There is an ongoing art exhibit at the lobby of the Gen. Santos City Hall Building right now. It is actually a part of the Kalilangan Month events which meant to showcase the city’s history and with that, its people’s cultures and traditions.
“My Childhood Memories of the Settlement Days” is a exhibit of 25 or so paintings of Milagros Royeca-Evangelista, depicting the early settlement days of the pioneers of the city during the 50’s and 60’s.
A daughter of Dr. Jorge Royeca, (Feb. 2, 1911-Dec.6, 1998) the “settler’s doctor” who later became municipal mayor, city councilor and congressman and of Elvira Lagdameo-Royeca, a painter, Milagros only started painting in 2000 after discovering that she has the knack for it. Before her mother died later that year, she painted her seated on her wheelchair and there was no stopping her ever since.
Featured in this post are some of her works displayed at the city hall. Catch it while you can. They gave me a sense of nostalgia for the old days when GenSan was still lovingly called “Dadiangas” and when you knew everybody you meet in church and had to kiss the hands of all the old people you meet, bar none.
God, how I miss those days…
Thank you Tita Milagros for sharing us these works of remembrance.
