Mar Bongalon, RIP

Mar Bongalon is a product of UP College of Architecture & Fine Arts (CAFA). He was a real talent and a tried-and-true CAFA of his time. Mar (or Bong) passed away Wednesday night and is currently lying in state at the St. Peter Memorial Chapels (Quezon Ave.).  Many friends and classmates came out in force to bid him a last goodbye. The Saturday Art Club of Alice, Lulu, Cynthia, Emi, Pearl, Cecille, Jess, Nic, Cat and available others made it a point to be at the wake this Thursday evening. It was a also a surprise reunion with the likes of Fiel Zabat, Nelson Rivera, Higgy Simpliciano and Adi Santos. Vic Ortega and Oni Mayo represented the Architecture branch of the CAFA College in the wake. 

Mar succumbed to a stroke activated by the high heat in Manila today. We had not seen Mar for a while until this sad night. It seems that he has been spending time providing private art lessons. Among his clients is a ladies art group from Valle Verde 1 who came to the wake as well. These ladies who will now miss Bong’s tutelage are Grace Sanez, Naty Siongco, Myrna Halare, Evelyn Kilayko, Nitze Beltran, Viol Mendoza, and A Vigo. Maybe the Saturday art club people can now help the Valle Verde ladies continue to develop their talents. 

As we know, Mar or Bong is single hence he is survived by his sister Estrella Cortez with whom he was staying with in the months leading to his demise. His nieces (Cristina and Zarah) and grandkids (of Estrella) were also there at the wake to greet visitors. In a light vein, Mar’s nieces said that Mar used to talked to them about his loves (although he never really introduced any of them to the family). But what else is new – Bong is a CAFA artist and definitely living life with a passion. This should be a familiar sentiment to CAFAs since most of them should somehow feel the same way about themselves - I think. What do you say, Jess?

Below are some articles about Bong by his friends:

Pearl Kapunan on the CAFA visit to the wake

hi friends,

after finally being able to trace where bong is , people were assigned to get in touch with former classmates.  .Saw Fiel already there with jess, nelson and higgy and the rest came, cynthia, emy , alice, lulu, and cat followed by his art students. Bong came later because his clothes arrived late. Onie also came ( sori, i missed your call and text but you came after all), Adi  and Pepe, lulu's husband. We prayed the rosary for the eternal repose of his soul.

What an ocassion to have a reunion but seing friends ( the boys ) which we have not seen for a long time emitted more  laughter from among us rather than tears.  With Jess around, what do you expect and as usual, puro photo ops.

We decided to pool resources  and pay St. Peters' services to help out with the expenses. Dra. Leung and i decided to meet the following day to settle the amount that has to be paid and i informed the decision of the group to the next of kin, his sister. The Fine Arts/arch group: Alice, Fiel,Emi, Cecile, Cynthia, Cat, Nelson, Higgy, Adi, Oni, my coz Methy Filler,  Jess , myself and Vic were able to raise 14,600.00. With the 10,000.00 raised by his students (one group only), we were able to pay the services, including request for death certificate,etc, transfer and burial permit,  the total amount of 25,210.00. The official receipt, i gave to the sister and i had it xeroxed for documentation purposes.To you all, thank you so very much, thank you for being there for a friend.

I remember bong and his totality, as someone who has contributed   to my questioning, accepting  appreciating the so many facets of personhood i met in the  Fine Arts.I can live with this now. May you rest in peace, Bong, may the angels bring you to the Eternal light and may you be filled with portraits to do in heaven,along  with the saints; may Mama Mary embrace you in her bossom and free you of all the pain you have endured while here on earth, no more grief or mourning or sadness  and loneliness but peace and joy  with the Holy Spirit forever !  Go... rest in peace now, and be with the Lord.

Emy Mercado on her memories of Bong

When Bong and I would paint together, he would share new techniques and discoveries with me. While his hands expertly moved from one space to the other, he would rattle off about light, balance, tints, shades, colors, patterns, movements, etc. On and on he went with his unsolicited art lessons. In between, he would throw his astral and universal philosophies. Peppered in his soliloquy are romantic encounters with his numerous "chicks". At the end, he would display a finished art work. Much to my utter amazement ..... is another masterpiece!  Yeah, that is Bong... there is no one like him... I will surely miss him.

Thanks to Cecille for advising the details of the wake early on and to Emy for many of the photos in the slide show below. Fiel and Cat, shall we see you at the October CAFA reunion in Milwaukee? 

See slide show for more photos.