This year’s holiday collection celebrates Philippine’s greatest muralist of all time, Carlos “Botong” V. Francisco, who comes from the artist town of Angono, Rizal. Freeway’s Holiday 2012 Collection of National Artist Collectors’ Series pays tribute to his life and amazing murals. This most anticipated collaboration collection also marks the 100th Grand Anniversary of Botong’s life who was born in 1912.
Botong was the second Filipino to receive the title of National Artist in Painting, after Fernando C. Amorsolo. He was one of the first Filipino modernists who revolutionized art and deviated from Fernando Amorsolo’s romanticism of Philippines scenes. His great works include Blood Compact, First Mass at Limasawa, The Martyrdom of Rizal, Bayanihan, Magpupukot, Fiesta, Bayanihan sa Bukid, Sandugo, Portrait of Purita, The Invasion of Limahong, Serenade, and Muslim Betrothaland the famed “Nose Flute” which set auction record of P27.8 million and is now owned by a private Indonesian collector.