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Fernando B. Sena
Born	Fernando Belen Sena (1948-03-30)March 30, 1948 Tondo, Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Known for	Painting

Fernando Belen Sena is considered the Father of Philippine Art Workshop for his tireless effort in sharing his knowledge and talent to those who wish to learn. An all-around painter, Sena was born in Tondo, Manila and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Painting degree from the University of the East in 1972.

Early life

Fernando "Nanding" Sena was born on March 30, 1948 in Tondo, Manila to Arturo Sena, a plantsador (one who irons laundry) and Faustina Belen, a vendor. Coming from a family of humble means, Sena helped earn a livelihood as a newspaper boy. Before returning the unsold copies of newspapers to the dealer, he would copy the illustrations in the comics and movie ads. Sena grew up in Tondo where he studied at the Gregorio del Pilar Elementary School where he graduated as “Salutatorian”. During his education there, his teachers would ask him to create visual aids for them. This continued through high school at the Arellano High School in Sta. Cruz, Manila where he was given the “Most Outstanding Art Student” award. Unable to go to college, Sena sold newspapers. He also enrolled in the Painting Class at Arellano Evening Vocational School, graduating First Honor. While reading one of the newspapers he was selling, he learned about the free summer art class offered by the Children’s Museum and Library, Inc (CMLI) at the Legarda Elementary School in Sampaloc, Manila. This was where Sena got his break when Prof. Pablo J. Victoria, who was then the Dean of College of Fine Arts of University of the East, gave him a recommendation for scholarship. Sena continued to gain honors and awards in art competitions, including twice in the National Students Art Competition sponsored by Shell Company of the Philippines – in 1967 and 1970. Fernando Sena graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts major in Painting degree from the University of the East in 1972.

The Teacher

After graudating, Sena volunteered to handle the CMLI art classes for almost a decade. As the number of his workshoppers grew, the parents suggested to him that he conduct classes of his own. Being the dedicated teacher that he is, Sena conducts free workshops to under privileged areas such as Tondo, Sapang Palay, Carmona in Cavite, San Bartolome in Malabon, Antipolo, Taytay, and even as far as Tabaco, Albay. He also conducts free workshops to the sick such as cancer and leukemia patients, to prisoners in jail, and children in orphanages. To this day, invitations from organizations and such ask him to conduct art classes. Sena offers art workshops during the summer at the Philippine Heart Center, U.P. Vargas Museum, and at his residence to name some of his venues. Among his former workshoppers are Fidel Sarmiento , the incumbent president of the Art Association of the Philippines, whom he taught in 1975 in the CMLI art workshops and Ronald Ventura whom Sena taught in Malabon. He also taught in University of the East College of Fine Arts and the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts.

The Artist

Fernando Sena divides his time between his 2 passions, painting and teaching. In 1973, Sena held his first one-man show at the Little Gallery at the Tesoro Building in Makati. Other solo shows followed at the Sining Kamalig, Gallery One, the National Library, the City Gallery, the Manila Hotel, the SM Megamall, and the Shangri-La Galleria. He also participated in group shows at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Hotel Intercontinental Manila, and the SM Megamall. Sena also sent his paintings to exhibitions in Germany, Belgium, and China. As an artist, he is a painter of immense versatility. He is adept in using different mediums and is able to shift from one style to another, from being a cubist-pointillist to realist-impressionist. Sena is recognized for his exquisite still lifes such as his trademark pandesal and toys but also tackles a whole range of subjects, such as landscapes, portraits, religious icons, and the everyday, commonplace states of people.

• Sample Works
• 
  One of Fernando Sena's college plate featuring his brother
• 
  Sena's last college plate. The cigarette burn mark on the forehead was caused by a classmate as it was a tradition to ruin another classmate's last plate.
• 
  Fernando Sena's trademark, the First and Original Pandesal painting
• 
  Another pandesal painting
• 
  A painting depicting toys, another one of Sena's trademarks

The Family Man

Fernando Sena has three children, Oddin and Roald with his first wife, Nancy Canauay who died of breast cancer, and Christine with his present wife, Ester Tacayon. He lives in Quezon City with his family and his mother, Faustina.

Personal and Social Functions

To Sena, a painter serves to functions:

Personal , to showcase one’s masterpieces to the people and earn money. In realizing this fuction, Sena has his home surrounded with paintings of his own and of his children. Social, to share his knowledge in art and painting to others. To continue his vocation, Sena established the Kabataan Tondo (formerly Troso) Art Group (KATAG) in 1975 and Art Discovery and Learning Foundation Inc. (ADLFI) in December 2001 which aims to discover and support young emerging artists. He is currently the president of the ADLFI and a member of multiple art groups such as the Saturday Group, the Wednesday Group, the Art Association of the Philippines, and the Iguhit Alaminos.

Recognition

Other than gaining the reputation of being the “Father of Philippine Art Workshops”, Sena was awarded as one of the “Ten Outstanding Manilans” in 1979 for helping the youth develop their talent in art. He also received the “Outstanding UE College of Fine Arts Alumni” award and the “Most Distinguished UE Alumni” in 1986 and 1989 respectively. He was also awarded a Certificate of Recognition by the “Bow Kami sa ‘Yo” segment of ABS-CBN’s “Hoy Gising!” in January 27, 1995 and “Patnubay ng Sining at Kalinangan” in the field of painting by the City of Manila during the Araw ng Maynila on June 1995.

References

Dideidei 15:52, 15 March 2014 (UTC)