09 July 2013 - The Philippine Consulate General in Guam and the Guam Filipino Artists (GFA) opened the 16th GFA Art Exhibit featuring spouses, James Bendo and Anita Dimalanta Bendo, on July 05 at the Consulate.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by Consul General Bayani V. Mangibin, together with Senators Frank B. Aguon, Jr. and Tina Muña Barnes of the 32nd Guam Legislature, and was attended by some teachers from the Harvest Christian Academy, GFA officers and members and personal friends of the featured artists.
The Bendo couple’s art works consist of a variety of media, including oil, watercolor, gauche, acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal and mixed media. Subjects include scenery, flowers and landscape of Guam.
Mr. Bendo grew up in San Francisco where diversity in artistic expression in a multi-cultural melting pot thrives and flourishes. His love for painting was re-ignited by the beautiful scenery and interesting culture of Guam. Since he became a Christian in 1983, most of his artworks depict his love for Christ and the beauty of God’s creation. Although his chosen vocation is in computer programming, he considers his vocation the sharing the truth of God’s word and message of salvation through art.
The daughter of the late Antonio Dimalanta, first President of the Filipino Community of Guam, Mrs. Bendo was born in Guam and studied at San Francisco Academy of Art College with a degree in Illustration. She is the past president of the Communication Arts Guild of Guam and a recipient of Governor’s Art Award in 1990.
She has had several exhibits of her art works, one of them is the 22ft x 10ft mural in the Life Center of Harvest Christian Academy. Her paintings are also displayed at the lobby of Guam Hilton Hotel, Pacific Island’s Club, Westin Hotel, Outrigger Guam Resort and other business establishments in Guam.
The second year-long series of exhibits at the Consulate features members of the GFA, with each exhibit lasting for an entire month. END