Francisco, Carlos (Botong) (1912-1969), was the greatest mural painter in Filipino art. He became known by the nickname Botong, which he received as a child from his family and friends. Francisco drew inspiration for his murals from the history, customs, and traditions of the Filipino people, as well as the country’s landscape. He was a member of the Thirteen Moderns, a group of Filipino artists formed about 1940 who painted in modern styles.
In his murals, Francisco employed the bold colors of folk art, as well as flowing rhythmic lines and decorative patterns. Many of his murals were painted for the homes of prominent Filipinos. He also painted murals in the capital, Manila, for such public buildings as the Philippine Bank of Commerce, the Philippine General Hospital, and the Far Eastern University Chapel.
Francisco’s first important mural was painted for the 1953 International Fair in Manila. The theme of the mural was 500 years of Filipino history. His greatest single work is a series of mural panels painted in the 1960’s for the Manila City Hall. The murals, called “Filipino Struggles Through History,” chronicle the history of Manila from its earliest days through the Spanish colonial period (about 1565 to 1898) and the American colonial period (1898 to 1946).
Carlos Villaluz Francisco was born on Nov. 4, 1912, in the fishing village of Angono in the province of Rizal. He spent most of his life there. Francisco studied at the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts as a teenager but never graduated. During the 1930’s, he drew illustrations for Filipino newspapers and painted sets for the Manila Grand Opera House and the Clover Theater in Manila. After the end of World War II (1939-1945), he taught for a time at the University of Santo Tomas. He also was a motion picture scriptwriter and costume designer. Francisco died on March 31, 1969. In 1973, the government of the Philippines granted Francisco the title of National Artist for Painting. The award is considered “the highest national recognition given to Filipino individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of Philippine arts.”
