Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, DO18

Introduced

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Dagupan City is the home of two distinguished national artists, Victorio Edades and Salvador
(" Bernal.

Known as the “Father of Modem Philippine Painting”, Victorio C. Edades was bom on
December 13, 1895 in Barrio Bolosan, In his younger years, his natural ability to create and
appreciate arts was so evident that he was merely even called as the “apprentice teacher”. After
finishing high school, he travelled to the United States to further master his craft. From there, he
acquired techniques that veered him away from the conservative academic art. From Impressionism
and Realism, he gradually changed his style adopting the Modernist thought.

Edades participated in various competitions in America and won awards. But when he
returned back to the Philippines, his art did not gain much appreciation from the Filipinos. Not one
painting was sold in an exhibit he produced at the Philippine Columbia Club in Ermita. A lot of critics
were shaken by the style of his paintings which were in the form of distorted human figures in rough,
bold impasto strokes. But firm on what he believed was creative art, he stood tall in his advocacy
which was later on embraced by many artists.

Salvador “Badong” F. Bernal is a master of contemporary Filipino theater design. He was
able to design more than 300 productions that were distinguished for their originality since 1969.
Fully aware of the limitations of local productions in terms of budget and resources, he innovatively
and creatively used inexpensive local materials such as bamboo, raw abaca, and abaca fiber, hemp
twine, rattan chain links and gauze cacha.

Badong Bernal did not keep his talent to himself, He decided to share his skills with younger
designers by conducting classes at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
He also created programs for the CPP Production Design Center and organized the PATDAT
(Philippine Association of Theatre Designers and Technicians) in 1995 to promote and
professionalize theater design. Bernal was conferred the National Artist Award in 2003.

In view of the invaluable contribution of these two Dagupefio national artists, | am filing this
bill that seeks to establish the Edades and Bernal Museum in Dagupan City.

Rep. wa de Venecia
4" Disict) Pangasinan

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 5518

Introduced by Rep. Christopher P. de Venecia

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE EDADES AND BERNAL MUSEUM IN THE CITY OF
DAGUPAN, PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — Article 14 Section 15 of the Constitution
affirms that “Arts and letters shall enjoy the patronage of the State. The State shall conserve,
promote, and popularize the nation’s historical and cultural heritage and resources, as well as
artistic creations.” Towards this end, it shall be declared the policy of the State to preserve the
works of our national artists and lay it in a space that acknowledges their contribution to the
nation’s cultural heritage.

SEC. 2. Establishment. — There shall be a Museum in the city of Dagupan, province
of Pangasinan, to be named after the city’s distinguished national artists Victorio Edades and
Salvador “Badong” Bernal. The establishment of the said museum shall be undertaken by the
Local Government Unit (LGU) under the guidance of the National Museum.

SEC. 3. Site. ~ The LGU shall provide the land necessary for the construction of the
Edades and Bernal Museum,

SEC. 4. Appropriations. — The implementation of this Act shall be charged against
the budget allocation of the National Museum. Thereafter, such amount necessary for the
continued implementation of this Act shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act.

SEC. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette and in one (1) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,