NOBLE, BRIGHT AND FAMOUS
By Arnel Mirasol
Bert Falsis' full first name is Elberto- a variation I guess of Albert, which means noble, bright and famous. Bert initially used Bert Falsis as his Facebook profile name, but decided to change it to Treb Falsis because a cousin who's also in the same line of business (printing) insisted on also using Bert Falsis as his profile name. As his name implies, our Bert is very bright indeed. Among us classmates, I consider him as the most successful. He and wife Dulce had achieved a lot, having grown their printing business from a single letterpress machine which they obtained on a loan to an offset printing machine. Not only that, they had managed not only to send their children to the best schools, but also to build a beach house in Zambales and a luxurious house in Pampanga.
Bert is made already, that's why I'm surprised when he suddenly expressed an urgent craving to paint. It was him actually who gave me the idea of reviving Seta. One day, he texted all of us his close buddies to join him in a painting session in a vacant room behind his office which he converted into a studio. He admitted that he can't quite paint alone, that he needed the impetus of friends also engaged in painting to motivate him. But that was only during the first few weeks, because lately, he had been painting by himself. He no longer needs us around him. And to ensure that he wouldn't lose his creative momentum, he made sure that he had an ample stock of art materials always on hand, as shown by the row of primed canvases behind him.
Since he hadn't touched oil paints, brushes, and easel for 26 years, Bert started doing still lifes, flowers mostly, which admittedly are the most undemanding of subject matters. And what he came out with amazed me because It seems that he hasn't lost his artistic touch. It looks as if the years he spent creating wealth hadn't dimmed one bit his ability to create art. He couldn't quite believe when I and Jerry Dean insisted that his flower paintings are exhibit material. What he wanted to display are the other paintings which he was doing "on the sly." I supposed that he plans to surprise us with what he considers as his more accomplished works like his paintings of Vigan scenes and serial visages of Christ. Anyway, ingress is only about 24 hours away- and all we can do for now is wait until Bert finally "unveils" his new works. And I will no longer be surprised if what he's been keeping away from our eyes are little masterpieces indeed.
Going back to his name- I've given ample proof that Bert is bright because of his keen business acumen and undiminished artistic skill. He's already rich by my standards though not yet famous, which I'm sure he would soon also be. As to being noble, well, Bert may have that nobility of spirit which is shown by his generosity and kindness; but I'm quite sure that his family is not of the ancient Filipino nobility. Bert is also a commoner like me. Hindi kami dugong bughaw, hahaha...
By Arnel Mirasol
Bert Falsis' full first name is Elberto- a variation I guess of Albert, which means noble, bright and famous. Bert initially used Bert Falsis as his Facebook profile name, but decided to change it to Treb Falsis because a cousin who's also in the same line of business (printing) insisted on also using Bert Falsis as his profile name. As his name implies, our Bert is very bright indeed. Among us classmates, I consider him as the most successful. He and wife Dulce had achieved a lot, having grown their printing business from a single letterpress machine which they obtained on a loan to an offset printing machine. Not only that, they had managed not only to send their children to the best schools, but also to build a beach house in Zambales and a luxurious house in Pampanga.
Bert is made already, that's why I'm surprised when he suddenly expressed an urgent craving to paint. It was him actually who gave me the idea of reviving Seta. One day, he texted all of us his close buddies to join him in a painting session in a vacant room behind his office which he converted into a studio. He admitted that he can't quite paint alone, that he needed the impetus of friends also engaged in painting to motivate him. But that was only during the first few weeks, because lately, he had been painting by himself. He no longer needs us around him. And to ensure that he wouldn't lose his creative momentum, he made sure that he had an ample stock of art materials always on hand, as shown by the row of primed canvases behind him.
Since he hadn't touched oil paints, brushes, and easel for 26 years, Bert started doing still lifes, flowers mostly, which admittedly are the most undemanding of subject matters. And what he came out with amazed me because It seems that he hasn't lost his artistic touch. It looks as if the years he spent creating wealth hadn't dimmed one bit his ability to create art. He couldn't quite believe when I and Jerry Dean insisted that his flower paintings are exhibit material. What he wanted to display are the other paintings which he was doing "on the sly." I supposed that he plans to surprise us with what he considers as his more accomplished works like his paintings of Vigan scenes and serial visages of Christ. Anyway, ingress is only about 24 hours away- and all we can do for now is wait until Bert finally "unveils" his new works. And I will no longer be surprised if what he's been keeping away from our eyes are little masterpieces indeed.
Going back to his name- I've given ample proof that Bert is bright because of his keen business acumen and undiminished artistic skill. He's already rich by my standards though not yet famous, which I'm sure he would soon also be. As to being noble, well, Bert may have that nobility of spirit which is shown by his generosity and kindness; but I'm quite sure that his family is not of the ancient Filipino nobility. Bert is also a commoner like me. Hindi kami dugong bughaw, hahaha...
