Elito "amangpintor" Circa - folk painter. Born 28 January 1970 Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija in the Philipines.

Circa`s began painting at the age of ten; his hometown was submerged when he was growing up to give way to the construction of a dam. After this the family was relocated to higher ground, where every summer he could see the belfry of the 18th century church resurface from the dam`s low water level.

His artistic inclinations were encouraged by his father, a carpenter who bought him his first painting materials. At the age of eight, he won a children`s contest sponsored by DZRH radio for his depiction of Simatar and Tagani, widely popular fantasy folk heroes whose adventures were serialized on air at that time.

Circa`s paintings, mostly depict legends and memories of his old hometown and province and include his signature series on Minggan, the mythical giant who tried to stop the river in Pantabangan from flowing and another series on the evacuation of the townspeople during the construction of the dam. He habitually paints using his own hair and uses his blood as a signature at the right side of the paintings. His work has been exhibited much locally.


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