican and Franciscan Orders. The former may have resented the presence of the latter in the province of La Laguna. The bridge, called Puente de Capricho (the Bridge of Caprice) was mentioned in Rizal&#8217;s El Filibusterismo. This HOCUS painting dramatizes that internecine conflict: on the left, the Dominicans feverishly clamber up the bridge to engage the Franciscans head on. Both orders are seen brandishing their religious symbols and images of their Orders, as if these were weapons of war. Meanwhile, on the river below, Jose Rizal, riddled with bullets, his novels tucked under his arm, escapes with a boatman on a bangka decorated with the frieze that he had sketched on the Noli&#8217;s cover. The scene is replete with details associated with Laguna&#8217;s heroic son: a draco rizali, the winged lizard of Dapitan, creeps up the bridge; a disheveled Sybilla Cumana frantically waves a warning at the two fugitives; a deceitful monkey argues with a guileful turtle. At bottom right, a dog desperately attacks a crocodile to avenge the death of her pup, Rizal&#8217;s Ang Paghihiganti ng Isang Ina (Revenge of a Mother). An india water carrier is seen at far left; she is torn between following the Dominicans up the bridge, or Rizal in his fight for freedom. Close Puente de capricho (The Bridge of Caprice)Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet La Virgen en un rinc\u00f3n de Cavite (The Virgin in a Corner of Cavite) &times; Close La Virgen en un rinc\u00f3n de Cavite (The Virgin in a Corner of Cavite) Libro de almas (Book of Souls) &times; Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet The historic church of San Jeronimo in Morong built by the Franciscans in the 17th century represents the gateway to Heaven in this HOCUS painting. Filipino natives are seen milling around the esplanade of this imposing Church; the ecclesiastical symbols of the major religious orders are emblazoned on its portal, each represented by a friar, seated in front, preoccupied with a census dramatically called the Libro de Almas (Book of Souls), containing the names of&#8221;enrolled souls&#8217;: Attached to the church is the convent where souls await Final Judgment; there are patron saints standing by its arches, ready to intercede for the faithful indios. There are only four possible destinations- Limbo, Purgatory, the fires of Hell and paradise in Heaven. Angels direct the souls to their final destination; only those who are led to the belfry are flown directly to the Almighty. Close Libro de almas (Book of Souls)Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet Dios esta esperando (God is Waiting) &times; Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet The indio&#8217;s sufferings on earth are rewarded by eternal life. Eternal life doing what the doctrine adequately fails to explain. Perhaps he will be rewarded the right to play music for the heavenly Father, as the angels above seem to suggest. The right to pass the gates to Heaven are controlled by the Holy Orders. Although the fences seem inutile and the locked gates useless since the indio could easily surmount the brick fences and cross the checkered board of night and days towards the stairs leading to heaven. But who is the indio to question established dogma? Close Dios esta esperando (God is Waiting)Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 3 feet Santiago Matamalayu (St. James, killer of Malays) &times; Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet Santiago de Matamoros is supposed to be St. James the Elder, an apostle of Jesus Christ. According to legend, he fought against the Moors in the Battle of Clavijo which historians said never took place. Because of the &#8220;Reconquista&#8217;: St. James, or Santiago, was venerated as patron saint of Spain until 1760, when the Pope declared the Immaculate Conception the patroness of the Kingdom. Throughout the Spanish Empire, there were forts, towns, government buildings and churches dedicated to Santiago Matamoros. You can imagine how shocked the Spaniards must have felt when they encountered Moros in the far-flung Islas Filipinas after having circumnavigated the world. The central figure in this HOCUS painting is Santiago Matamoros as he is portrayed in many colonial paintings and moro-moro dramas in the Philippines. He is surrounded with vignettes depicting Christianization-a priest burning a native god and a friar holding up a manuscript written in baybayin script. Indigenous communities in Palawan, Mindoro and Bohol still use a native syllabary up to this day. Inadvertently perhaps, Santiago was eventually indigenized. In religious colonial paintings, Spain&#8217;s former patron is seen killing infidels that look more like indios of this archipelago as illustrated in the Boxer Codex than the Moors of southern Spain. In the Luis Araneta collection, there is a rare ivory piece which shows Santiago slaying a native lady moro. Patron of Spain&#8217;s anti-Muslim wars, the warrior-saint could very well be called Santiago Matamalayu, or St. James, killer of Malays, for they are exactly the people he is seen killing, the indigenous denizens of this archipelago. Close Santiago Matamalayu (St. James, killer of Malays)Oil on wood, 4 feet x 3 feet The Cartas Philippinensis Panel &times; Oil on canvas, 4 feet x 12 feet Shows the Tarot Cards with Philippine themes. These cards speak to us of our past, when the church, in conjunction with the Spanish civil authorities, ruled the lives of the indios&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1726,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2069","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2069","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2069"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2069\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2795,"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2069\/revisions\/2795"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1726"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/saulhofilenajr.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2069"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}