By Dexter R. Matilla
For as long as Fil Delacruz has been a visual artist, the diwata, a mythical being that has always been featured prominently in his works. Filipinos will almost always describe a diwata as something similar to fairies—beautiful and ethereal figures that reside in and protect the forests.
Delacruz is much like many artists, who often seek out their muse, a source of inspiration they hope will elevate their works to levels akin to that of the Old Masters of the Renaissance.
Or at the very least have their works talked about as having a close enough quality to it. But those who have sustained their careers long enough to be considered as such are very few and far in between.
Delacruz is one of them. Already established as a master painter and printmaker, the visual artist has won numerous accolades including the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ 13 Artists Award and the Benavidez Award for Outstanding Achievement from his alma mater the University of Santo Tomas.
In his recent exhibit “Saglit” at Art Lounge Manila at the Podium Mall in Ortigas City the artist turns to his muse once more. This time, however, long-time followers of Delacruz’s works will notice that the features of the female figures seem just a little bit different.
“I have used diwata as my ongoing motif in my art,” he says. “She represents my journey… she is the universal woman, a figure that continuously evolves from ethnic beauty, wood nymph, mask and goddess of time. I have always perceived my diwata as a symbol of nature, beauty and my immortal muse.”
Prior to this collection, which took him a year to produce, the female figures in Delacruz’s works exemplify that youthful radiance and have a sense of innocence but also mischievousness at the same time. In the real world, many can only hope to remain as such, making the beauty industry a multi-billion-dollar business. Even the promise of living longer is enticing to many and there are those who have gone to great lengths to figure out the exact science of how and why humans age and if there’s a way to slow it down.
But for the 73-year-old Delacruz, perhaps there are other things that matter more than going against the flow of time.
“As I mature as an artist, I have been contemplating the concept of time,” he says. “That my diwata is evolving not just as a symbol of eternal beauty but as reminder to me that youthful radiance is temporary but the artistic soul is immortal.”
The elements in both the paintings and sculptures from this collection continue to carry Delacruz’s signature style with brilliant colors of flora and fauna. Sundials, clock hands, and numbers exist to amplify the theme further.
“I think art is an ongoing process, each day we are lucky to able to love, to live, and to create,” Delacruz says. “Each artwork is the by-product of an artist’s experiences.”
Delving more in his recent fascination with time, the artist explains that he believes time is like a book and that people’s lives are divided in chapters.
“We start out in youthful adventures, then we mature in personhood and raise a family, and now that we are in the twilight of our years, we are able to view our journey and from time to time introspect.”
When it comes to what he thinks contributed to his longevity, Delacruz shares that a visual artist should have three qualities: the attitude of a student, the hands of a craftsman, and the mind of a philosopher.
His son Janos, also a visual artist, says that watching the elder Delacruz work is a truly educational experience for him.
“He’s like a machine,” he says. “He never stops learning, never stops evolving. Usually, people his age decline but my dad still innovates and experiments.”
And Delacruz is showing no signs of slowing down, especially with 2025 a few months away. He says that next year will be a very important chapter in his career as he turns 75 and he intends to celebrate it with a series of exhibitions and workshops.
By fully embracing his diwata, making her a prominent figure throughout his entire career, it becomes an irrefutable fact how good his muse has been to him in return.
Thus one begins to wonder, did Delacruz choose the diwata or did she choose him?
While the artist may be the only one capable of answering that question, the only certainty for now—and the only thing that matters for him—is to have a healthy body and mindset so as to continue his ongoing artistic romance with his muse.