Life in a nutshell.: Pinto Gallery: Sanctuary for the Artist's Soul

Captivating spacious foyer of the main house with Dr. Cuanang's antique collections

A haven for the creative soul. An escape into nature's soothing embrace. A sanctuary from the flurry of noise and fast-paced activities in the urban jungle. A peaceful nook in the midst of Antipolo city that remains unknown to many tourists and to most who are strangers in the art circle of Manila and neighboring places.

Living room featuring a Borlongan canvas depicting
a procession of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage

Cozy brick fireplace with a Tony Leano painting and a baby grand piano

Pinto Gallery, owned by well-known Filipino art patron Dr. Cuanang, is a portico of artworks set in a series of lush gardens. It houses several structures that serve to exhibit various paintings, sculptures, and antiques by different artists and those that are owned by Dr. Cuanang himself.

One of the lush gardens

A singing trio terracotta sculpture by the garden

Me visiting one of the artist abodes

Relaxing in an artist's room

The place has an old-world charm in itself, with the enchanting white walls, bricks, and wooden furniture. In my experience, it was overwhelmingly beautiful enough to take in the incredible pieces of art on display and ponder on them...

Appreciating one of the mixed media exhibits here

I love this functional piece of art! Great bookshelf with wonderful vases!

Thought-provoking pieces of Spanish colonial sculpture...

Gazing at the art enthusiasts below

...but taking a walk through the gardens with the hidden abodes and gazebos in the greenery seemed to relax my body and stimulate my spirit more. I remember sitting quietly on a flat bamboo floor facing a picturesque pond, with my legs dangling just a little above the water. As I watched the tiny pieces of waterlilies slowly floating on the surface of the pond, with the soft ripples gliding down the sides, I felt encapsulated by the beauty of it all. With these surroundings and with the wind blowing gently on my face, it was easy for my mind to drift into deep reflections. It was the perfect escape from the everyday worries that wear out our minds and bodies and sometimes even break our natural spirits.

Communicating souls in the midst of art and beauty

A nature lover's haven...

An interesting "adobe bulul" in the greenery

A swimming pool rests in the center of the visible garden from the main house patio, an area that was used for the wedding reception of famous broadcasters Julius Babao and Tintin Bersola. This spot had also appeared in some TV commercials.

The swimming pool near the main house
(seen in one of Juday's TV commercials)

A scenic staircase by the poolside

Nearby, a tiny white chapel stood, wrapped with the splendor of antique art, with several religious relics inside. It held an atmosphere of solemn contemplation that was just ideal for a conversation with God. Its facade was so simple yet exquisite that it was certainly great for photography. Thus, it had served as a background already for several magazine photo shoots.

One-of-a-kind chapel in the center of the garden

Pinto Gallery is certainly a place worth visiting. It's thought-provoking yet calming. It's comforting and inspiring. Sometimes, they also hold art film viewings in the gardens and painting workshops. Some artists are accommodated here too where they can commune with nature and be more in tune with their artistic souls.

An in-the-round bronze sculpture on the ground

Me doing some watercolor exercises in Pinto Gallery
as taught by my art mentor-slash-fiance Mr. Coronado

Certainly, it would be good for first time visitors to come over during art exhibit openings where there are new masterpieces to see and free food to complete the overall visit. One thing's for sure. You should never again leave the city of Antipolo without dropping by here and feeding your inner soul with a worthwhile experience.